70 Years of Epilepsy New Zealand – Purple Day

Photograph of a clock tower at night, against a background of buildings and the night sky. The base, internal shaft and top of the clocktower are lit up in purple.

In 2026, Epilepsy New Zealand celebrates 70 years of supporting people with epilepsy, their families, whānau and communities. To mark this milestone we invite you to be part of 70 Ways to go Purple – because every action, large or small, helps raise awareness and reduce stigma. You don’t have to do all 70 – just choose one (or a few) and help make this Purple Day the biggest yet! Purple Day is 26 March, but a Purple Day fundraiser or awareness event can take place any day throughout March. Please head to the Epilepsy New Zealand website for more details.

Images: Catheryn Anderson, (2021). Clock tower lit in purple via Manawatū Heritage.

When

DATES

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Where

LOCATION

Various

You may be interested in...

2026 03 19 Doctor Nurses Volunteers and a Bank Holdup

Thu 19 Mar 1:00pm - 2:00pm

The Doctor, The Nurses, The Volunteers who died, and a Bank Hold Up in Palmerston North – NZ and the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

This year, on 17 July, marks the 90th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War.

Black-and-white photograph of 2 men holding up a decorated shield, with a large crowd behind them. The crowd are gathered outside a single-storey building with the words "Palmerston North" on its façade.

Thu 19 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Shield Fever: Reflections on Manawatū’s Ranfurly Shield Tenure 1976-78

Why did holding the Ranfurly Shield mean so much to Palmerstonians? Sports historian Associate Professor Geoff Watson, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, reflects on Manawatū’s shield tenure within the context of sport and society in New Zealand at that time.