Family Start Nelson Tasman

24/07/2026

The latest child poverty report is a sobering reminder that too many tamariki in Aotearoa are growing up without life's basic necessities. Behind every statistic is a child, a whānau, and a story.

He Matapuna Ora Charitable Trust – Family Start, we see the difference that early support can make. We walk alongside families with young children, helping them build confidence, strengthen parenting, connect with services, and give their pēpi the best possible start in life.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/781462/report-on-child-poverty-reveals-national-shame-children-s-comissioner-says?fbclid=IwY2xjawTPwT5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFRQm55ZHRnMmpCSGhwakI2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgNfgW3KIc4_P0N4v7wYD0ih15Vszo5rtRbwjfHj--Whq9t1BhgNTjirX4WS_aem_KfjTWEL8UUSN9gPpfChKcg

The Children's Commissioner says the latest report on child poverty reveals the country's "national shame".

28/06/2026

Our Family Start team has recently embarked on Tūpuna Parenting Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi, to strengthen our shared understanding of whānau-centred practice and deepen our commitment to supporting parents and caregivers with confidence, compassion, and cultural responsiveness.

This professional development is more than just learning new knowledge—it is about growing together as a team, reflecting on our practice, and carrying this kaupapa forward into every interaction we have with the whānau we serve. As we continue this journey, we are building a shared foundation that empowers us to nurture stronger relationships, celebrate the strengths of families, and create lasting positive change for tamariki and their whānau.

Together, we are growing our skills, strengthening our practice, and ensuring the values of Te Puna Parenting are woven into our everyday work, so that this kaupapa continues to flourish across all of our roles. This video is a small insight into this kaupapa.

Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi, developed by Tūpuna Parenting, is one of the only kaupapa Māori professional development programmes about parenting offered in Aotearoa. The most recent cohort completed the 15-week course, which included a two-day noho marae at Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka.

18/06/2026

🎉 A Huge Thank You to Our Quiz Night Sponsors & Donors! 🎉

As we prepare for another fantastic Annual Quiz Night (Tuesday 23rd June 7pm at Sprig + Fern Marsden) we'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the incredible local businesses who have generously donated prizes and support to help make this event possible.

Your generosity helps create a memorable evening for our community and contributes to the success of the event.

👏 NTS Nutrition – helping New Zealanders achieve lasting health, nutrition and fitness goals through personalised coaching - https://www.ntsnutrition.co.nz/

👏 Pitt & Moore Lawyers - https://www.pittandmoore.co.nz/

👏 FICO Finance - https://www.fico.co.nz/

👏 Tax Link Nelson - https://www.taxlink.co.nz/nelson

👏 FuseIT - https://www.fuseit.com/

👏 Enriched Plumbing & Gas - https://www.enrichedplumbing.co.nz/

👏 Tides Bar & Eatery - https://www.tideshotel.co.nz/dine

👏 Design by George - https://www.designbygeorge.co.nz/

👏 Stoke Motors - https://www.stokemotors.co.nz/

👏 Sunrise Cleaning - https://www.sunrisecleaningservices.co.nz/

Please join us in supporting these businesses that so generously support our community. We are incredibly grateful for your contribution and partnership.

01/06/2026

Family Start is often the difference between a family surviving and a family thriving. In the face of child poverty, housing stress, family violence, isolation and financial hardship, Family Start walks alongside whānau during some of their hardest moments — helping keep children safe, healthy, connected and given the best possible start in life. Every child deserves that chance.

30/05/2026

Did you know? 💡 Family Start is a free home visiting service that works alongside families in their own homes. Family Start helps build confidence, strengthen parenting skills, support children’s health and development, and connect whānau with services and resources in their community, helping give tamariki the best possible start in life!

23/04/2026

It’s encouraging to see some clarity around the future of Family Start, but our advocacy continues. Family Start has proven again and again that it works for tamariki and whānau. We absolutely support continuous improvement, but we also need to ask: why redesign a programme that already delivers strong, measurable outcomes? Our communities deserve stability, not uncertainty. We’ll keep standing up for Family Start and the families who rely on it!

The head of a social service provider is nervous about what might happen once its contract moves under the Social Investment Agency.

21/04/2026

As we look forward to our annual Quiz Night fund raiser, we are currently seeking raffle prize donations... if you’re able to support us with goods or vouchers, you’ll be helping your community and making a real difference - please reach out!

PS - Don't forget to book your table! Sprig + Fern Marsden

01/04/2026

Early support saves lives — and it’s at risk.

Family Start Nelson Tasman delivers proven, effective early‑intervention support for pēpi, tamariki and their whānau. Our intensive home‑visiting service strengthens parenting, improves wellbeing, and prevents harm before it happens.

Prevention is far more effective — and far less costly — than crisis response. Family Start improves outcomes like infant health, immunisation, education engagement, and reduces abuse, family violence and crime. For many families, early support is the difference between stability and escalation.