Family Start Nelson Tasman

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!

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.

27/03/2026

💥Funding at risk - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT💥

Family Start Nelson Tasman provides life-changing early support to families and young children across our community — but this essential service is now at risk.

Thousands of whānau could lose access to critical prevention and early-intervention support as Oranga Tamariki funding for prevention programmes comes under review, with a Cabinet decision expected by the end of April 2026.

How you can help right now:

💥 Like and share this post to spread awareness
💥Send letters of support to: [email protected]
💥Write to your local MP and tell them these services matter
💥Tag friends, whānau, and community members who care about tamariki and families
💥Follow our page to stay informed and involved

Early support changes lives. It keeps tamariki safe, strengthens families, and builds healthier communities for everyone.

Please help us ensure Nelson Tasman whānau continue to receive the support they need — every share makes a difference. 💛

26/03/2026

Yesterday our fabulous Whānau Worker Shelley had the pleasure of welcoming Helping Families Nelson who delivered the first of their Easter eggs as part of their 🐣 NO CHILD GOES WITHOUT – EASTER APPEAL 2026 🐣 for some of the whānau we support.

What a wonderful initiative — these generous gifts will bring smiles and a little extra joy this Easter to many tamariki and whānau in our community. 🐰

A huge thank you to the Helping Families Nelson team for your kindness, support, and ongoing commitment to local whānau. It is truly appreciated by both our team and the whānau we walk alongside.

Ngā mihi nui 💛

26/03/2026

We are incredibly proud to share that our Board Chair - Wendy Logan recently attended the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York, representing Soroptimist International - a global volunteer organisation that works to improve the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment, and advocacy.

The Commission on the Status of Women brings together leaders, advocates, and change-makers committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls everywhere.

16/03/2026

Happy Social Work Day 💙

Today we celebrate the incredible people who show up for whānau every single day — with open hearts, listening ears, practical support and helpful tools in their kitty for every crisis.

From early mornings to late afternoons, home visits to hard conversations, big wins to small steps forward — you walk alongside families through it all.

Thank you for the compassion, strength, patience, and aroha you bring to our community. Nelson Tasman is stronger because of you.

You are seen, appreciated and you make a difference — every day. 💙

07/03/2026

Today we celebrate the incredible women of our Family Start team — 17 strong, compassionate, determined wāhine who show up every day for whānau in our community.

Their work isn’t always visible, but it is powerful. They walk alongside families through tough moments, celebrate the small wins, advocate fiercely for children, and never give up on the belief that every whānau deserves the chance to thrive.

On International Women’s Day we acknowledge the skill, heart, and resilience these women bring to their work and to our community. We are proud of the difference they make every single day.

Here’s to strong women — supporting whānau, lifting communities, and creating better futures for tamariki. 💜