Dance-loving toddler will lose ability to move without unfunded drug
Kia ora neighbours, a Parakai toddler who loves to dance may soon be unable to walk or stand if medicine for her rare condition stays unfunded.
Two-year-old Zoey Butcher was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 3 (SMA) in March and her mum, Chauntel Wedlake, said the treatments available were unfunded in Aotearoa and cost more than $400,000 a year.
Without the treatment, Wedlake said, Zoey would be “devastated” as she would no longer be able to dance.
Read the full story at the link below.
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Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!
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Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
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19.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.7% Nah - not for me
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
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