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1990 days ago

LINK HOUSE AND BIRTHRIGHT WAIKATO MERGE INTO SINGLE PARENT SERVICES

Marie from Fairfield

Birthright Waikato, operating in the Waikato for over sixty-two years and Link House for over thirty-eight years has finally merged Trusts to become Link House Birthright Waikato Trust trading as Single Parent Services.
A spokesperson for the agency said that the reason for the merger is that both agencies were doing similar work and it made sense to join forces to focus on each agency’s strengths. The primary aim of the new agency is to build a community in which families led by one parent can thrive as powerfully as any other.

Back in the 1950’s, the form of assistance provided by Birthright to hard-pressed widows and their children was mentoring and moral, rather that financial, support. As many as 100 children at a time were taken away for a ten-day holiday. One former child remembers being put on a rail car, by herself, at the age of ten and sent to a farm far away.

Now the Counselling & Advisory Service offers specialised counselling services for youth and adults to address life issues including anxiety, depression, parenting, sexual abuse and violence. They also offer practical short courses in, for example, self-esteem and cooking on a budget.

The social workers work through issues or barriers faced by their clients to jointly come up with practical solutions.

All counsellors and social workers are fully qualified and registered with their specific professional bodies. Funding is provided by the Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki, Accident Compensation Corporation and community grants.

Check out their website on spsw.org.nz... or call on 0800 457 146.for further information

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More messages from your neighbours
16 days ago

Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.

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1 day ago

Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑

Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.

We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?

Want to read more? The Press has you covered!

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🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
  • 54.3% Human-centred experience and communication
    54.3% Complete
  • 13.8% Critical thinking
    13.8% Complete
  • 29.3% Resilience and adaptability
    29.3% Complete
  • 2.6% Other - I will share below!
    2.6% Complete
341 votes
18 days ago

Poll: Are you a Te Huia fan?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga.

But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama Potaka and soon-to-be Labour list MP Georgie Dansey have the combined power to shunt transport minister Chris Bishop and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon onto their line of thinking remains to be seen.

Are you a Te Huia fan? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Are you a Te Huia fan?
  • 82.9% Yes
    82.9% Complete
  • 17.1% No
    17.1% Complete
82 votes