Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury

10/08/2026

A new report, The Cost of Inaction: Perinatal Mental Wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand, confirms what PADA and our sector partners have long known, community organisations are not a nice-to-have. They are essential levers of a functioning perinatal wellbeing system, not supplementary providers.

The evidence is stark: untreated perinatal mental distress is estimated to cost Aotearoa $2.0–2.4 billion per annual birth cohort across health, education, welfare and justice systems, much of it avoidable.

The case for change is a life-course one. Early experiences shape later outcomes, and support delivered early, close to whānau, before crisis, returns far more than intervention delivered late. This is especially true for whānau facing cumulative disadvantage, where the gap between need and access is widest.

It is time perinatal mental wellbeing was treated as what it is: a core public health priority and a strategic investment area, not an afterthought.

Community-led, whānau-centred support saves money. More importantly, it saves whānau.

Te Hokinga Mai Collective
🔗 tehokingamai.nz/t-mtou-mahi--our-work

04/08/2026

💜 Are you a NICU or SCBU dad with a story to share?

We’d love to hear from dads who have experienced the neonatal journey and would like to share their story for Fathers Day.

Every NICU and SCBU journey is different, and dads often play an incredible role in supporting their baby and whānau through some of the most challenging days. Your experiences can bring strength, hope and reassurance to other families who are walking a similar path.

If you’d like to share your story, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at [email protected].

22/06/2026

Today is International Fathers' Mental Health Awareness Day.

Fathers / non-birthing partners are a crucial part of the whānau during the perinatal period and often their mental wellbeing is never asked about.

We are working to change that and have a free Wellbeing for Dads group where any person identifying as a father can get peer support, connect with other fathers and learn how to support their own mental wellbeing and that of their partners.

If you or a father you know would like some support in Canterbury refer via our website, https://perinatalwellbeing.org.nz.

21/06/2026

We may not have many photos of our volunteers due to keeping the privacy of our parents intact, but that doesn't mean we don't celebrate them. We couldn't run our 9 Wellbeing Groups or keep ourselves growing without the amazing volunteers we have with us. Last year they gifted over 700 hours!!!

We see you and we celebrate you 💙

17/06/2026

June is Men's Mental Health awareness month and here at Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury we are passionate about making sure fathers get the support they need during pregnancy and the early years of parenting.

Our free Wellbeing For Dads group provides support and guidance for fathers who
- are experiencing anxiety, depression or feeling overwhelmed
- are supporting a partner with perinatal mental distress

Rainbow friendly - any parent identifying as a father is welcome.
Referrals are required and self referrals are accepted.

Refer via our website or use the QR code

16/06/2026

Congratulations to Christine on receiving a well deserved Volunteer Recognition Award this week.

Christine has volunteered with us for over 5 years as a Peer Supporter.

We are incredibly grateful and thankful for her mahi and the amazing support she provides for mothers in Canterbury ❤️

22/05/2026

As we farewell the amazing Cheryl Moffat after 6 years of guiding and shaping Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury into where we are today, we are on the lookout for a new Board Chair & Trustee. If you are interested apply via Seek or by emailing Erin on [email protected].

💙 A huge thank you and good wishes to Cheryl 💙

https://seekvolunteer.co.nz/volunteering/127423/Board-Chairperson-Trustee

07/05/2026

Thank you Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust for summing up the key insights from the Āhurutia Te Rito / It Takes A Village report from 2022. These are still the priorities and why we connect with other organisations in the perinatal mental health space in Canterbury and nationwide. Together we are working on addressing the need and ensuring parents and whānau are able to access the right support at the right time.

Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week 💚

It really does take a village.

When parents and whānau are supported through hapūtanga, birth and the first year of pēpi’s life, the impact reaches far beyond one person, it strengthens the wellbeing of the whole whānau.

Perinatal mental health support should be timely, accessible, culturally safe and grounded in aroha.

This week, we continue to uplift the importance of walking alongside whānau, reducing whakamā, and making sure support is never out of reach.

Learn more: https://pada.nz/perinatal-mental-health-awareness-week/

07/05/2026

These words from Amy at PADA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa could have been spoken by any one of us doing this mahi.

You are not alone. We are here to listen, to support and to celebrate the good things.

06/05/2026

Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day, recognised on the first Wednesday of May each year 💙

This day focuses on raising awareness, influencing policy, and reducing the stigma around perinatal mental health 💚 (wmmhday.org)

Anyone can be affected by perinatal mental health. In Aotearoa, Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities are disproportionately impacted, highlighting the need for more equitable support and ongoing advocacy.

Stand with us today, this week, and beyond as we continue pushing for change.

💙💚

A reminder that many locations across Aotearoa are lighting up green throughout the week for Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week.

Full list of landmarks and dates below ⬇