We are showing up! Let's go!
Well, it's Monday. I don't love Mondays. The work week ahead is daunting, there's too many meetings, appointments, errands...But, that's life I guess.
I feel like the best way to start the week is to do something small for your community. Below are several ways you can support your community and show solidarity and manaaki for others.
You can do one or them, two of them, all of them - the choice is yours. Whatever helps you to feel hopeful and useful.
Do you feel hopeful? I was thinking about how a friend said to me she feels utterly hopeless. I feel that way some days, too. When I do, I try to remind myself that hope and grief and resistance are siblings. It's in despair that I'm often driven to act. It's my grief that sometimes gets me out of bed because I know that I cannot be swallowed by it, I must have hope. It's resistance that builds up my strength to face my grief and hold on to hope. The three sit side-by-side inside my stomach.
Rebecca Solnit wrote about what hope is and isn't in her book Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power. She said:
“Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency. Hope should shove you out the door, because it will take everything you have to steer the future away from endless war, from the annihilation of the earth's treasures and the grinding down of the poor and marginal... To hope is to give yourself to the future - and that commitment to the future is what makes the present inhabitable.”
I hope this little list of little actions helps you. I see your grief. I hope with you. And I am resisting beside you.
Support Union Aid and see an important film about a devastating workplace tragedy
Unionaid is running fundraisers of the film Pike River. Pike River depicts the true story of Anna Osborne (played by Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (played by Robyn Malcolm), and their fight for justice alongside other Pike families following one of the worst mining disasters in Aotearoa’s history. Lucy Lawless is hero of workers Helen Kelly. See the event ticketing page here for details.
Stop the Government taking away Outdoor Education
I can't for the life of me work out why the government is keen to dismantle outdoor education. But then, I don't understand any of the reasons why they do their weird, short-sighted, makes-no-sense BS. Is it because David Seymour is a nerd who got wedgied at camp or something? Is it some long-game revenge for him?
Anyway, this petition calls on the government to urge the Ministry of Education to retain Outdoor Education as a senior curriculum subject, with dedicated curriculum, assessments, and resources. Sign here.
Join the big bridge march for Palestine!
Now is the time to be heard. Please, please if you're in or near Tāmaki Makaurau, please march! We need everybody. This government needs to understand how much we care about Palestine. They need to hear how angry we are that they're backing Israel to decimate Gaza and commit and genocide against Palestinians. Please, please show up.
People from all over the motu will be meeting at Stafford Park in Tāmaki Makaurau, this Saturday 13 September at 9.30am to march across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. If you can't make it, solidarity marches are happening all over the place. I'll be at the 1PM solidarity march in Te Whanganui a Tara.
Get vaxxed!
Covid is still in our communities and people are continuing to get sick. One of the best ways to lower your risk of becoming very ill from the virus is by getting a Covid immunisation every 6 months. These are free for anyone over the age of 30.
You are due one if it has been at least 6 months since your last Covid immunisation or positive test. To get your free immunisation, talk to your family doctor or nurse, or visit a local pharmacy. You can also book online through BookMyVaccine.nz, visit healthpoint to find a pharmacy or provider near you, or call 0800 28 29 26 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Calls are free, and interpreters are available.
Launch a Public Inquiry into Systemic Harm to People with ADHD in Aotearoa
Around 280,000 New Zealanders have ADHD. They face stigma, misdiagnosis, and limited access to culturally safe, neuro-affirming support in schools, healthcare, workplaces, and communities. Other countries have held inquiries into ADHD policy and investment, but Aotearoa does not have a coordinated plan. Evidence shows systemic harm, severe health impacts, and inequities for people with ADHD, particularly for Māori and Pasifika communities, women and girls. Sign here.
Email ministers to tell them to show leadership and moral courage on Palestine
Click this link and your email will open right up with all of the emails you need and an email for you to send. The time to recognise Palestinian statehood is now. This simply cannot wait.
Vote in the local elections!
From tomorrow until 22 September, voting papers for the 2025 general election will start arriving in your mailbox. You have until 7 October to select your next Mayor, Councillors and Board members to represent you and your community.
After 7 October, votes must be returned to your local council’s secure ballot boxes. Election day is 11 October 2025 and at 12 noon voting closes.
If you did not receive your voting papers, or they’re lost or damaged, you will need to cast a special vote. You need to Google your region and 'special vote', and they'll have information specific to where you live. They'll have a list of places you can go to so you can cast your special vote and dates that are important. You can also find your local council here: Council websites and maps.
Talk to your friends and family about enrolling to vote. You can do that online here. If you want to check or update your details online, you can click here.
Volunteer as a family
The school holidays are coming up - you might like to do some volunteering as a family. There are often great volunteering events over the holidays - from tree planting to picking up rubbish. Check out Volunteer NZ and find your local volunteering centre. Or consider your skills and how you can share them. For example, in our family we talked about how Eddie could play guitar at our local retirement home. Or because he loves rabbits, we are going to see if Hammy can volunteer at a rescue.
Arohanui, please feel free to comment with other ways you'll be supporting your community. I would love to share them - you can also email me at emily at emilywrites dot co dot nz.
Related:
