June 2025 Caregiver News: North East Region
Nyvonne Krause
Kaitakawaenga (Cultural Advisor) & North East Regional Coordinator
M: 027 501 0395
E: northeast@caringfamilies.org.nz
Mānawatia a Matariki koutou katoa,
This month we come together to celebrate Matariki. The theme for Matariki this year is Matariki mā Puanga. Matariki mā Puanga means ‘Matariki (Pleiades) and Puanga (Rigel)’ and this phrase acknowledges the relationship between these stars. Both Matariki and Puanga rise in the eastern sky before the sun during the winter period, however some iwi and regions of the country look to Puanga instead of Matariki as the main marker of the New Year.
The theme will be centre at this year’s nationally broadcast hautapu ceremony hosted by Ngāti Rangi at the base of Ruapehu. While the stars that mark the beginning of the Māori new year may vary in some regions, the themes that underpin the ceremony and celebration are the same. Remembrance, Celebrating the Present and Looking to the Future.
For me, our family suffered a great loss earlier this year and my intention is to remember and celebrate the lives of our loved ones. We will do this by hosting a hautapu (feast) at our house. We are lucky enough to live rurally so the fire pit will get stoked up and with the aid of some blankets and hot Milos, we will share stories and laughter together.
Training
Explore our new self-directed training for caregivers!
Based on our DDP and PACE models, these bite-sized courses help you better understand the experiences of children in your care—especially those affected by trauma, attachment issues, loss, or separation.
Learn at your own pace—each course takes about an hour (except the more in-depth National Care Standards, which follow Oranga Tamariki regulations).
Last month, 63 people enrolled in “What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?”, and 61 in National Care Standards Part 3. More courses are on the way, with a new one launching in July. If you haven’t already completed the two courses, register now to start on Monday 9 June!
If you would like more information about our new training format, or are unsure about how it works, please do get in touch! Also, if you are interested in participating in a group to do the training please get in touch, so we can explore how we can make this happen.
Once you have completed these trainings let me know what you think – I’d love to hear your feedback!
EVENTS
Join me and other caregivers near you at a local café! I will be travelling throughout the region this week, connecting with caregivers in Gisborne and Tauranga. If you’d like to meet others on a similar journey to you, or have a face-to-face chat to see how we might support you best, please register now!
Gisborne
I will be hosting a coffee get-together in Gisborne and would love to be able to connect with you.
Date: Wednesday 04 June
Time: 10.30am – 12pm
Venue: Exhibit Cafe, 10 Stout Street, Gisborne
Tauranga
My last opportunity to connect with caregivers in Tauranga before the busy weekend.
Date: Friday 06 June
Time: 10.30am – 12pm
Venue: Alimento Eatery, 72 First Avenue, Tauranga
SUPPORT
Having a social support network is so important to us as we can often feel isolated when we care for children with high needs.
Caring Families Aotearoa offers a few ways you can connect with others on the same journey as you. Our regional closed Facebook group page is a non-intrusive way to connect with other caregivers that are members of Caring Families Aotearoa. Click the button below to join.
You can also call me for support or if you need someone to talk to – 027 501 0392 or email northeast@caringfamilies.org.nz
My hours of work are 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Thursday.
Or you can call our national office 0800 693 323.
If you are a caregiver and would like to host a coffee group in your area, get in touch with me and I can help you organise this.
Noho ora mai, take care, keep well,
Nyvonne