June 2025 Caregiver News: Upper North Region

These are only some of the challenges we are faced with and must deal with on an ongoing basis.  As difficult as it can be, please remember you are changing a life/lives, providing opportunities, providing safe homes and love to a child in need of care and protection.

Secondly, we are well and truly into the cold weather and all the bugs that come with it.  I always encourage everyone at this time to add lots of garlic and ginger to your cooking, delicious home-made soups and let’s not forget the lemon and honey warm drinks. These seem to work with fighting those bugs in our home, most of the time! 😊

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.  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.

To find out more about Matariki, visit https://www.matariki.com/

How will you be celebrating Matariki mā Puanga this year?  If you are stuck for ideas, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us in our Matariki celebration event organised for Saturday 14 June.  This will be an awesome opportunity for connecting with other caregivers, learning and creating plans for the following weekend to celebrate Matariki mā Puanga in your home with your whānau/family. See EVENTS below for more details.

For those of you in the Dargaville, Whangarei, Kaikohe and Kaitaia areas please check out the time and dates I will be visiting this week.  Come along and join myself and other caregivers at any of the locations that are highlighted below, I would love to meet you.  If you would like to have a one-on-one visit, get in touch and I will work it in to my schedule.

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

If you would like to learn more about Matariki, connect with other caregviers, and share some kai (food). Please join Christine Frost, Upper North Regional Coordinator, and Christie McGiven, Central North Coordinator for an evening of learning and connection.

There will be a guest speaker panel, discussing, ‘Implementing Matariki at home’, as well as general discussion about how to celebrate, encourage Matariki practrices with your whānau. We will also touch on acknowledging loved ones who have passed.

Please register below for a fun and knowledgeable night.

Date: Saturday 14th June

Venue: Dingwall Trust Hall, 8 Dingwall Place, Papatoetoe

Time: 5.30 – 8.30pm

Please note this is a caregiver only event. No children please.

Support

If you haven’t yet attended one of our support groups, and have questions, doubts or worries please contact me and discuss what to expect.  We welcome all new members and existing members.

If you would like specific information or topics to be discussed at your next support group meet please do let me know.

Waitakere Caregiver Group
Come along and connect with other caregivers in your area and enjoy a hot drink on me.

Date: Friday 13 June
Venue: Ranui Community Centre, 474 Swanson Road, Ranui
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
RSVP to Christine Frost: uppernorth@caringfamilies.org.nz

Royal Oak Coffee Group
Please ensure to RSVP to ensure our room has the space.  Great session last week!!!
Date: Thursday 19 June
Venue: CCS Disability Action, 14 Erson Avenue, Royal Oak.
Time: 10am – 12pm

RSVP to Christine Frost: uppernorth@caringfamilies.org.nz

Browns Bay Coffee and Beach Walk
Last month was a beautiful walk along the beach with a lovely coffee to finish off.

Date: Tuesday 24 June

Venue: Slow wander along Browns Bay Beach (Weather permitting) followed by a hot drink at Coffee Club.  (Meet at the car park located at the corner of Beach Front Lane).  Coffee Club is at 38 Clyde Road, Browns Bay @ 11am.

Time: 10.30 – 12pm

(10.30am Beach Walk to Coffee Club and 11am Coffee Club)

Uppernorth Region

I am hoping to set up support groups in the following areas: Dargaville, Whangarei, Kaikohe and Kaitaia.

Let me know if you would like a group in your area and I can look at the best way to establish the group to ensure support is ongoing!

Facebook Support Groups

I am monitoring and updating the Caring Families Aotearoa Upper North Regional Support Facebook Page and Auckland Support Facebook Page, so depending which region you live in please still refer to these Facebook groups for information, resources and support relevant to their region.

If you haven’t already, click the button below to join one closest to you!

If you need someone to talk to feel free to connect with me, you can call/text me on 027 538 9691 or reach out via email to uppernorth@caringfamilies.org.nz

My hours of work are 8am – 4pm (Monday to Thursday).

Noho ora mai rā, nā (Look after yourself)
Chris