Ending HIV

WELCOME. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

Imagine a future where there are no new transmissions of HIV in New Zealand.

We now have the tools to end new transmissions of HIV in New Zealand and we can do it by 2025 – but we need to work together.

WE CAN END HIV IF:

all gay, bi and queer guys who are sexually active are staying safe – condoms still provide the most effective barrier for preventing the transmission of HIV and other STIs.
those same guys test at least twice a year, more often if they’re not staying safe.
people living with HIV treat as early as possible, to protect their own health and, if possible, reduce their viral loads to undetectable so the risk of passing on HIV during unprotected sex is radically reduced.
everyone fights HIV stigma – uncompromisingly.

Our community is small. There are fewer degrees of separation between us than you might think. The positive side of that is if we work together – we can have a big effect on the transmission of HIV. Ending HIV is an achievable goal.

You’re invited to join the movement to end HIV in New Zealand.

We'd love you to be part of this major new push to end HIV. Everyone has a role to play in staying safe, testing often, treating early and fighting HIV stigma.

Ending HIV means all sexually active gay and bi guys stay safe. Condoms remain the most effective barrier to HIV and most other STIs. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of condom use among gay and bi men in the world – around 80%. Keeping condoms on our cocks will be a big part of ending HIV in New Zealand. For those who struggle with condoms, PrEP is a daily pill that can provide protection against HIV. There’s still more to do to make PrEP available to everyone who needs it in New Zealand.

Sexually active gay and bi guys need to test twice a year. The most recent research suggests around 1 in 5 guys who are living with HIV in New Zealand don’t know they have the virus. It can take a long time before recognisable symptoms of HIV appear. If you don't know you have the virus, you are more likely to pass it on through unprotected sex. Bringing an end to HIV means everyone knows their status. Regular testing also means if you test positive for HIV you can access treatment as early as possible.

Testing for HIV has never been easier with rapid HIV testing being offered at 20 locations across New Zealand. Rapid HIV tests let you know your HIV status within 30 minutes and are free and confidential. Book a test now.

If everyone who had HIV knew it and was on treatment, we’d be a long way down the road towards ending HIV. Treatments these days are effective at suppressing HIV and reducing transmission risk. For many people, new treatments means achieving an undetectable viral load [+U] is now possible.

If you have been diagnosed with HIV and you have not started treatment yet, going on treatment is still the best thing you can do to protect your health and reduce the risk of passing HIV on to others.

Stigma refers to prejudice and discrimination towards people living with HIV, their friends, partners and whānau.

Even though HIV stigma was at its peak during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, many people living with HIV still experience prejudice on a daily basis.

As well as being distressing for people experiencing it, stigma has some very real effects on our ability to stop new transmissions of HIV:

HIV treatments – people living with HIV may not feel comfortable seeking treatment, or delay going to doctors due to real or perceived discrimination.
HIV testing – some people will put off testing for HIV for fear of the negative social consequences of finding out they are HIV positive.
Safe sex – stigma can get in the way of safe sex as people living with HIV may fear that disclosing their HIV status may lead to rejection, limiting of sexual opportunities or even violence.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Keep yourself informed about HIV – how it is transmitted and what prevention tools are out there.
Take responsibility for reducing HIV transmission risk when you are having sex, no matter what your status.
Be mindful of how you communicate. When you are chatting to someone on an app, at a club or anywhere else, consider whether or not the words you are choosing could be stigmatising.
We're always looking for hands-on community support - sign up as a volunteer for Ending HIV.