PIPS Pregnancy Infancy Parenting Support

26/05/2026

There’s something about winter mornings that makes you notice the small things a bit more. I’ve been biking into PIPS most days this year, and my routine starts with the school drop-off — a cold ride with my kids who are far more resilient (and willing!) than I am most mornings. They keep me going, even when the chilly air bites.

One recent morning was thick with fog and that sharp winter air that makes everything feel a bit slower.

As I layered my children up before we left the house, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful. Grateful for merino singlets under uniforms, warm track-pants over shorts, thick jackets, gloves for frozen fingers — all the little layers that keep them warm and comfortable on these icy rides. Some bought new, some op-shopped, some handed down, but all doing exactly what they’re meant to do.

Then I arrived at PIPS and spent the day trying to pack warm clothing for families with little ones… and realised we couldn’t even fill one complete bag for a family with children over 6 months old.

Our winter clothing stock is the lowest it has been in a very long time.

This is a genuine SOS on behalf of the whānau we support.
Right now, we urgently need warm clothing in sizes 6 months through to 2–3 years, especially:
• Merino and warm layers
• Jackets and jumpers
• Socks and winter basics
• Track-pants and everyday warm clothing

If you have bags at home you’ve been meaning to donate, we would be incredibly grateful to receive them. Donations can be dropped to our Wainoni centre, with donation stations also available in Burnside, Avonhead and Halswell (plus a few wonderful angels in other locations too - contact us for more info). Smaller sizes are always appreciated as well (especially newborn!).

If you’re planning a wardrobe clear-out over the long weekend, please think of PIPS or share this post widely. 🙏

It’s never easy having to say no when a parent is asking for something as simple as warm socks or an extra layer for their child.

Right now, even one bag of warm clothing can make a real difference. If you’re able to help, please get in touch and support us in keeping little ones warm this winter.

21/05/2026

Things have been beautifully busy at PIPS lately 💜

Since we reopened at the end of January, we’ve had just under 1,600 whānau visits to our centre. Behind every visit is a whānau seeking practical support, connection, reassurance, or simply a safe space to land while navigating a crisis or tough season.

Over 400 families have connected with PIPS for the very first time this year alone — representing more than 800 tamariki whose whānau are receiving practical support, experiencing less stress, and feeling a little more supported as they navigate early parenting.

Every day looks different here. Some families come needing warm clothing, cloth nappies or baby gear. Others are looking for connection through our groups, support with their mental wellbeing, or simply a kind, welcoming space where they can be met without judgement. Wherever people are at, we meet them there 💜

A few recent highlights:
✨ 22 whānau completed first aid training with the legend Taras from Workplace First Aid — leaving feeling more confident and prepared to respond in a medical emergency with their little ones
✨ A beautiful delivery of baked treats and the sweetest note from one of our lovely clients:
“My family and I are very grateful for your support. You bring us love, peace and relief.”
✨ A visit from the wonderful students at Ara Supported Learning Unit, who brought so much energy and joy while helping out around the centre.
✨ Gorgeous handmade knitting and crochet continuing to arrive, helping keep little babes warm this winter.
✨ Sophie, our favourite sleep specialist, visiting our Bumps + Bubs group to support whānau navigating the world of baby sleep (or lack of!).
✨ Beautiful donations arriving from dear friends of PIPS who knew our shelves were running low — thoughtfully cleaned (or brand new!), sorted and packed in ways that make such a difference to our small team.
✨ New friendships and connections helping keep our shelves stocked with essentials — a huge shoutout to the Burnett Foundation for a recent donation of condoms.
✨ And some special team celebrations… which at PIPS almost always involve homemade baking and cake 🎂💜

One piece of recent feedback that really stayed with us was this:
“The staff were so helpful, patient and kind. Supportive and caring. They’re so awesome and easy to deal with. A lot of the time I don’t like going into places to ask for help out of fear of being judged or turned away. That is not the case here.”

This is exactly the environment we strive to create every single day — a place where whānau feel welcomed, respected and supported.

Thank you for continuing to stand alongside us as we work to give babies the best start in life and whānau a strong foundation to thrive 💜

19/05/2026

Trigger warning: infant loss 💔

Today, media coverage has shared the findings of a coroner’s report into the tragic death of baby Bodhi in 2022. Our hearts are with his whānau, who continue to live with an unimaginable loss every single day. 🤍

Stories like this are incredibly difficult to read — especially for parents and caregivers navigating the exhaustion, information overload, and constant pressure that can come with caring for a baby. Most parents are doing their absolute best with the knowledge, advice and products available to them at the time.

One of the important things highlighted through this report is the need for ongoing, clear and compassionate safe sleep education. Safe sleep guidance can change over time, and many products sold or marketed for babies can appear safe or even claim to support better sleep, despite experts later raising concerns about their safety.

This conversation should never be about blame or judgement. It should be about supporting whānau with accessible, up-to-date information in a kind and understanding way.

Current safe sleep recommendations include:
💜 Placing babies on their back for every sleep
💜 Using a firm, flat sleep surface
💜 Keeping baby’s sleep space clear of loose blankets, pillows, pods and soft items
💜 Having baby sleep in their own safe sleep space
💜 Following current guidance from trusted health professionals

Every sleep matters, but so does the way we talk about safe sleep. Parents deserve support, not shame.

If this story has raised questions or worries for you, reach out to your midwife, Well Child provider, Plunket nurse, GP or trusted health professional for support and current safe sleep advice.

An expert is calling for a ban on padded sleeping pods for infants as a coroner finds a baby's death was partly due to one.

Read more ⬇

11/05/2026

A huge thank you to this amazing group of women who spent Friday with us at PIPS helping tackle a job that had been building up for far too long!

Our summer sorting and storage had become one of those big behind-the-scenes tasks that kept getting pushed down the list while we focused on our busy drop-in centre, supporting whānau, and managing the constant flow of donations coming through our doors.

Anna saw our call-out for extra volunteers a few months ago and kindly gathered a group of her workmates to come and help—and what a difference they made!

They arrived ready to get stuck in, happy to get their hands dirty, and showed such fantastic initiative. Together they sorted, cleared, emptied summer donation boxes, and packed everything away ready for next summer. A task that would have taken our small team weeks to complete was finished in just one day.

We are so incredibly grateful for your time, energy, and willingness to help. It made such a huge difference to our team and our space.

A special thank you as well to Marsh for supporting corporate volunteering and allowing staff the time to give back to their community.

We loved having you all here—thank you for choosing to spend your day with us 💜

10/05/2026

Today, as Mother’s Day in Aotearoa comes to a close, we want to send love to all the amazing mums in our PIPS whānau and beyond. 💛

To the mums in our community, our staff, our volunteers, and the many amazing wāhine we walk alongside each day—thank you. Thank you for the love, strength, patience, and endless giving that motherhood so often asks of you.

Today can be joyful for some, but for others it can feel heavy.

We hold space for those missing their mums, grieving children, navigating loss, longing to become mums, walking the path of infertility, pregnancy loss, or carrying the quiet ache of what could have been.

We see the mums doing their very best through exhaustion, uncertainty, and hard seasons. We see the grandmothers, aunties, foster mums, bonus mums, and all those who mother with love and care.

Motherhood comes in many forms, and today we honour them all.

However today has felt for you, we hope you’ve felt seen, valued, and loved.

From all of us at PIPS, Happy Mother’s Day. 🌸

07/05/2026

Yesterday we had the loveliest time celebrating Mother’s Day with our Bumps + Bubs group 💜

With over 20 mums plus babies joining us, it was such a special day filled with connection, creativity, laughter, and a little bit of well-deserved spoiling for some very deserving māmā.

Our crystal-themed Mother’s Day gathering gave mums the chance to slow down and create something beautiful just for themselves — handmade jewellery including bracelets and earrings crafted from beads and crystals, each carrying its own special meaning and benefit. It was lovely seeing everyone enjoying the chance to sit, chat, create, and simply be celebrated.

We also created some special keepsakes for our mums to treasure, capturing their baby’s tiny handprints and footprints alongside a beautiful poem:

You are my sunshine, beaming light,
You fill the world with love so bright.
You hug me with your warming glow,
And that is why I love you so!

These little moments feel so precious in the early days, and it was lovely to help create something meaningful for mum to take home and keep.

We also shared a delicious lunch together, including a beautiful slice from Good Bi***es Baking, along with cupcakes and lemon cake made by the PIPS team — because every good celebration needs cake!

What made the day even more meaningful was that it also fell on World Maternal Mental Health Day — a powerful reminder of how important it is to support mothers not just physically, but emotionally too.

Motherhood can be beautiful, but it can also be overwhelming, isolating, and heavy at times. That’s exactly why Bumps + Bubs exists — to create connection, support mental well-being, and remind new mums that they are not alone. It’s about building the village that so many families are missing today.

To be able to celebrate these incredible women, hold space for them, and create a sense of belonging is what PIPS is all about.

To all the amazing mums in our community — we see you, we celebrate you, and we’re so glad to walk alongside you 💜

05/05/2026

What an incredible weekend at the Baby Expo! 💜

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by our PIPS stand, had a chat, made a purchase, donated, or simply came to show their support. We loved seeing so many expectant māmā, excited dads, grandparents, friends, and whānau all preparing to welcome a new baby into the world. There’s such a special energy around those early days of parenting, and it was wonderful to be part of that buzz all weekend.

We set ourselves a goal of raising $5,000 over the two days and were so close — raising an amazing $4,700! Every dollar makes a real difference and helps us continue supporting local families through pregnancy and early parenting.

These funds will go directly towards our programmes this year, including helping fund our NIPS@PIPS lactation consultant (alongside support from the NZ College of Midwives) and our first aid courses — providing practical support, trusted expertise, and education during what can be a very vulnerable and overwhelming time for many families.

A huge thank you to everyone who chose to support PIPS. Your generosity helps make those early parenting days a little easier for another family in our community, and that means everything to us.

Congratulations as well to Ashleigh F, the winner of our Baby Expo prize draw! We hope you love your beautiful mama and pēpi pack — such a special little bundle for an exciting new chapter 💜

We also want to say a very special thank you to Shade Plus for sponsoring our stand, and to our incredible team who gave their time in the lead-up and across both expo days to make everything run so smoothly. We simply couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you for helping us give more babies and families a brighter start 💜

03/05/2026

📢 PIPS Closure Notice

Please note that PIPS will be closed on Wednesday 6 May as we host a special event for our Bumps + Bubs members.

We will reopen as usual on Thursday 7 May from 9:30am.

If there is anything specific you need, please pop in and see us tomorrow, or we’ll be happy to help when we reopen on Thursday.

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support 💜