Mental Health & Wellness Service - supporting māmā, pēpi and whānau by embracing, educating, and empowering māmā.
Two monthly support groups; in person or online to provide crucial aid to māmā facing perinatal challenges.
11/11/2025
A Gentle Centering Moment for Mamas (for being in the “here and now”, from the Window of Tolerance, Laura Kerr)
When everything feels a bit too much, try this simple grounding exercise - it only takes a minute or two.
-Sit somewhere comfy and lengthen your spine (you can do this while feeding, sitting in the car, or before bed).
-Place one hand on your heart, and the other on your belly.
-Take a slow, full breath in… and let it out gently.
-Feel your hands rise and fall.
-Notice your body softening with each breath.
You don’t have to fix or change anything, just breathe and be here 💗
☕Our next in-Person Support Group is Mon 24th November, 10am–1pm, we’d love to support you or refer if you know someone who would benefit from our group | 021 169 7662
05/11/2025
🥰Our monthly Support Groups are often described as a lifeline — especially for Mums who feel isolated, overwhelmed, or craving deeper support. Upcoming Gatherings:
- Online Support Group — Tues 11th November, 10–11.30am (Zoom)
- In-Person Support Group — Mon 24th November, 10am–1pm
Lifezone Church (not affiliated with church just a lovely space to hire), 7 Oak Lane, Judea
Babies and toddlers are super welcome! We have a beautiful volunteer named Jan (who adores children) to help keep the little ones occupied while you connect and fill your own cup.
💛 Feeling a bit nervous or unsure about coming along? We completely get it, showing up to something new can feel a little daunting. There’s absolutely no pressure to share or talk. You’re so welcome to simply come along, have a cuppa, enjoy some delicious Good Bi***es Baking treats, and just be.
Our facilitators have a gentle, welcoming way of helping everyone feel at ease, you’ll be met with kindness, understanding, and maybe even a few laughs along the way.
Upcoming Gatherings this month are:
- Online Support Group — Tues 11th November, 10–11.30am (Zoom)
- In-Person Support Group — Mon 24th November, 10am–1pm
Lifezone Church (not affiliated with church just a lovely space to hire), 7 Oak Lane, Judea
Take What You Need, Mama. Early motherhood can feel overwhelming, and if you’re struggling, please know you’re not alone. 💕 Maybe you need comfort when the days feel long and never-ending, hope when it’s hard to see past the fog, courage to get through today, one small step at a time.
Whatever you need right now, it’s valid, and it’s here for you. Reaching for support is an act of strength, not weakness. You are worthy of compassion, care, and lightness, even in the hardest moments.
23/10/2025
✨ Meet Debbie, our amazing manager and group facilitator. With a background in social work, and trained in trauma-informed somatic therapy and Compassionate Inquiry, Debbie has been supporting women and families in various capacities for over two decades. From her own professional and personal journey, knows just how healing it is to have a safe, non-judgemental space where you feel truly heard and understood by others who have walked a similar path. 💛
Having experienced the isolation of those early days with little-to-no support, Debbie believes there’s no mahi more important than supporting māmā on this incredible physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual journey.
21/10/2025
At True Colours – Honouring the Mother, we run support groups for Māmā, both in-person and online. It’s a safe, welcoming space to share what’s really going on, connect with others who get it, and feel supported. 🌸
Our upcoming Support Groups are:
Tuesday 10am-11.30am 11th Nov - Online Zoom
Monday 10am-1pm 24th Nov - in person, Lifezone Church, Tauranga
Our heart is in looking after the mental wellbeing of mums through the ups and downs of motherhood. You don’t have to do this alone, we’re here to walk alongside you with care, compassion, and community. 💛
16/10/2025
Reminder that our next in-person group is coming up Monday 20th Oct (usually last Monday of the month but 27th is Labour Day ☺️).
15/10/2025
Feeling overwhelmed? Your brain feels like it's racing, and your body is running on empty and you’re exhausted. The following Simple Breathing Exercise (from the Window of Tolerance, Laura Kerr) is great to do throughout the day to increase emotional regulation.
“Simple breath” these are the steps:
1 - Imagine while you are inhaling that your breath is going all the way down to your pelvis.
2 - Then let the breath expand in your lower belly.
3 - When you exhale, let the breath escape effortlessly.
4- Repeat 5 to 10 times.
Will you give it a go?
09/10/2025
Honouring all our whānau who have experienced the heartbreak and grief of baby loss and miscarriage this week and always 🩵🩵
🦋 This week (9-15 October) marks Baby Loss Awareness Week. A time to remember the babies gone too soon and the families who carry their memory in their hearts forever. 💙💗
At Miscarriage Matters NZ, we stand with every parent and whānau who has experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage. For too long, miscarriage has been an unspoken grief. A loss often hidden, and a pain often minimised. But every loss matters, and every story deserves to be heard.
This year, we’re not only remembering, we’re taking action.
Together, we’re pushing for miscarriage to be recognised as a Maternity Clinical Indicator in NZ’s health system, so that better care and research can happen. When we count miscarriage, we acknowledge its impact. When we acknowledge its impact, we improve care and outcomes for all families.
As we begin this important week, we invite you to join us: share your story, light a candle, or simply take a moment to remember the babies who left too soon.
06/10/2025
🌸 Our Support Groups are a soft landing, compassionate space for Mum's to express themselves authentically, build relationships with others going through similar journey and be supported. Upcoming dates are:
1 - Online Support Group - Tues 14th Oct 10–11.30am, Zoom
2 - In-Person Support Group - Monday 20th October, 10am–1pm, Lifezone Church, 7 Oak Lane, Judea
These monthly gatherings are a lifeline for many Mothers, especially those feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or in need of emotional support. If you know anyone who might benefit, please share this with them or connect them with us directly. You can make a referral here: https://www.honouringthemother.com/referrals, no mama should walk this journey alone.
01/10/2025
💛 The power of a group in supporting māmā through the transition to parenthood is huge. You’ll walk away feeling less alone, with tools to support you and hope when you feel uncertain.
Wondering what to expect? A calm, nurturing circle of other Mums. We start with a meditation and gentle breathwork to start (don’t worry if you’ve never done it before). Open sharing (only if you feel like you want to). Info on local wellbeing support and our in person group has tea, coffee and baking and support with your babies and tamariki are welcome too.
🌸 Online Support Group - Tues 14th Oct 10–11.30am, Zoom
🌸 In-Person Support Group -Monday 20th Oct 10am–1pm, Lifezone Church, 7 Oak Lane, Judea
We see the endless loads of washing, the midnight feeds, the tears you wipe (theirs and sometimes your own), the deep breaths before you keep going, the courage it takes to ask for help, and the thousand little ways you show up every single day.
So much of what you do is unseen, but it matters. YOU matter. You are doing an incredible job, even on the days when it feels messy, hard, or too much.
Here’s your reminder: You are loved, you are strong, and you are not alone. We’re cheering you on, always.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to True Colours - Honouring the Mother:
I’ve attached this photo below of myself and Ayla at 11 months, when I was going down what I call the “Rabbit Hole”, this photo was taken just before I was diagnosed with Post-Natal Depression. It's amazing the face we present to the world whilst inside there is chaos and complete overwhelm! I keep this picture on the wall of my office as a reminder to not hide or pretend but to express, own and allow whatever is presenting for me as a Woman and a Mother.
Becoming a mother has required an enormous amount of learning, especially about myself, like letting go of control and expectation. Our first year was traumatic with reflux, my daughter Ayla was in pain and cried most of the day and night, the stress of this resulted in post-natal depression at the end of 2014. I experienced many barriers to accessing support for myself as well as the stigma and shame associated with mental health issues which is still very prevalent in our society. I realised I wanted to be part of the proactive change that is required. Although there are some great services available, there isn’t the awareness or conversation and connection occurring to support those when they are at their most vulnerable. In talking to parents about my own experience it become very clear to me that there was a need for further practical support. When you are in the haze of depression it can be difficult to decide what help you do need - this is why I created a service to help advocate for parents.
True Colours - Honouring the Mother, runs both physical support groups and online options too. The inspiration for the name comes from the 80’s Cyndi Lauper song True Colours which talks about shining through all the colours of the rainbow. I believe as parents, we are exposed to the range of experiences and emotions, the light and the dark. Experiencing post-natal depression with my own child has taken me along that spectrum of colours from the very dark to the light. Parenting can present the opportunity to look within and find out who you are and who you would like to be as a parent, your true colours so to speak.
The physical Support Group meets monthly at the Tauranga Parent’s Centre, located in the Historic Village, 17th Avenue. Childcare is provided onsite, by arrangement; we are all located in the one building so children can see and hear you but are occupied so your participation and presence can also occur. Group is held generally on the last Monday of each Month from 12-2pm, for specific dates please see our event page. The Online Group was launched late 2019 and runs twice a month, again please see our events page for sessions. Both services are now funded so is free!
The intention of the group is to provide a safe space for mothers to connect, share and acknowledge their struggles in a non competitive, non-judgemental environment. It enables women to create a connection and build a community of people who understand & have experienced depression & anxiety. It also brings attention to our personal wellness and can inspire by listening, learning and being heard by each other.
So if you are needing support or know someone who needs support from me please message me and I’d be happy to talk to you.
