Shaun Robinson While the NZ AIDS Foundation is struggling to find sufficient funds to carry out prevention and support work it is hinting that the number of new HIV diagnoses this year may be less than the all-time high reached last year. Speaking to the fourteen Foundation members who attended the NZAF Trust Board AGM this afternoon, new boss Shaun Robinson said the organisation's prevention work has regained momentum during the year with the bedding in of its Get It On brand campaign, increased presence in mobile and social media, a marked increase in the numbers of condoms distributed and a continuing improvement in the numbers of people using its HIV testing services. Robinson also hinted that there are "early signs that the epidemic is slowing down," after a disturbing surge in new diagnoses amongst gay and bi men in recent years. Last year 95 new cases represented the highest level of newly discovered cases of HIV infection reported amongst men who have sex with men since the epidemic began in the mid 1980s. Robinson says he can't yet quote specific data but he believes figures coming in throughout the year so far are encouraging. As the Foundation struggles to contain the resurgent HIV epidemic in New Zealand, 80% of which is transmitted between men who have sex with men, it is also facing tighter financial contraints. The Government has sought to limit public spending in tough economic times and as a consequence the Ministry of Health has not topped up its funding grants to allow for inflation, leaving what the Foundation describes as "a $250,000 hole in our budget." In the year ended 30 June 2011 the Foundation's operational expenses went over budget by $150,000. This, says Robinson, was due to increased personnel and travel expenses, underbudgeting and unexpected one-off expenses such as the recruitment processes for identifying and employing a new Executive Director. Board chair Alastair Cameron told this afternoon's AGM that fundraising must now become "a key focus" for the NZAF. The results of online voting for two vacant positions on the Board were announced, with Andrew Sweet of Wellington and Christian Bimbola Ogbah of Christchurch taking up positions vacated by Wellington's Hamish Allardice and Cherry Sonderer of Auckland. You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum