Balance Aotearoa

23/09/2025

Is there someone in your life who goes out of their way to help others without expecting anything back?
A kaimahi you've been working with who you feel is just the bees knees and deserves a pat on the back?
A little dude down the street who mows your nans lawns cause she cant anymore?
A teacher whose really made a difference in your tamarikis life?
A rangatahi who helps with everything and is always giving back?
An organisation who consistently goes above and beyond who deserves some recognition for their mahi?

Check out the Community Shoutouts for this year's He Hononga Ora - Connections that give life event.

Anyone in Whanganui can nominate ANYONE in Whanganui to get some recognition for the love they put into the world ❤️

The first 50 of each category getting a certificate and a gift, and anyone after that getting a certificate.
PLUS anyone nominated and the person who nominated them goes in the draw to win one of 5 major prizes!

Prize and recognition details wont be completely revealed until the day

Nominations close September 28th

Nominate here :

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfo67FOmoL8Ijj6nb3ipUsUPHTdJLoejwudJLYaflraY_OQmA/viewform?usp=header

22/09/2025

Our Conversation Cafe is taking a turn this month, we're using the space to hold an information session on the new cafe.

Do you have questions about the cafe?
Want to know what it is, how it works, who can come?
Come on down to one of our TWO info sessions for a kōrero, some answers and have a first hand look at our welcoming space !

Pop it in your diaries, hope to see you there !

Thursday 25th September 5:15pm
Tuesday 30th September 10am

Both sessions at the new cafe
63A Ridgway Street

22/09/2025

Survivors welcome to hui at MIST 🥰

21/09/2025

TOMORROW !!!!

The Draft Disability Strategy for 2026–2030 is out, and we want to hear from you. This is your chance to share your thoughts and help shape a future where disabled people can fully take part in all parts of life.

We will look at the main parts of the strategy together, like education, work, health, housing, and justice. You can tell us what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change to make things better for everyone.

This workshop will be a relaxed and friendly space where you can share your ideas, hear from others, and help us write a strong submission that speaks for our community.

Come join us, have your say, and help make a real difference
disabled people across Aotearoa.

19/09/2025

The Draft Disability Strategy for 2026–2030 is out, and we want to hear from you. This is your chance to share your thoughts and help shape a future where disabled people can fully take part in all parts of life.

We will look at the main parts of the strategy together, like education, work, health, housing, and justice. You can tell us what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change to make things better for everyone.

This workshop will be a relaxed and friendly space where you can share your ideas, hear from others, and help us write a strong submission that speaks for our community.

Come join us, have your say, and help make a real difference
disabled people across Aotearoa.

19/09/2025

The real way to end stigma is not to encourage more and more people to see themselves as mentally ill and broken - but to actually fight the pathologisation of normal and natural human emotions.
The entire field of mental health and psychiatry rely on stigma to exist. Just think on that for a moment. Stigma is defined as a mark of disgrace or significant unwanted difference from some ‘norm’. Mental disorder diagnoses RELY on social stigma to exist - if we just accepted that everyone was unique and different, and that trauma was common, natural and normal - we wouldn’t be framing people as sick, ill, disordered and in need of lifelong medications and treatments for their emotions and thoughts.

16/09/2025

Thursday Evening Social Group:

🎉 Bingo Night! 🎉

Come along for an exciting evening of bingo, laughter, and connection. Numbers will be called, prizes will be won, and fun will be had by all! ✨

📅 Date: Thursday 18th September
🕕 Time: 5–7pm
📍 Location: 63a Ridgway Street, Central, Whanganui
(The old Aunty’s Community Cafe location)

Bring your friends, grab a card, and get ready to shout BINGO! We look forward to seeing you there!

15/09/2025

Kia Ora Whānau,

We have a final poll for the naming of the warm cafe that recently opened up at the old Aunty's premises.
Taking into account the previous poll results, and the new names given in that poll we have nailed it down to 3 names and we want your feedback on which one is the right one.

Click the link below, have your say and share it far and wide to gather the most community voice as possible !!

Due to new names being given in the last poll, the team behind the scenes have decided to put it to a re-vote. Taking into consideration the alternative names given from the poll and the results of the poll itself. We have chosen the top 3 names and are putting them to a vote. Once this poll closes,...