Stories

For Wellington māmā Heidi, sea swimming is a ritual. ‘It’s time out for me to stop being busy, and clear my head... I meditate, I pray, I talk to my son Clemente. I talk to him when I’m in the water. Because I started out using this as a coping mechanism when he was going through treatment, and then it became a coping mechanism for grief when he passed.’

Stories

When Liam Allan’s parents died just one month apart, his thoughts went somewhere most people’s don’t: he thought about the children and young people who are faced with the death of a parent before they themselves reach adulthood. ‘I thought: how lucky I am to be the age I am and have had my parents for as long as I did. And how difficult it must be to go through that when you’re still developing.’

News & Events

We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with Nooan: premium possum x merino blend socks, crafted sustainably in Aotearoa. Nooan has come on board for the Big Winter Plunge 2026 - perfect timing for the Kenzie’s Gift community to warm up their feet after those legendary cold dips! We talked to one of Nooan’s founders, Daisy Smith, about the passion and purpose behind the brand.

News & Events

When businesses look for a cause to get behind, the instinct is often to go big: reaching for a household name, a logo everyone recognises, a charity that feels familiar. But if what you actually want is impact, the maths runs the other way. Kenzie’s Gift is small on purpose and focused by design, and the return your business gets - in real outcomes and in something your people can genuinely feel part of - is as good as it gets.

Stories

Christchurch parents Sam and Carrie had already been through a lot - the sudden death of a parent and a serious illness themselves - when Carrie was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Their two children at home were just 6 and 16 when their mum died. Sam shares the unimaginably difficult time their whānau has been through, and the ways they've stuck together through it with support from extended whānau, friends, and Kenzie's Gift.

News & Events

There's a reason more and more Kiwis are getting into cold water. Better sleep. Sharper focus. More energy. Reduced stress. Real benefits backed by real research — and a few minutes a week is all it takes. At Kenzie's Gift we run an annual winter swim challenge, so Kiwis across Aotearoa can put those perks to work — for themselves, and for the tamariki and rangatahi we walk alongside who are grieving the death of someone they love.

Grief

Let’s start with this: you are not alone. We hear from so many mātua / parents and caregivers whose child is facing bullying after the death of a loved one. And this: knowing that your grieving child is suffering at kura / school is devastating. We hear you, and we’re here for you. Read on for advice and ideas on how to support your tamariki through it.

Podcasts & Webinars

Nic, founder of Kenzie’s Gift, joins Bijoux to share the story behind Kenzie’s Gift, the charity and the experiences that shaped it. She reflects on her daughter Kenzie’s illness and death, supporting Kenzie’s brother Connor through saying goodbye, and the lessons that led to helping grieving children across New Zealand. Nic also speaks about living with Parkinson’s and a heart transplant, how grief evolves over time, and finding moments of joy while carrying death. This episode is part of The Grief Podcast, brought to you by Kenzie’s Gift.

Grief

Easter can bring grief rushing back. Here's how to support your tamariki through this tender time of year, with practical tips, ways to remember the person who died, and permission to do Easter your own way.