The Gluten Free Festival is scheduled to take place over two days on the 18-19th September.

A VIP event on Friday 18th October 4.30-7pm (which includes the Coeliac NZ 50 year celebration). And the main festival is on Saturday 19th October between 10-5.00 pm. The GF Food Festival will be hosted at Due Drop Event Centre, Auckland and will bring together over 95 GF food manufacturers and GF food trucks for a weekend celebration of flavours, freedom, and community! Purchase tickets to both events here:

Included in the cost of the festival ticket Coeliac New Zealand will host four interactive and informative workshops about living well with coeliac disease.  Each of the four workshops will target a different age range from childhood to late-onset coeliac disease in the older person.  The workshops will be 50 minutes long and will follow a similar format.  An introduction to the age group which aims to cover some medical considerations will be followed by a topic presentation for the age.  After the presentation(s), the participants will join in group-based discussions around current issues and concerns for the age group.  Each discussion group will be able to collectively share thoughts, ideas, and strategies to support each other in the coeliac community.

We aim for participants to come away with useful, practical tips to support living well with coeliac disease throughout their lifespan.  Participation is strongly encouraged as this will enable an interactive and practical workshop session.

Watch our Facebook page for information about who will present the Food Demonstration.

Agenda: Saturday 19th October

• 10 am – Early and middle childhood. Theme: Diet and nutrition
  • Overview of diagnosis, symptoms, and special considerations for the age.
  • Nutrients for our children and encouraging a wholefood approach.
  • Workshop: Challenging diet situations and how to overcome these – (dealing with preschool lunches, lunchboxes at school, sleepovers, school camps, etc)

• 11.05 am – GF Food Demonstration - presenter to be announced shortly. 
  • Theme: lunches, kids' birthday parties and snacks

• 12.05 pm – Adolescence and young adult (12 – 20 years). Theme: Social inclusion and connectivity
  • Medical considerations for the age – growth/puberty.
  • Mental wellness – supporting the well-being of your young person with a lifetime diagnosis.
  • Workshop: The challenges of Gen Z living with coeliac disease (inclusion, social media, parties, dating, sports).

• 1.05 pm Early and middle adulthood (20 – 65 years). Theme: Adulting
  • Overview of diagnosis, symptoms, and special considerations for the age.
  • Workshop: Navigating the different life experiences of an adult (workplace, reproductive health, parenting, travelling).

• 2.05 pm – Seminar session
  • Navigating diet and nutrient requirements
  • Around the globe with coeliac disease
  • Financial support with coeliac disease.

• 3.55 pm Third age (65+). Theme:  Staying strong through diet and exercise
  • Special considerations for the age
  • Presentation on the importance of strength and balance
  • Workshop: Overcoming obstacles to retiring well with coeliac disease (finances, other health concerns, social inclusion

We have 50 tickets to give away to Coeliac NZ members to mark the 50th Anniversary

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of our organisation, which is an occasion worth commemorating. A lot has changed in that time, but our vision remains the same, and that is that people with coeliac disease live healthy lives every day. We raise awareness about coeliac disease and educate others so people with coeliac disease can be included and able to participate fully as they live, work and play. If you would like to join our 50-year celebration on Friday 18th October and visit the GF Food Festival on the VIP evening between 4.30-7pm please email admin@coeliac.org.nz.

We have limited tickets available.. if you are a member and would like to attend please email admin@coeliac.org.nz and advise the number of tickets required and age groups.

• Childhood (ages 2-11)
• Youthhood/Teen (ages 12-20)
• Third Age (ages 65+)

Not yet a member? Click the link to JOIN.