Parent to Parent

06/10/2026

Hi there
It's that time of the year again and I am after some volunteers to work at Christmas at the Races on the 12th December 2026. This is an annual fundraiser for Parent to Parent Southland. For your effort, you will be taken out for a lovely lunch in later January for my way of saying thanks. This is our 5th year of participating in this prestigious event. They money raised goes towards operational costs, so I can keep supporting families throughout Southland that have a child or family member with a health impairment, disability or special need. It is a full on day, but it is lots of fun. You have to be over 18 and able to work under pressure. Your role is to serve drinks in the bars around the racecourse. There is no money handling as every sale is done with a scanner. Each customer has a wrist band that is loaded with money. The scanner is simple to use, and you will be given training on the day. You will also be fully trained in the other aspects of the role. If this sounds like something you would like to do, then please get in touch with me and I can tell you more about what the day involves. I really rely on support for this event and would love to have you on board if you are keen.
Many thanks
MaryAnn

06/10/2026

Hi there
Below is a flyer for the next "Way to Play" from Autism NZ. Cost $25.00 and the link to register is below.
Regards
MaryAnn

Link to book: https://book.autismnz.org.nz/event?id=914

04/10/2026

Hi there
I will be holding a Coffee/Support group in Gore next Wednesday 14th October at Calvin Community Church starting at 11.00 am. Everyone is welcome that has a child or family member that has a health impairment, disability or special need. I wil also have Julianne Andrews from Southland with me to answer any questions.. Morning Tea is provided. I look forward to seeing you there.
Kind regards
MaryAnn

04/10/2026

Hi there
Next Monday 12th October is the Invercargill Coffee Support group. This is for parents and carers who have a child or family member with a health impairment, disability or special need. It is at Southland Community House, 46 Kelvin St starting at 10.00 am. Morning Tea is provided. My Guest Speaker is Kirsten Hoyle from Fire & Emergency who will speak about Emergency Safety and Accessibility for people with health impairments and disabilities. I look forward to seeing you there.
Regards
MaryAnn

01/10/2026

I don't know about anyone else but I'm over this rain. But try and have a relaxing and happy weekend.
MaryAnn 😊

24/09/2026

Wakitipu Youth Trust are very fortunate and excited to have a collab with Wellness Riders who are putting on an Adaptive Skateboarding programme on Monday the 5th October https://whakatipuyouthtrust.org.nz/shop/current-programmes/uncategorized/monday-5-october-adaptive-skate-day/

There are limited spaces and please sign up using the link to Wellness Riders on our website or sign up directly on their website.
We hope this goes well in our community, as it may create opportunities for more in the future 🤞

Ēhara tāku toa i te toa takatahi, engari he toa takitini. Our strength is not made from us alone, but made from many.

Ngā mihi nui

Jacs
Jacqui Moir (she/her)
General Manager / Kaiwhakahaere Matua



Whakatipu Youth Trust | www.whakatipuyouthtrust.org.nz

PO Box 1948, 3/13 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, Queenstown

Office: 03 451 1413 | Mobile: 021 525 595

www.whakatipuyouthtrust.org.nz

24/09/2026

Hi there
I have limited tickets for a Pool Party in Queenstown at Alpine Aqualand in Frankton on Sunday 18th October from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm. If your family are keen to attend then please email me: [email protected] with the number of tickets required and a postal address to send the tickets.FIFS.
MaryAnn

21/09/2026

Please contact Kate or Gareth with any enquiries about their school holiday programme.

www.trueinnature.com
[email protected]
G - 0226381498 | K - 0226381497

21/09/2026

Kia ora,

You’re warmly invited to our Social Connection – Free Movie Day on Thursday, 24 September, 1:30- to 3:30PM.
Come along, relax, enjoy a movie and some free light snacks, and spend time connecting with others in a friendly and welcoming space.
Feel free to bring a support person with you. They are very welcome to join in too.
We hope to see you there!

Ngā mihi,

Aurora Catu

Programmer - Inclusion and Access
[email protected]
Phone: 032111444 • DDI: +6421459735
www.ilibrary.co.nz
50 Dee Street, Invercargill, 9810 • Private Bag 90111

In Family History Month this August, we're inviting you to celebrate your family history, your people and the stories that make your family unique.

05/09/2026

This we're celebrating 20 years of Altogether Autism! This family’s journey through their daughter's diagnosis, childhood and early adulthood precisely tracks Altogether Autism’s 20-year history 💜💙💜. When interwoven with MaryAnn’s 15-year Parent to Parent role as peer support to whānau, their story gives on-the-ground insight into the landscape travelled over the past two decades. Link in the comments 👇

This family’s journey through their daughter's autism diagnosis, childhood and early adulthood precisely tracks Altogether Autism’s 20-year history. When interwoven with MaryAnn’s 15-year Parent to Parent role as peer support to whānau, their story gives on-the-ground insight into the landsca...

19/08/2026

A way to flip the script, relieve stress and hopefully raise a smile at mealtimes! 😄

01/07/2026

💛💙🧡 20 years! 💜💙💜

Today we acknowledge a milestone: 20 years since Your Way l Kia Roha and Parent to Parent signed a partnership that brought the Altogether Autism service into being.

Two decades on, we're still here, proud to be trusted by autistic people and whānau to deliver information and advice that is authentic to autistic experience and informed by the latest research.

We invite you to celebrate with us over the coming weeks as we reflect on the journey, honour those whose stories and contributions have shaped and given life to our mahi, and look to the future.

25/06/2026

By funding our Canterbury respite programme, The Gift Trust and Columba Fund are showing carers they are seen, heard, highly valued, and that their wellbeing matters. Please join us in showing your appreciation for family carers and these donors, who are changing lives.

Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takatini. My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

23/06/2026

Today we're giving a Sector Shoutout to The Gift Trust and Columba Fund.

Hero family carers are in every street, school and workplace but they are all too often unseen, unheard and unappreciated.

By funding our Canterbury respite programme, The Gift Trust and Columba Fund are showing carers they are seen, heard, highly valued, and that their wellbeing matters. Please join us in showing your appreciation for family carers and these donors, who are changing lives.

Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takatini. My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

11/06/2026

is a timely opportunity to let family carers know how much they are valued by so many, across the motu 🙏. Please like and share to show support for everything they do. And join us in thanking The Gift Trust and Columba Fund group of anonymous donors for funding this getaway programme in Greater Canterbury 🙏.

If you would like to enable more family carers to access fully organised, tailored respite, please contact our funding team.

07/05/2026

Join us in celebrating 20 years of NZSL as an official language of Aotearoa! For , we’ve popped links to key resources from our disability sector partners and some compelling reasons to learn NZSL in one place—‘Resources and Reasons to Learn NZSL’ (link in the comments / in our linktree in bio). We encourage everyone to have a go at some new signs this week—each and every one you know helps build connection and inclusion! ✋💛💙🧡✋

Sector Shoutout to Deaf Aotearoa Deaf Aotearoa - First Signs Wellington Association for Deaf Children and TuriTv.com

29/04/2026

For , we have put together entry-level, generalised information on a couple of common topics brought to our Support & Information team, through the Altogether Autism service—‘Outbursts at School’ and ‘School Refusal, or School Can’t’.

Background information often helps reassure families they are not alone and helps to identify where more in-depth, personalised support might be needed. We hope these resources are useful to whānau first encountering these issues and wondering about steps forward.

If the resources spark a question about your own situation, Parent to Parent’s S&I team provide information that relates to families’ specific circumstances; tailored, evidence-based support that can’t be found elsewhere. Free, confidential information can be requested whatever age or stage your loved one is at, as many times as needed.

20/03/2026

Yes 🙌, it’s World Down Syndrome Day! 🙌 This year’s theme is ‘Together Against Loneliness.’ Ruhani's beautiful short story is the perfect example of why connection is key to living our best lives.

At Parent to Parent, we feel so lucky to know this wonderful young woman, as does everyone around her. Please share her story to celebrate the power of recognising a person's potential—and people working together to realise it. As Ruhani says to her young dance student, ‘You can do that! You can!’

Oh, and btw, Ruhani’s dream is to become a model, so we are open to connections that could help make that dream a reality! 💃

World Down Syndrome Day - WEAR ODD SOCKS