Balance Aotearoa

10/12/2025

10/12/2025

🎲 Games Night! 🎲

Join us for a fun evening of board games, puzzles, and plenty of laughs. Whether you’re a master of strategy or just in it for the fun, there’s something for everyone! ✨

📅 Date: 11th December
🕕 Time: 5.30-7.30pm
📍 Location: Hope&Co - 63a Ridgway Street, Central, Whanganui

Bring your friends, pick your favorite game, and get ready for an evening of connection and fun. We can’t wait to see you there!

09/12/2025

🌟 NZ Disability Strategy Launch 2026-2030: Our Rōpū at the Table 🌟

Last week, on Tuesday 2 December, we were invited to attend the launch of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. Our Consumer Advisor had the privilege of representing our rōpū, and here’s a reflection from her about the experience:

"Getting to attend the NZ Disability Strategy launch, knowing that we were part of building it and that we helped Tāngata Whai Ora to have their say on the feedback submission, felt surreal. Being part of the launch was another stepping stone in the right direction, not only for me personally and professionally, but for the forward movement of all disabled people in Aotearoa. It was a humbling and deeply appreciated opportunity.”

We look forward to continuing this mahi, standing alongside our communities, and supporting the vision of a more inclusive, equitable Aotearoa.

09/12/2025

🌟 Have Your Say: My Experiences, My Rights 🌟
Standard of Living Questionnaire – Now Open

The Donald Beasley Institute (DBI) is inviting disabled people across Aotearoa to share their real experiences of the cost of living, standard of living, and the cost of disability.

Your voice matters. Your insights help monitor whether disabled people are able to enjoy the right to an adequate standard of living — and highlight where change is needed.

✅ Who can take part?
Anyone aged 18+ who:
• Identifies as disabled, or
• Is a family member, whānau, aiga, or close supporter
• Can give free and informed consent

📝 Take the questionnaire here:
https://corexmss43gf6x5cw7qm.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DfXdWZ4XZK5EkS

🔎 Need alternate formats or more info?
https://www.donaldbeasley.org.nz/our-projects/disabled-person-led-monitoring

Let’s make sure disabled voices are heard loud and clear across Aotearoa. 💬✨

03/12/2025

Thursday Evening Social group Movie Night 🎬🎞🎦 🎟

Come join us as we enjoy a chill evening with awesome company!! 🙌😁
Our Movie for the night is "The Unbreakable Boy", this movie is based on a true story of a father who finds hope and resilience through his optimistic son who has autism.

Light refreshments will be provided 😁
Look forward to seeing you all there!!

🏠 63a Ridgway Street, Central, Whanganui
📍 Hope and Co Cafe
🕔 5.30pm-7.30pm (Movie will start sharp at 5.30pm)
(Please come a little earlier if you want to make a hot drink and get comfy)

We have our after hours cafe Hope and Co - Wednesday- Sunday avaliable for after hours support from 3pm-9pm. Free meal from 3-5pm

02/12/2025

✨ Journaling at Hope & Co. – Tonight’s Theme: Gratitude ✨

Take a pause with us this evening to reflect on the small and big things that bring light into our lives. Gratitude helps us notice the everyday gifts we often overlook, and journaling is a beautiful way to capture them.

🕖 When: Tonight, Wednesday 3/12/25 from 5pm-9pm
📍 Where: Hope & Co. - 63A Ridgway Street
📝 Topic: Gratitude

Bring an open heart, and join a supportive space where words become a pathway to peace and perspective. All other resources supplied by us 😊

💡 No experience needed—just come as you are.

30/11/2025

Our December Newsletter is out, check out Hope & Co. for hard copies (From tomorrow)

30/11/2025

This month we have a few less groups than normal, but fear not! From December 22nd - January 5th our groups won't be happening but during this time we will have kaimahi at Hope & Co. between 10-2pm weekdays (except statutory days). You're more than welcome to come hang out, have a kōrero, coffee or just be.

28/11/2025

Let's keep the conversation going, post your answers, questions, comments etc on the photo of the question you're speaking to to add to the rich data we already have !

All information added before December 5th will be included in this rounds data sheet outcomes 🙂

26/11/2025

26/11/2025

Kia ora team, here's your reminder to have your say included in this month's data sheet outcomes 💙💛

Let's keep the conversation going, post your answers, questions, comments etc on the photo of the question you're speaking to to add to the rich data we already have !

All information added before December 5th will be included in this rounds data sheet outcomes 🙂

26/11/2025

How do we identify our strengths, good qualities and great parts of who we are if we don't spend time getting to know what we think strengths, good qualities and great parts of humans in general are ?

Come on down to Hope & Co. Between 5pm-9pm tonight to join some peers in a journal/scrapbook exercise where we explore the idea of what we see as Strengths, Qualities and Good Parts and what of these we hold within ourselves 💙💛

See you there 👍

63A Ridgway Street
5-9pm TONIGHT !