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Mates4Life is a free su***de prevention training programme for workplaces and organisations

28/10/2026

Behind every conversation is a community that makes it possible.

Did you know that Mates4Life is a charity, supported by the generosity of our Hawke's Bay community?

The workshops we deliver, the conversations we start and the people we reach are all made possible through the incredible support of local businesses, organisations, trusts and individuals who believe in what we do.

As we reflect on another year of Mates4Life, we want to take a moment to say a massive THANK YOU to those who have helped keep our mahi going throughout 2026.

A special acknowledgement to:

Royston Health Trust
Jolly Good Chaps
Hastings District Council
Joan Fernie
Lotteries Grant Board
Hawke's Bay Rugby
GC Aid
Hawke's Bay Foundation

And to the hundreds of people across our community who have donated, fundraised, volunteered, contributed their time or supported us in countless other ways – thank you.

Whether your contribution has been big or small, it all matters.

Every donation helps us continue creating opportunities for conversations around mental wellbeing and su***de prevention, equipping everyday people with the knowledge and confidence to look out for their mates.

We're incredibly grateful to be part of a community that continues to get behind its people.

And if you'd like to help us keep this mahi going, we'd love your support.

As a charity, community support is vital to what we do. Whether it's making a donation, organising a fundraiser, becoming a supporter or simply helping spread the word, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

Because when our community gets behind Mates4Life, we're able to keep showing up for our community.

Get in touch with us to find out how you can help.

20/10/2026

Last week, our team was out and about across Hawke's Bay, connecting with so many of you through workplaces, workshops, community events and speaking engagements.

With 7 Kai & Kōrero sessions, 5 Awareness Talks, 3 Safety Aider workshops, 1 SCOPETalk workshop and 2 speaking events on the calendar, it was certainly a big week!

But beyond the numbers, it's the people, the kōrero and the connections that make this mahi so worthwhile.

To every organisation that welcomed us in, and every person who showed up, shared their experiences, asked questions or simply took the time to listen - thank you.

We also celebrated six years of Mates4Life, making the week even more special and reminding us just how grateful we are for the community that continues to stand alongside us.

This year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme, Belonging Matters, is one we hope stays with us long after the week itself.

So, here's our challenge to you...

Take a moment to look back on last week.

Did you make someone feel included? Check in on a mate? Make time for a conversation? Invite someone along? Or simply help someone feel seen, heard and valued?

And just as importantly, when did someone make you feel like you belonged?

These moments don't have to be big to make a difference.

Now, the real challenge is to keep it going.

Mental Health Awareness Week might be over, but creating a sense of belonging is something we can all contribute to, every single day.

Let's make belonging matter beyond Mental Health Awareness Week.

13/10/2026

Belonging is more than just being surrounded by people.

We can be busy, surrounded by friends, family and workmates, and still feel disconnected.

Because belonging isn't simply about having people around us. It's about feeling known, accepted and valued for who we are. It's knowing that our presence matters.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, with the theme Belonging Matters, we asked our own Mates4Life team:

What does belonging mean to you, and where do you find it?

As their responses show, belonging looks different for everyone.

It might be the comfort of family and whānau, a familiar face who remembers your coffee order, a place that feels like home, or simply being able to show up as your authentic self.

And belonging isn't just something we experience ourselves. It's something we can help create for others.

Through the little things. Making time for someone. Checking in. Being present. Helping someone feel included and valued.

So, we'd love you to think about two questions:

Where do you feel genuinely valued and connected?

And how do you help others feel that they matter?

Because belonging isn't just something we find. It's something we can help create.

12/10/2026

Today marks six years since Mates4Life began its journey here in Hawke's Bay.

Six years of conversations, connections, learning and working alongside our community to help prevent su***de.

And while we're proud of how far we've come, what stands out most isn't the numbers or milestones. It's the people.

The people who believed in Mates4Life from the beginning. Those who have been part of our team and Board, past and present. The businesses and organisations who have opened their doors and trusted us to work alongside their people. Our funders, supporters and every individual who has helped shape this journey.

Mates4Life has always been bigger than any one person or organisation. It's a community effort, built on the belief that anybody can help prevent su***de when they know what to look for and how to respond.

It's fitting that our birthday falls during Mental Health Awareness Week, with this year's theme, Belonging Matters.

Because if there's one thing the past six years have shown us, it's the power of connection, of looking out for one another, and of creating communities where people feel they matter.

To everyone who has been part of the Mates4Life story, thank you. You've helped us become what we are today, and we're incredibly grateful to be continuing this mahi alongside you.

Here's to six years of Mates4Life, and to the conversations, connections and people still to come.

11/10/2026

It's a BIG week at Mates4Life!

Mental Health Awareness Week is here, we're celebrating six years of Mates4Life tomorrow, and our team has a full week ahead connecting with people across Hawke's Bay!

Here's what's on the calendar:

7 Kai & Kōrero sessions – bringing people together for conversations about mental wellbeing.

5 Awareness talks – helping people recognise the signs that someone may be struggling and understand how to respond.

3 Safety Aider workshops – building confidence and practical skills to support others.

1 SCOPETalk workshop – encouraging people to look after their own mental wellbeing.

2 speaking events – Innovate Napier and the Belonging Matters Talk, creating more opportunities for important conversations.

This year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme is Belonging Matters, and it couldn't be more fitting.

Whether it's in our workplaces, among our mates and whānau, or across our wider communities, feeling connected, supported and included makes a difference.

For us, every workshop, every conversation and every organisation that welcomes us in is another opportunity to strengthen those connections.

Six years on, we're incredibly grateful to be doing this mahi alongside our community – and excited for the week ahead!

09/10/2026

World Mental Health Day 💚

Today is World Mental Health Day.

So today, we’re keeping the message simple:
Make more space to listen.

Put the phone down.
Ask the extra question.
Give someone time to answer.
Listen without jumping in to fix it.
Make room for the honest kōrero.

Sometimes people don’t need us to have the right words or all the answers.

They just need to know they’ve been heard.

So today, take a moment. Check in with someone. And when you ask how they’re doing, make more space to really listen. 💚

08/10/2026

Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week, running from 12–18 October across Aotearoa.

This year’s theme is:
BELONGING MATTERS.

It’s a simple message, but an important one.

Feeling like we belong – with our mates, our whānau, in our workplaces and within our communities – can make a real difference to our wellbeing.

And helping someone feel like they belong doesn’t have to mean doing something big.

It can look like:
• Making time for a kōrero
• Checking in with a workmate
• Inviting someone along
• Sitting down for a coffee or kai together
• Reaching out to someone you haven’t heard from in a while
• Simply making someone feel seen, heard and included

At Mates4Life, we know the value of connection. Often, it’s the everyday moments and conversations that help build stronger, more supportive communities.

So as we head into Mental Health Awareness Week, there’s one question worth thinking about:
What could you do next week to help someone feel like they belong?

Sometimes the smallest actions can make a big difference. 💚

For more information, ideas and free resources for MHAW 2026, visit Mental Health Awareness Week NZ. https://mhaw.nz

07/10/2026

602 lives.
602 people loved and missed.
602 too many. 💚

The latest provisional su***de data for Aotearoa New Zealand has been released.

In 2025/26, 602 people died by suspected su***de – a rate of 10.5 per 100,000 people. While both the number and rate have decreased slightly from the previous year, the change is not statistically significant.

Behind that number are people.

Mates. Workmates. Partners. Parents. Children. Brothers and sisters. Members of our communities.

And behind every life lost are others whose lives are changed forever.

Any number is too many.

At Mates4Life, these statistics reinforce why this mahi matters – and why su***de prevention can't sit with one person, organisation or service alone.
We believe anybody can help prevent su***de when they know what to look for and how to respond.

It can start with noticing a change.

Checking in.
Asking the question.
Listening.
Knowing where to turn for more support.

We can't change these numbers overnight. But together, we can keep building communities where people are better equipped to recognise when someone might be struggling and have the confidence to respond.

Every life matters. Every conversation matters. 💚

If you or someone you know needs support, free call or text 1737 at any time to speak with a trained counsellor. In an emergency, call 111.

30/09/2026

Some important conversations are coming to Hastings this October 💚

The next The Profit Unleashed is shaping up to be a great night, with Israel Dagg, Teilah Ferguson and Shaleah Lawrence taking the stage to share three very different stories spanning sport, business, adversity and backing yourself when it counts.

Held on Thursday 15 October as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s an opportunity to hear some honest kōrero, connect with others in our community and take something meaningful away from the night.

We’re proud to get in behind The Profit Unleashed for creating opportunities for important conversations and giving the stage to people who can speak openly from their own experiences.

Because the more we make space for honest kōrero - about the challenges, the setbacks and everything that happens behind the scenes - the easier we make it for others to have those conversations too. 💚

📅 Thursday 15 October
⏰ 5.30pm – 8.00pm
📍 The Atrium @ The Tribune, Hastings

Tickets are on sale now:
Grab your tickets via Eventfinda
Find out more about The Profit Unleashed

Get along, support a great local event and be part of the conversation.

21/09/2026

KEEP AN EYE OUT, HAWKE’S BAY

Over the weekend, our Mates4Life trailer was broken into and our generator, valued at around $5,000, was stolen.

This generator plays an important role in our mahi - it powers our BBQ trailer used for Kai & Kōrero sessions and community events across Hawke’s Bay.

We’re asking everyone to please keep an eye out. If you see a generator being sold locally that looks suspicious, or you know anything that could help us track it down, please get in touch with us directly.

And if you can, please share this post. The more eyes we have out there, the better chance we have of getting it back.

Thanks for looking out for us, Hawke’s Bay. 💚

Address

Napier

Telephone

+6421468611

Website

https://mates4life.org.nz/

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