Meri Kirihimete (Merry Christmas) As we edge closer to Christmas and look back at what the year has bought us and what this holiday season will involve, I’d like to commend you all on your resilience. You have pushed through some of the most challenging times and have...
Kia ora everyone, It’s been so great to welcome in the warmer weather and longer days since daylight savings. I hope you have managed to get outside, catch up with some of your favourite people, and take in the fresh air and sunshine with a walk or picnic (safe...
Kia ora ki te whānau, It’s been a tough couple of months for some and I hope everyone is doing okay? Remember there is help out there if you need it. The Ministry of Health has COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing resources available on their website to help you and...
Kia ora to you all, As September and Spring arrive, it’s time that I say goodbye to you. I would like to thank the caregivers who have shared their stories with me, attended trainings, and support groups. I am grateful for the opportunity that Caring Families Aotearoa...
Kia ora to you all, As another month rolls on, I hope everyone is keeping warm, happy, well, and you all survived another school holiday time. Over the last few days, I have been reflecting on my time with Caring Families Aotearoa so far, and again want to acknowledge...
Kia ora to you all, July is here! Hopefully your house is warm and dry as winter makes her presence felt. With July comes the school holidays! Now is the time to start planning for those winter activities and the “Plan Bs” for those wet inside days. If any of you have...
Kia ora everyone! Welcome to June already! I hope everyone’s keeping warm and dry with the changing of the seasons. We seem to be getting all seasons in one day at the moment. It is so hard to know what to wear. As I was dropping the grandkids off at school the other...
Kia ora everyone! I feel privileged meeting some of you through trainings and support groups over April and enjoyed chatting to others on the phone. I hope you are all safe and well and survived the school holidays okay. Welcome to May I’m still networking my way...
Kia ora everyone! April already! Firstly, I want to acknowledge the super job you do for the tamariki in your care. It was sad to have to postpone the coffee and cake get togethers we had planned over Foster care Awareness Week. COVID-19 alert levels can be unsettling...
Kia ora everyone! I’ve been busy training and learning about my role. Meeting the other Regional Coordinators and slowly making my way around the Lower South region networking with caregiver providers to understand how we can all work together for the best for our...
Kia Ora Koutou, My name is Rayleen Hubac, and I have the privilege of beginning as the new Lower South Regional Coordinator for Caring Families Aotearoa. I am excited to be working with such a passionate group of people and look forward to connecting with the many...
Mere Kirihimete (Merry Christmas) everyone! This year more than any other, I have been keenly aware of the challenges that you have all faced. You continuously demonstrate your strength as you care and advocate for yourselves and tamariki and rangatahi in your care....
Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa / Warm greetings to you all, As my time as the Otago Regional Coordinator finishes and I am sorting out my office (its amazing what I have found!), it is an opportunity to reflect on my time, meeting and working with some amazing...
Kia ora everyone, This year continues to steam ahead and we’re now in November! The best thing is having longer days and warmer weather (most of the time). Thanks to everyone that attended the ‘Teenage Brain’ presentations last month. This was a collaboration between...
Kia ora, We have almost made it through this incredible year and we are on the home straight! I have run out of words to try and say how I feel about the way the world has changed this year. I’m sure lots of you have felt its effects in so many ways. I know myself and...
Kia ora kei te tumanako koutou pai / Hello and I hope you are all well, 2020 will be remembered as a year of standing together to beat COVID-19. As we again experience living in different alert levels around the country, working together to minimize the spread of this...
Kia ora everyone, We would like to take this opportunity to farewell Barbara from Caring Families Aotearoa. Barbara has been involved with our organisation as we have grown and morphed over the years. Barbara’s involvement has seen her in many roles, and we have...
Kia ora te whānau, It is Matariki time. The rise of the star cluster Matariki marks the beginning of the Aotearoa / Pacific new year. Every year in June, seven stars (the Pleiades) rise to the north-east and when they are visible just above the horizon at dawn it is...
Kia ora te whānau, As I write this we are at level 2 of the covid 19 levels, looking forward to a long weekend. Our children are just getting back into school routines and some of us are moving back into our work offices. As we edge closer to our old normal, I wonder...
Kia ora koutou / Hello everyone, The world has been changing fast lately. We have been in our bubbles for some time now and many of us are starting to show signs of bubble fever. Life has never been busier, juggling parenting with teaching and working from home or as...