Mental health advocate wins $10,000 for work supporting first responders
A woman has won $10,000 to go towards her efforts to set up a mental health homestead for first responders.
Takapuna resident Rebecca Nelson’s charity Te Kiwi Maia envisions a place where first responders can go to feel supported and access therapy.
The 33-year-old has been recognised in the 2021 Westfield Local Heroes community grants program for her work.
Te Kiwi Maia was born 18 months ago while Nelson was visiting the UK.
“I went to an establishment called Tedworth Health, a beautiful place over there where one of my dear friends actually went to get some help,” she said.
“It had everything you required as a veteran, music therapy, animal therapy, it had lots of art, and families could go and stay there too.”
Nelson, who is a member of the New Zealand Navy, questioned why similar support was absent back home.
She has teamed up with first responders like the army, airforce, navy, police, ambulance and firefighters to make it a reality.
“Our aim is to get a homestead or a working farm here in NZ, so there our people who are currently serving or are ex-service can go to get the therapy they require due to wounded injured or ill through line of duty,” she said.
While fundraising continues for the homestead, Nelson will start taking away first responders for a week of respite.
She is working with Massey University to create a programme that is based around people’s needs.
“A lot of veterans are relieved excited. I know there’s a lot of them who have potentially gone through stages of their careers where they would have liked to take some time out and to decompress from whatever the situation was that they witnessed,” she said.
“It’s about time, they’ve been saying, and they’re really glad that we’re collaborating to make this happen.”
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Witnesses sought in relation to mass disorder on K-Road Auckland
Police are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.
A Police investigation is underway after there were three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the mass disorder.
A portal has been set up to allow the public to upload any footage they have of the disorder and the serious assaults.
The portal is https://dahr.nc3.govt.nz/
Police have arrested one person but are asking for help to identify and locate others involved.
• Around 4:15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen Street.
A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4647.
• Around 4:30am there was another serious assault on a Cobden Steet just off Karangahape Road.
A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4462.
• Around 5am there was third serious assault at the Mobil Service Station on the corner or Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road.
A 46-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has been bailed to appear in court again on 16 January 2026.
The Police file number is 251228/4774.
Police would like to speak to anyone who has witnessed or filmed the assaults.
Witnesses can call Police directly on 105.
Please quote one of the above file numbers.
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