In early 2025, Dr Joanna Chu of the University of Auckland's School of Population Health and her team released a research paper on FASD diagnosis in Aotearoa.

Caregivers’ experiences with diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A life-course approach.

The paper concluded:

"Accessing a diagnosis of FASD in NZ is a challenging experience for caregivers. A FASD diagnosis is critical for adequate support yet caregivers in NZ face barriers in accessing diagnosis due to limited services and trained professionals to provide a diagnosis. After a diagnosis, people with FASD experience ongoing difficulties throughout life. Future efforts regarding diagnosis would benefit from considering using a life-course perspective to provide recommendations for adequate support for people and their families. There is a pressing need to understand the experiences of caregivers accessing a FASD diagnosis and provide support to the whole family."

Click here to read this important Aotearoa-specific research.