Kia ora koutou katoa, 

We’re hoping that this email finds you well, and coping with the combination of Covid, flu and the recent winter weather events around Aotearoa.   

We’ve got a few things to update you on – events, checking your e-card balance, fundraising, research and advocacy.  

Coffee Group updates 

We’ve got great news for our Christchurch members – a second coffee group has been set up! This one is in Addington. It’s being held at the Natter Cafe and Microbakery, 47 Whiteleigh Ave at 1.15pm on the first Tuesday of the month.  

All the info you need about our Coffee Groups is here. 

How about a Palmerston North coffee group?

While we’re talking about Coffee Group – we’d love to hear from our members in the Manawatū region! We’re looking at starting up a coffee group in Palmerston North, but first we need to gauge interest.  

If you’d be keen on attending a Palmerston North coffee group, please email us to let us know.

We’d love to hear from you.  

Connecting Over Coffee – August 

Our next Connecting Over Coffee session is locked in – will you be joining us?  

This month, Wednesday, August 24, we’ll have members from the National Enabling Good Lives Leadership Group joining us. 

They’ll be talking about EGL and what it means for disabled people and whānau. 

EGL places disabled people and whanau at the forefront where they have choice and control over their supports to be able to live a good life. 

Here’s the Zoom link for each session, and there’s more info about Connecting Over Coffee, and getting reimbursed for your coffee, here. 

July Connecting Over Coffee 

On July 27 we welcomed Gemma from The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust (PASAT). She provided a great insight into the services provided by the trust and the members who attended asked some great questions. Thanks for taking part! 

Missed the session? No worries, you can watch it here.  

The password is !=DzN8f* 

e-Card – top up and balance 

Did you catch the news last month that the Cerebral Palsy Society Board has generously granted current financial members $300 funding as part of the getProgramme?

You have until October 31, 2022 to apply for, and use, the funding on your e-Card on the getOutThere, getPhysical, getThis&That and getUpAgain programmes. 

Click here to read up on e-Card funding, the getProgrammes and to apply for your card top up. 

Wondering if your card has been topped up, or how much is on your card?  

It’s easy to check the balance on your e-card. Simply go to https://ecardsolutions.nz/portal/cps/ and enter your card details, or check your last receipt. 

Be Green & Be Seen 2022 

Guess what?! We’re getting ready for Be Green & Be Seen 2022! 

At the end of July we held a green-themed photo shoot with one of our members (here’s a sneak peak)……….. 

And we’re currently getting everything ready so we can launch our Be Green & Be Seen awareness and fundraising campaign. 

It’s going to be held throughout the month of October to coincide with World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6.  

It’s super easy to get involved – all you have to do is go green! Dress green, eat green, decorate green…… and spread the word to raise awareness of Cerebral Palsy, and funds for the Cerebral Palsy Society.  

Encourage your workplace or school to get involved! We’d love them to go green with us. We’ll have info, posters, certificates and social media banners and tiles to help make it easy for them to take part. And it will be easy to make donations through a dedicated Be Green & Be Seen Give A Little page.

If you want to know more about Be Green & Be Seen 2022, please send us an email. Otherwise, keep an eye on, our Facebook and Instagram pages, our website and your inbox for all the info.  

We can’t wait to go GREEN!  

CP Society and Supergenerous 

Have you heard the news? We’ve teamed up with Supergenerous to make your generosity go further. 

Did you know that each donation you make over $5 to the Cerebral Palsy Society is eligible for a 33% rebate from the IRD? We’ve partnered with Supergenerous (formerly Fund a Future) to make this process hassle free – so you don’t even have to deal with the IRD. 

Supergenerous wants to supercharge the impact of human generosity, so they give you the option to keep the rebate for yourself or gift your rebate as a new donation right back to the Cerebral Palsy Society. Helping you to become Supergivers by upcycling your original donation. 

It only takes 5 minutes. Make your generosity go further by signing up. 

Click here for more info.  

Donate to the CP Society today.  

NZCPR update 2022 

The New Zealand Cerebral Palsy Register (NZCPR) is hosting a Zoom meeting to update people about the refreshed NZCPR and provide updates about partner projects. 

The session is open to all interested people and whānau with lived experience of CP and relevant health professionals in Aotearoa NZ. 

Wednesday 24 August, 12pm-12.30pm and 7.30pm-8pm. 

All the meeting info is here.  

Click here to learn more about the Register.  

New research opportunities 

Have you checked out the Research Opportunities page on our website recently?  

There are some great research projects you can get involved in.  

The newest one is looking at Helping kids with Cerebral Palsy to be more physically active. 

Researchers are looking for children with Cerebral Palsy, aged 8-14, who are based in Auckland. 

Click here for more information about this study and other research opportunities.  

Mahi tika – Equity in Employment 

In 2020, Disabled Persons Assembly ­­­NZ (DPA) launched Mahi Tika – Equity in Employment, a programme that enhances the employment journey of disabled people living in the Waikato region. 

Participants involved in the programme attend workshops to gain skills for seeking employment and receive mentoring from Kaitiaki (Enhancers), who are themselves disabled people. 

The next Mahi tika – Equity in Employment programme runs from August 29 to December, 2022.
Expressions of Interest are welcomed from anyone who identifies as disabled, is based in Waikato, and is looking for work.

Complete a form or get in touch or send an email.

More info.

Disabled Youth Forum – Auckland 

Disability Advocate Natasha Astill is creating a Disabled Youth Forum in Auckland. 

The forum will be “a safe place for those who identify as having a disability, to express what needs to change in the community and to get their voices heard”.  

“This is a place for real change to happen and to be a part of the change. We also invite those who are parents/careers/guardians and providers of the disability community to be a part of the forum as well.” 

A survey is available on Google Docs, or Survey Monkey for those who are interested in joining. 

Or email Natasha for more information.  

Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp

The Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp, happening December 9-11, 2022 in Christchurch, is a three-day, two-night residential camp for children aged 9 to 12 with disabilities. 

Camps have been run in Australia for more than 20 years and in New Zealand since 2018.  

Christ’s College and St Margaret’s College run the camps in Christchurch. More than 100 volunteers look after the children during the camp. Students from both schools are supported by staff and volunteers from the medical professions.  

Expressions of Interest close on Friday 12 August.   

More info 

Watch: Sony Children’s Holiday Camp 2018  New Zealand 

Social Media

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the Society’s news and general disability sector information.  

We look forward to updating you again later in the month. In the meantime, stay safe, stay warm, and be sure to let us know if we can help you or your whānau. 

Ngā mihi, 

Clare and the CP Society team