Grief

The festive season is about joy, celebration and togetherness. But when you’re grieving, it can feel unbearable. We look at Christmas through the collective voices of our young Kiwis and their whanau who are living with grief and the challenges this time of year brings.

Stories

Jenny Zilmer, māmā to Nora and Lumi, shares some of the challenges she and her husband have faced and the lessons they’ve learned while parenting with grief.

Grief

If a young person in your life has lost a loved one, you may be feeling worried about what they’re going through and unsure of how to help them. We’ll talk about the emotions young people feel when they’re grieving, the ways they show those emotions, and the things you can do to support them.

Grief

Spending time in nature has huge benefits for tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and their whānau/families experiencing grief. Whether we live in the city, the country or somewhere in between, the incredible landscapes of Aotearoa are an intrinsic part of our lives.

Grief

In "Grief, Wigs & Jellyfish: My month of winter swimming," Emma Bartlett shares her experience of the winter swim challenge. Bereaved as a child, losing her mother at the tender age of 14, Emma's article is poignant, heartfelt and inspiring, confronting the cold truths of life, death, and the spaces in between. What emerges is a story of courage, community, and the healing power of shared experiences.

Grief

Navigating grief is profound and personal. In her heartfelt piece, bereaved māmā, Jenny Zilmer offers insights and guidance on supporting a bereaved parent/matua.

Therapist Corner

Auckland-based Cate Hey is a Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist. She has more than 25 years’ experience working in child and adolescent mental health, and has worked closely with us for the past five years, supporting tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau.

Grief

Freyja’s Corner: Honouring Memories: Activities for Our Tamariki and Mātātahi in Times of Grief.

Therapist Corner

Napier-based Dr Bernice Gabriel is a registered counselling psychologist and is one of our therapists at Kenzie’s Gift. She has more than 20 years’ experience working in child and adolescent mental health, and has been an invaluable supporter of ours for the past 3 years.