About Body Positive Inc.

 

Body Positive Inc. was set up in response to the emergence of HIV in the early 1980s. As an independent and autonomous initiative started by HIV positive people it was different from other organisations in the field. Body Positive had, and maintains, the unique perspective of "knowing first hand" what it is like to live with the virus and the issues surrounding being HIV+. As such we are able to tailor our services accordingly.

Body Positive was officially incorporated in 1992 as New Zealand's only national HIV+ peer support organisation

Body Positive Inc is located in Auckland where the greatest concentration of people living with HIV/AIDS in New Zealand reside and where most HIV services are concentrated. Body Positive has links with other autonomous HIV+ sister organisations in Hamilton, Wellington.

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Body Positive House is centrally located in 3 Poynton Terrace, Newton (a side street off Pitt Street) with limited parking facilities for clients. BP House is a comfortable Art Deco building which is open to everyone in the HIV+ community Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Also within the building are the offices of Positive Women; a national peer support group for women affected by HIV/AIDS.

Anyone affected by HIV can drop-in and have a chat whether you have a specific question or problems or issues you want discuss.

Body Positive provides a broad range of services for people living with HIV in an attempt to break down the sense of isolation HIV+ people often experience and to to build a sense of community.
  • Educational forums
  • Advocate from an HIV+ perspective in public forums and debates
  • Networks for people living with HIV
  • Complementary therapies information
  • A national HIV/AIDS services and organisations contact list and other items of interest
  • The Positively Positive HIV+ newsletter, an insert in "Express" newspaper, containing information on HIV/AIDS treatments, events and news.

Body Positive also runs specific programmes including the 6-on-6 Peer Support Groups run by trained HIV+ facilitators, our annual retreat for HIV+ men and hosts monthly social events such as our fun monthly pot luck dinner and luncheons.

Body Positive also provides internet access - so come along, check your email and have a coffee – we are not quite an internet cafe - but we are free! We can also provide fax facilities and have a small lending library available to members.

As a result of our central location and and close working relationship with other HIV agencies we can offer a "one stop shop" for HIV/AIDS services in Auckland.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Body Positive is Bruce. Bruce has been on the Body Positive Trust Board for five years and has been the Chair for the past four years. Bruce is largely responsible for advocacy work, implementing the decisions of the Trust Board, fund raising, the general direction and vision of Body Positive and the supervision and management of staff, which currently number six.

All our staff are HIV+ and are friendly and approachable, so do drop-in some time and make yourself at home.