Nine To Noon 628,000 Kiwis report recent migraine symptoms
Feb 3, 2026
Dr Fiona Imlach, epidemiologist and Migraine Foundation co-founder, discusses a survey showing many Kiwis report migraine symptoms but remain undiagnosed. She covers how the survey captured undiagnosed cases, who is most affected, reasons for missed diagnoses, differences from tension headache, treatment options including new preventives, non-drug management, and disparities for Māori and disabled people.
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Migraine Affects One In Four Adults
- Migraine symptoms in the last three months were reported by one in seven adults, about 628,000 New Zealanders.
- Adding diagnosed and recently symptomatic people suggests ~25% of adults experience migraine disease.
Half Of Sufferers Remain Undiagnosed
- About half of people with migraine symptoms have never been formally diagnosed, mirroring international findings.
- Undiagnosed prevalence is consistent across countries, showing diagnosis gaps are widespread.
See A Doctor Early For Frequent Headache
- Seek medical help if headaches are frequent or disabling because many people avoid doctors or are dismissed.
- Tell your doctor about specific migraine symptoms to access migraine-specific treatments and avoid misdiagnosis.