Support Over the Holidays
Thank you to our community members who offered many of these recommendations! There’s a diverse range of options and reading below, so have a browse, and if something resonates or you want to add to this list, please let us know. Email us at community@changingminds.org.nz and we’ll add your offerings over the holiday season!
Articles and Info
Looking after yourself if Christmas feels hard | Mental Health Foundation
The holiday period can put challenges on our health for any number of reasons. This article from the MHF affirms that what you might be feeling is perfectly normal and reasonable given the stress of the period, as well as offering some advice, tips, and places for support for multiple challenges that can come up at Christmas.
The orphan’s Christmas | The Spinoff
An article from Tāmaki based writer and playwright Sam Brooks, about navigating grief and loss over the holiday period. A delicate subject, discussed with kindness and a gentle humour!
A solo Christmas is great, actually | Ensemble Magazine
Another article from Sam Brooks, this time talking about why, actually, a solo Christmas can have its benefits, alongside the challenges.
The Benefits and Challenges of Boundaries During the Holidays | Anxiety NZ
A beautiful article around the challenging task of boundary setting during the holidays, reinforcing its benefits, but also acknowledging that this time of year can be a hard one! A good mix of discourse and more practical tips.
12 Rules for Happier Holidays - IWR
Some real gems in this list of 12 Rules (ideas? principles?) to guide you through Christmas. A good resource for those who enjoy preparing by focusing on mindset and personal perspective before a big event.
Creative Clinical Psychologist
An illustrator creating wonderful pieces around wellbeing, including an advent series with an illustration each day on their Facebook. They also have a Patreon account with more as well!
A fun and safe Christmas - Parent to Parent
This article from 2021 was written during pandemic times, but it’s important to remember that Covid still exists and poses a serious risk to our immunocompromised whānau. Many of the tips in this article are still relevant! Parent to Parent also has a resource hub with a whole trove of information for parents.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Co-Parents, We’re Gonna Be Okay This Christmas
Co-Parenting can pose its own challenges at the best of times, and this article from ‘Scary Mommy’ offers some solidarity and advice for the additional emotional demands this can add over Christmas.
Gift Giving Support
Kirihimete gift guide 2024: cool stuff from Māori and Pasifika-led brands | The Spinoff
Want to support our Tāngata Māori and Moana businesses this year? Check out this wonderful list created by the Spinoff!
The best books of 2024: The people’s choice | The Spinoff
Looking for the best reads of the year? Check out the Spinoffs Choices for 2024 here.
A book for every year of your life: Part one, ages 0-30 | The Spinoff
OR, looking for a specific read for your loved one, this list by poetry icon Hera Lindsey Bird offers some gems.
Deeper Questions | Question Card Game
Kiran Patel is a bit of a legend here in Tāmaki, organising community spaces and events in central Auckland. And he’s just released a card game! Deeper Questions is a series of 45 thought provoking questions intended to deepen your conversations (he chose the perfect title really), and in so doing build relationships with friends old and new.
It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the kai options available to us at Christmas. Thanks to this Tauranga based company offering 5-star spices, sauces, and all your flavour-adding needs however, you at least know your kai will never be bland!
For those chocolate lovers among us, this community-recommended confectioners and chocolatier based in Greytown has got you covered! Featuring gift boxes, flavours, and sweet treats a plenty, their award winning range is sure to hit the sweet spot.
Beehive Rentals - Bees in Auckland Wellington Christchurch Rodney
Got a garden or backyard you don’t know what to do with? Give someone the gift of honey this Xmas! Starting at $50 a year, this beehive rental service is great for the environment, aiming to increase urban bee populations, and protecting one of our most important species.
Got a hot sauce fiend in your family? This small family team based near Welly is an Aotearoa favourite and now offers gift boxes! They’ve also got recipes on how to use your H. sauce for those looking for inspiration.
We all have that friend or family member who can’t host without a candle going on the living room table! Downlights offers high quality and hand-poured soy candles, based in Auckland, and are also a living wage employer for our whānau with Down Syndrome or learning disabilities.
For our whānau in Hamilton (or anyone with national shipping), this recommended Gifts and Homeware store has all your boutique and home-y present needs sorted! They even have a dedicated Christmas section for you to sort out your shopping fast as.
We questioned including alcohol on this list, but we know that wine is a favourite gift idea, and this two-person team from North Canterbury gives us an even better reason. 100% of profits from 27seconds goes towards helping to bring an end to modern day slavery through partnership with HAGAR.
Family Friendly Events & Playful Wellbeing for our Tamariki!
A wonderful website with resources around wellbeing, games, and fun activities for our children and the whole family to do together.
Your Christmas activations trail guide | Heart of the City
Based in Auckland and looking for a day out in the city? Heart of the City is hosting a whole range of free and family friendly events and performances along Queen Street between Britomart and Aotea SQ.
The Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Auckland | URBAN LIST NEW ZEALAND
However much we become focused on gift giving and celebration, there’s nothing quite like walking amongst the glow of Christmas lights with family and loved ones.
New Zealand Teaching Resources - Twinkl
Games, learning, and activities for a wide range of age ranges. Twinkl includes activities focused on te reo Māori and material for our neurodiverse and disabled rāngatahi. They’ve even got a digital platform called Twinkl Go! Featuring games, videos and audiobooks. Some material requires a subscription, but there is a 30-day trial with unlimited downloads.
Communities we Love
Again, thank you to our community members who contributed their own spaces or other communities they’re a part of!
A community based in Waitaha / Canterbury walking alongside our Mad and neurodiverse people, families, and communities! Thriving Madly use the identity of Mad as a way of honouring the people who have been involved in the Mad Movement, both hear in Aotearoa and internationally. A wonderful Kaupapa and advocacy movement to read and learn about, and one that many in the Lived Experience community align and feel seen within.
Christmas Appeal 2024 | Auckland City Mission
The Auckland City Mission has links to both receive support and offer help to others. Support includes food, but also healthcare and housing support.
Many of you will remember Dinny and Giulia from our Whakatau Mai sessions, offering Art Yoga sessions to support our communities during Covid. We’re massive fans of their work, and they also have a podcast! Check it out over at their website, with episodes covering a vast range of wellbeing topics.
Holiday periods can be especially challenging for those with eating disorders. The wonderful folks at EDANZ have an incredibly extensive range of support options available for those looking for tools over the holiday period, for themselves or loved ones!
Information | Disability Connect
For information and resources specifically for our Disabled community members and their whānau.
And of course, a healthy dose of self-worth is important as well right? Check out our own resources here on our Changing Minds website for a range of wellbeing information, much of it from our Lived Experience community members.
To all our Mental Health, Disabled, Neurodiverse, and wider Lived Experience whānau, we hope you have a wonderful holidays! Whether you’re celebrating Christmas or other traditions, we hope the next couple of weeks bring joy, relaxation, and a heaping amount of whatever brings you joy.
The Changing Minds team will be back from the 6th of January 2025, so it won’t be long till you see us again!
Meri Kirihimete, and Happy New Year!
Changing Minds