You can read our November 2025 newsletter here
Kia ora
It’s a privilege to introduce myself as the new General Manager of Cancer Society Nelson Tasman. I officially joined the team at the end of September and was warmly welcomed with a Mihi Whakatau at our Nelson office, a beautiful way to begin this new journey alongside our Board, kaimahi, and my whānau.
Te Tauihu has been my home for over a decade, and I feel deeply connected to this community. My background spans public, private, and for-purpose leadership roles, but at the heart of everything I do are people, ensuring fairness, compassion, and integrity guide our mahi. I’m passionate about strengthening the Cancer Society’s impact and supporting whānau through every stage of their cancer journey, guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to equity and care.
It’s been another incredibly busy and inspiring year for our small but mighty Nelson Tasman team. Together, we’ve hosted community events like Daffodil Day, Historical Homes Tour, and the Mowsworth Rampage, alongside national initiatives such as The Longest Golf Day Challenge and Jump for Cancer. Many generous individuals have also taken on their own fundraising challenges, from “chop the mop” and “brave the shave” to walking 800km across Spain, all to support local people impacted by cancer. Looking ahead to 2026, Relay For Life will be a major event on our calendar, taking place on 14–15 March..
Each month our supportive care team receive referrals for up to 23 new people facing cancer; offering one-on-one support, information and navigation. We also have a strong focus on rehabilitation support after treatment, to support people to recover and live as full lives as possible. From January – October 2025 we funded post treatment gym rehab programmes for 35 people; and in Nelson commenced a monthly Movement and Mobility class which has a regular attendance of 8-10 attendees. The weekly yoga classes we provide across Nelson, Motueka and Takaka have seen over 560 attendances, and it is heartening to see the friendships and peer support that develops in these classes. We have referred over 90 people, including those supporting someone with cancer, for 4-6 funded counselling sessions. Our support grants also help with funding for specialist physiotherapy and oncology massage. Our regular support groups across the region provide peer support, and our wellness workshops this year have included topics such as Facing Fear of Reoccurrence; Coping with Fatigue, Self-Care, Navigating the Hospital Systems, and Art workshops.
I’m incredibly proud to join this team of six passionate and dedicated people, supported by a proactive Board and an extraordinary network of volunteers, donors and sponsors. Our volunteers alone have contributed close to 3,000 hours this year – an incredible gift of time and care. Your time, donations, and encouragement make everything we do possible.
As 2025 draws to a close, I look forward to meeting more of you in the year ahead and to continuing this important mahi together.
