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Letting Go of Waimanako – Mark One
What a month at Waimanako - as we've begun our transition out from these much-loved premises! The massive downpours have highlighted a few things for us:- - The growing extent of impact on communities in our motu, and worldwide - of the rapidly changing climate. For...
Compassion
In the thick smog of the roads in Southern India, a familiar silhouette is that of a beggar gambling with the kindness of those journeying on that road. Some choose to give, others choose to ignore, while others choose to look, do nothing, and blame the government....
Self-Care Thursday – Tips to Help Fill Your Cup
Kia ora, ko Jess ahau. I’m new to the Retreat Staff Team, and I’m super excited to be sharing some blogs with you! Before working at Taranaki Retreat, I had a busy career in the film industry in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I worked a ridiculous amount, had very little time...
Zach on Third Spaces
Kia ora e te whānau, Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about third spaces. If you’re not familiar with the term, here’s a quick definition: if the home is our primary, ‘first space’ where we spend time, and work/school/university is our ‘second space’, then what is...
For the Love of Ducks
Kia ora whānau, Just a little lighthearted entry this month. Given the theme of one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, which is now fast approaching, it feels appropriate to spend some time waxing lyrical about ducks. Not the plastic bath toys we’re sending down...
The Weird Christmas-New Year Limbo
Kia ora e te whānau - Meri Kirihimete me te Tau Hou! I just wanted to reflect briefly on the weird little limbo period that comes between Christmas and the New Year. That week during which everything is closed - the city almost goes to sleep. Personally, as I...
Celebrating Christmas in the modern day
Kia ora tātou, Zach here! I'm sure that the last thing you need is another reminder of the fast-approaching festive season - it seems that the moment we hit 12:00am on 1st November, by Christmas magic, every supermarket and department store decked its halls with...
Mental Health Awareness: The grim reality of OCD
Kia ora, whānau, Zach here! With both Suicide Prevention Day and Mental Health Awareness Week taking place this month, September is a time to be particularly mindful of the importance of good mental health - and of seeking support when things aren't so good. I reckon...
Zach on Mental Wellness as we head into Winter
The darker nights, strong winds, and relentless rain tell us all of an approaching inevitability - summer is well and truly past, and the colder months are upon us. If you're one of those people who relish this time of year - perhaps you enjoy the cosiness of...
Findings from research around Manga Hapahāpai – what soothes people’s anxiety?
Since we successfully crowd-funded the Confidence Centre, we've been working busily behind the scenes to get it up and running! The most important part of this is ensuring that we get it 'right' - both in the form of the anxiety support we provide, and the design of...