August 2026 North East Caregiver News

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou! 

Kia ora, my name is Christine Frost. I am the new Regional Coordinator for the North East region. I have had the pleasure of caring for three amazing tamariki for almost nine years who have transitioned back into the care of their biological mother as at the beginning of this current school term. I have also, for many years, taken in and cared for other tamariki who have whānau connections.

I have been at Caring Families Aotearoa for five years. I believe that what we offer is so invaluable and supports caregivers to gain new knowledge and skills that really help us care for our tamariki and rangatahi.

It is an honour and priviliage to be able to walk alongside you and support your caregiving journey. I am looking forward to supporting all our members in the North East area and strive to develop meaningful relationships.

I would love to hear from you if you have any questions, or ideas for connection events in your region.  My hours of work are 8.00am – 4.00pm Monday through Thursday. You’ll find my contact details above. 

EVENTS

At the end of June, Caring Families Aotearoa hosted a Matariki dinner in Waihi at the community and resource centre. We prepared food from the four food stars: 

• Kumara from Tupuānuku, the star of food that grows in the ground.   
• Chicken from Tupuārangi, the star of the food that grows above our heads.   
• Salmon from the freshwater star,  
• Waitī and mussel chowder to represent Waitā, the star of food from the ocean.   

We shared our Matariki Karakia before enjoying our lovely “dinner”, leaving very little room for the steamed pudding and custard to follow.  Thank you to those who were able to make it – our kaimahi Nyvonne had a beautiful time with you. She hopes you were able to enjoy your Matariki with loved ones.  Please find below a photo from Nyvonne, which she took just after observing Matariki from the beach near her home. 

TRAINING

Our latest online self-directed course, What is Blocked Trust?, offers some guidance for supporting tamariki who might resist comfort or connection even in the most caring homes.

Blocked trust can develop when tamariki have experienced early trauma, neglect, or disrupted attachment, making it difficult for them to feel safe, trust others, or form secure relationships. As a result, they may appear withdrawn, defensive, highly independent, or reluctant to accept support.

This course will help you understand how blocked trust develops, recognise its signs, and respond with practical, compassionate strategies grounded in Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP).

Registrations for this course intake close on Friday 7 August. Click below to register, or to find out more about our caregiver training. 

EVENTS

As mentioned previously, this year we are excited to be celebrating 50 years of standing alongside caregivers. We have already been sharing inspiring stories from some of the people whose dedication and vision have helped shape Caring Families Aotearoa over the past 50 years, as well as some presentations from the wonderful speakers we have had at our conferences. We’ve also launched our 50th Anniversary video, which tells the story of our growth and milestones over the years. 

We would now like to share with you that we are planning 50th Celebration Catch-Ups with our Support Groups around the motu, plus we have an exciting monthly competition for you to win one of five luxury gift bags and you can also register to receive a little thank you gift in the post.  

Please look out for communications about the 50th Birthday Celebrations or click here to read more.

SUPPORT

Tauranga Support Group
We are planning a relaxed connection event towards the end of August, but the details are yet to be confirmed. Please keep an eye on your inbox over the next couple of weeks for further information. We’d love to see you there.

If you need support, or just need someone to talk to, feel free to contact me, your Regional Coordinator on M: 027 501 0393 / E: christinef@caringfamilies.org.nz

My hours of work are 8.00am – 4.00pm Monday through Thursday, or you can call our national office on 0800 693 323.

Tiaki i a koutou anō, look after yourselves!

Chris