Engaging Communities

18/11/2025

Free Delivery in Ellesmere & Surrounds We’re pleased to deliver orders over $15 for free in Prebbleton, Lincoln, Springston, Leeston, Southbridge, Irwell, Doyleston, Rolleston, and the rural communities nearby.

Please note: there’s a glitch on our website. When you click “View Cart”, a $10 flat fee may appear. Don’t worry — this disappears once you proceed to checkout:

Continue to Checkout.

Select Pick Up.

A Free Delivery option will then appear, and the $10 fee will be removed.

Complete your order.

Ring me on 022 458 0339 and we’ll arrange a suitable delivery time.

Thank you for your patience while we fix this — and enjoy free delivery from us to you 🌿

17/11/2025

01/11/2025

Looking for a competent affordable to health support at your next Canterbury event

01/11/2025

The mobile utility trailer is officially ready. Purpose-built for events and community outreach, it offers both emergency response and wellbeing support in one compact, adaptable setup.

What’s onboard:

First aid and emergency equipment, including defibrillator, stretcher, and cot

Hot and cold water, stainless steel sink, and phone charging

Gazebo for shade and flexible setup

Storage and layout designed for calm, clean care delivery

Manned by a competent first aider with over 20 years of frontline ambulance and event experience, this isn’t just a medical station—it’s a dignity-safe, wellness-oriented space designed to meet people where they are, with practical support and quiet presence.

Signwriting is next, and sponsorship options are available for values-aligned businesses or organisations who’d like to be visibly part of this legacy-rooted initiative.

Now taking bookings for events, activations, and community outreach across Canterbury. To enquire, message the page or email david@greatlife.nz. https://greatlife.nz/

Thanks to those who’ve offered encouragement and practical support along the way. She’s built for service—and she’s ready to roll.

11/08/2025

Two Canterbury companies—Engaging Communities and Great Life Ltd—working together to support wellbeing, one kit at a time.
We’re not just about first aid—we’re about wellness. 💚 20% of every sale goes directly to community charities that nurture physical, mental, and social health.
Right now, we’re proud to support our own charitable arm, Sacred Trees, which creates free wellbeing resources that foster connection as a pathway to healing. Explore the kaupapa: opencollective.com/sacred-trees
We’re also keen to uplift other local initiatives. If your organisation is looking for a meaningful fundraising partner, we’d love to kōrero.
👉 Ready to support community wellbeing? Order a kit or explore fundraising options here: forms.office.com/r/CYtHcXKb14
Every kit carries care. Every purchase plants connection. Let’s make a difference—together.

05/12/2024

Kia ora,
As a resident of Canterbury from Southbridge, I’m reaching out to ask for your support in a new initiative. With years of experience in su***de prevention and a Master of Suicidology, I have developed a 90-to-120-minute workshop that transcends traditional intervention methods. The first half focuses on identifying individuals at risk and referring them to the appropriate services. In the second half, we challenge the belief that safety comes from control. Instead, we provide resources to foster connections with family and the community. We encourage individuals to draw on these resources to develop their own essential life skills and wisdom. I am seeking $7500 in seed funding to develop an app and produce the initial set of paper resources. A small donation of $5 would be greatly appreciated.

The Gift Collective will handle the funds on our behalf, providing transparency and charitable donation tax receipts.
You can learn more about our work and workshop and donate at
https://opencollective.com/sacred-trees
You are welcome to call me to discuss the workshop or the resources. 0224580339 david@engagingcommunities.co.nz.
Thank you for considering this important cause.

27/11/2024

My passion is wellbeing and su***de prevention. We need to get as far upstream of this issue as we can. We want young people to develop and practice their own wellbeing strategy before a crisis. Not by telling them what to do but helping them identify what works best for them. I need start up funding to print the materials I gift to people for koha. Please learn more and help at https://opencollective.com/sacred-trees

07/11/2024

After presenting an refining we are now ready to go all out

In New Zealand, youth su***de tragically surpasses traffic accidents as a leading cause of death among young people. While it's crucial to ensure that individuals with mental illness receive proper treatment, it's equally important to help all young people cultivate the energy that arises from experiencing life's wonders. We aim to empower you to support them in taking ownership of their wellbeing and leading meaningful lives. Because we know that belonging to and contributing to something bigger than ourselves is hugely protective, we encourage them to engage with their community, benefit from available resources, and contribute their strengths and talents back to the community.

In the first half of the Aroha Approach workshop, we explore the meaning of su***de and how the term is used today. We cover warning signs, opportunities for intervention, how to have safe conversations, and the referral process.

In the second half of the Aroha Approach workshop, we introduce a set of resources branded as Sacred Trees. Sacred Trees resources are designed to initiate and guide conversations about freedom and responsibility, emotions and emotional regulation, distress and wellness, personal health management, and help-seeking.

Presented in a fun and accessible way, these resources are highly effective in reaching a wide audience and encouraging active participation. They are available in print, on an app, and online, making them accessible to many.

Call David on 0224580339 to learn more about this project.

The Sacred Tree resources are not included in the cost of the workshop but are provided free of charge so people can have as many they need, not as many as they can afford. They are funded by donations through our page on The Gift Collective. Through this page you can make donations to Sacred Trees that are tax deductible. We’re using this platform because we like the transparency it provides for those who are donating – so you know how your funds are being spent! – because it provides tax benefits for you, and because it makes the admin easier at our end.
We are seeking $7500 to seed our supply of resources. That is just $5 from 1500 people. You can learn more and support this vital work at https://opencollective.com/sacred-trees

The Aroha Approach and Sacred Trees are authored by David Cairns. David holds a Master of Suicidology from Griffith University and has over 25 years of experience in su***de prevention. He is renowned for his ability to simplify complex concepts and support them with his extensive experience.

07/11/2024

In New Zealand, youth su***de tragically surpasses traffic accidents as a leading cause of death among young people. While it's crucial to ensure that individuals with mental illness receive proper treatment, it's equally important to help all young people cultivate the energy that arises from experiencing life's wonders. We aim to empower you to support them in taking ownership of their wellbeing and leading meaningful lives. Because we know that belonging to and contributing to something bigger than ourselves is hugely protective, we encourage them to engage with their community, benefit from available resources, and contribute their strengths and talents back to the community.

In the first half of the Aroha Approach workshop, we explore the meaning of su***de and how the term is used today. We cover warning signs, opportunities for intervention, how to have safe conversations, and the referral process.

In the second half of the Aroha Approach workshop, we introduce a set of resources branded as Sacred Trees. Sacred Trees resources are designed to initiate and guide conversations about freedom and responsibility, emotions and emotional regulation, distress and wellness, personal health management, and help-seeking.

Presented in a fun and accessible way, these resources are highly effective in reaching a wide audience and encouraging active participation. They are available in print, on an app, and online, making them accessible to many.

Call David on 0224580339 to learn more about this project.

The Sacred Tree resources are not included in the cost of the workshop but are provided free of charge so people can have as many they need, not as many as they can afford. They are funded by donations through our page on The Gift Collective. Through this page you can make donations to Sacred Trees that are tax deductible. We’re using this platform because we like the transparency it provides for those who are donating – so you know how your funds are being spent! – because it provides tax benefits for you, and because it makes the admin easier at our end.
We are seeking $7500 to seed our supply of resources. That is just $5 from 1500 people. You can learn more and support this vital work at https://opencollective.com/sacred-trees

The Aroha Approach and Sacred Trees are authored by David Cairns. David holds a Master of Suicidology from Griffith University and has over 25 years of experience in su***de prevention. He is renowned for his ability to simplify complex concepts and support them with his extensive experience.

18/10/2024

Kia ora,
Engaging Communities Limited is a Commercial Enterprise. We existing for the benefit of the community while enjoying the self determination and sustainability of a business. We operate three main community projects.
1. The Aroha Approach to Su***de Prevention is a 90 minute practical talk on su***de risk management. We teach skills that can be used for..
a. Risk identification and referral
b. Supporting people in treatment.
c. Supporting people who not meet the criteria for service intervention.
d. Safe conversations with youth (who are not at risk) about self-management of emotions and stress as an early prevention and life skill.
2. The Shining Light Dojo is an online resource and membership community for martial artists of all discipline who want to imbed the wellbeing principles of the martial arts into their practice and teaching.
3. Sacred Trees is the charitable arm of our work. Sacred Trees produces the printed and online resources that are given way through our activities. These resources help people identify and connect with sources of wisdom in their community. We call these people places and things sacred trees and they help us develop the skills to self manage stress and difficult emotions. The information is presented in a fun way but is based on the wisdom of our ancestors and the practice of science.

We need your help!!! Our aim is to be self sufficient and not rely on grants and donations. However we need $7500 in seed funding to produce a stock of resources and develop an app to go along side them. That is just 1500 people giving us $5 of support.

We use the gift collective as a fund holder because of the ability to receive and receipt charitable donations and provide absolute transparency on how those funds are used.

See https://opencollective.com/sacred-trees for more information.