3 Jun 2021

Finding "grandfriends" for whanau without support around them

From Nine To Noon, 11:30 am on 3 June 2021

When Jo Hayes came to New Zealand from the United Kingdom 18 years ago, she didn't intend to stay. But fast-forward a few years and she found herself living north of Auckland with two pre-schoolers and missing her family back home desperately. By chance she met Susan at her daughter's daycare - she was there picking up her grandson. The pair became friends, and Susan became "Granny Susan" to Jo's children. From that grew the idea for Grandfriends an organisation linking up families with no support around them, and older people wanting to lend a hand.