Mates4Life, Napier (2026)

02/06/2026

What a night. Last week our lead kaiwhakahaere (facilitator) Misty King took to the stage at the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce 'She Leads: Driven by Impact' event, alongside two incredible wāhine - Deidre and Alesha Hope.

Misty shared her story of resilience and overcoming challenges, and what leading with aroha and kindness really looks like in practice. She also reminded us all to make time for the people we love, and she shared about the important mahi we do at Mates4Life, training people to recognise when someone isn't ok, and giving them the skills to help.

Deidré Venter, Manager of Heretaunga Women’s Centre spoke beautifully about how her own challenges shaped her path, and encouraged everyone to get involved in a charitable organisation. You never know where it might take you.

And Alesha Hope, Executive Officer of Hawke’s Bay Foundation, had us all nodding along - naming imposter syndrome as that "fairly constant, uninvited friend" many of us know too well, rallying for women to champion each other, and calling for a more sustainable model in the charity sector. A call we wholeheartedly support.

We're super proud of Misty and grateful to the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce for putting this event together.

28/05/2026

Not every conversation has to start with someone struggling.

Sometimes it starts with laughter around a table.
A shared story.
A moment where people feel comfortable enough to open up, connect, and simply be themselves.

That’s a big part of what Mates4Life is about. Creating spaces where real conversations can happen - not just when things are hard, but before they get there.

Connection matters. In our workplaces, our teams, our whānau, and our communities. 💚

26/05/2026

We always love hearing from the people who’ve been through our workshops 💚⁠
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Cherrington, Health Coach Team Lead from Hawke’s Bay, said it perfectly after our SCOPETalk workshop last week:⁠
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“Working in the health sector means we’re always supporting others, so it was really nice to take some time to reflect on and prioritise our own wellbeing as well”⁠
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That’s exactly what SCOPETalk was designed to do.⁠
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Most conversations around mental health focus on supporting others - SCOPETalk turns the lens inward, giving people the space, tools, and confidence to look after their own wellbeing first.⁠
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In workplaces like the health sector, where people spend so much time caring for others, creating that space for reflection and connection is incredibly important.⁠
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If you’d like to bring that same experience to your team or organisation, we’d love to kōrero about what Mates4Life can offer and the difference these conversations can make.⁠
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Ngā mihi nui to Kahurangi and the team at Health Hawke’s Bay for partnering with Mates4Life, and for the role you play in supporting the wellbeing of our community 💚⁠
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20/05/2026

A huge thank you to the incredible team at Health Hawke's Bay who welcomed us to meet their team and to present our SCOPETalk Workshop recently.

The Health Hawke’s Bay Health Coaches, Health Improvement Practitioners, and Talking Based Therapists all form the backbone of support for our Hawke's Bay community, so it was great to see them taking time to look after their own mental health too.

That's what SCOPETalk is all about. While most of our Mates4Life workshops focus on learning how to help others who might be struggling, SCOPETalk turns that lens inward and gives people the tools to look after their own mental health first. Like the airlines say, ‘put your own oxygen mask on first’.

We know right now that a lot of people and businesses across Hawke's Bay are doing it tough. If you'd like to explore what a SCOPETalk workshop could look like for your team, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

And check out Health Hawke’s Bay to see all the great services they offer.

18/05/2026

We’re incredibly proud to see our very own M4L Facilitator, Misty King, speaking at She Leads: Driven By Impact later this month. 💚

Every day, Misty brings passion, authenticity, and deep care into the mahi she does alongside our community - helping create safe spaces for connection, open kōrero, and support through difficult moments.

Her session will explore the importance of connection, tikanga, whakapapa, and honest conversations in building resilience and supporting wellbeing - values that sit at the heart of the work we do at Mates4Life.

A huge thank you to the 's Bay Chamber of Commerce, ChamberWorks, and Bizdom for creating opportunities like this and continuing to bring important conversations into our community.

If you haven’t already, we’d highly encourage getting along to this event and supporting not only Misty, but the incredible lineup of wāhine leaders sharing their stories and insights. 👏💚

🎟 Tickets and more information can be found via the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce website: https://lnkd.in/e4refJfx

13/05/2026

💗 Pink Shirt Day is a reminder that the way we treat one another matters.

Bullying, exclusion, and harmful behaviour can have a lasting impact - not just in schools, but in workplaces, homes, sports teams, and communities too.

At Mates4Life, we see every day how important connection, kindness, and looking out for one another really is. Creating safe environments where people feel seen, supported, and comfortable to speak up can make a powerful difference.

A big part of the work we do is supporting people experiencing distress - and often that distress can stem from exactly the kinds of things Pink Shirt Day highlights: bullying, isolation, exclusion, and feeling like you don’t belong.

Sometimes it’s the small things that matter most:
💗 Checking in
💗 Including others
💗 Speaking up
💗 Choosing kindness

Because everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and connected.

How to support Pink Shirt Day:
1️⃣ Wear pink
2️⃣ Start conversations around kindness and inclusion
3️⃣Support fundraising efforts
4️⃣ Learn more at: https://pinkshirtday.org.nz

Today is a reminder to stand together against bullying and continue building stronger, more supportive communities across Hawke’s Bay.

11/05/2026

Supporting the people who support our community

Recently, the Mates4Life team delivered a Safety Aider workshop with Hato Hone St John - equipping frontline and community responders with practical tools to recognise and respond to signs of distress.

The engagement and kōrero throughout the session reinforced just how important these conversations are, especially for the people supporting our communities every day. But these skills don’t stop in the workplace - they also help people better support one another within their teams, whānau, and homes.

We’re incredibly grateful to work alongside organisations like Hato Hone St John who continue to prioritise the wellbeing of their people while carrying out such important mahi across Hawke’s Bay. 💚

As shared by their Area Operations Manager:
“Suicide is sadly a daily reminder for our St John Ambulance Officers on the frontline in our community. However, we have also had su***de impact on a personal level. So, having the awesome Mates4Life team come and engage with our people at our Ambulance Stations and work with us to increase our awareness amongst each other, has been well received and invaluable.”

Ngā mihi to the Hato Hone St John team for having us. 💚

08/05/2026

Sometimes people just need someone to notice.

If you’ve noticed changes in someone around you lately - maybe they’ve gone a bit quiet, seem withdrawn, or just don’t quite seem themselves - don’t ignore that feeling.

You don’t need to have the perfect words or all the answers. Often, simply checking in and showing someone you care can make a real difference.

As we head into the weekend, take a moment to reach out to the people around you. A conversation, a message, or simply showing up might mean more than you realise.

06/05/2026

💚 The impact behind the work⁠

Every workshop, every conversation, and every connection adds up.⁠
Since launching, Mates4Life has worked alongside hundreds of organisations across Hawke’s Bay - helping equip our community with the confidence to recognise signs of distress, start conversations, and support one another.⁠

So far, our programmes have reached:⁠
✔ 293 partner organisations⁠
✔ Over 9,600 people through Awareness workshops⁠
✔ More than 1,500 trained Safety Aiders⁠
✔ Thousands more through Kai & Kōrero and community sessions⁠

Behind every number is a real person - someone who now feels more confident to check in, notice when something’s not right, and support those around them.⁠

This is what building a stronger Hawke’s Bay looks like - and we’re only just getting started. 💚⁠

If you’ve been thinking about bringing Mates4Life into your workplace or organisation, now is the time to start the conversation.⁠

29/04/2026

For the second year in a row, we’re kicking off Slay May and Maggie’s 100km in May for Tradies Challenge

These two incredible fundraisers are all about getting behind our people, raising awareness, and supporting mental health - particularly within the trades and wider community.

Slay May is a challenge to complete 31 workouts (one each day of May), encouraging people to build positive habits and prioritise their wellbeing

Maggie’s 100km in May is a personal challenge, with Maggie taking on 100km across the month and inviting anyone who wants to get involved to give it a go and join her along the way - all to raise awareness for mental health in the trades

Both initiatives support the work of Mates4Life and our partnership with Spark That Chat, helping drive real conversations and equip more people with the confidence to support one another.

💚 We’d love you to be part of it

Join us for the official kick-off:
📍 Mitre 10 Sports Park
🗓 Friday 1st May
⏰ 7:00am

👉 Find out more, get involved, or support the fundraisers here:
• Slay May Challenge - https://mates4life.org.nz/slay-may-2026/
• Maggie’s 100km in May - https://mates4life.org.nz/run-for-mental-health/

Whether you’re taking part, showing up to support, or backing from the sidelines — it all makes a difference.

Let’s get in behind it. 💚

Mates4Life

02/06/2026

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