Kia ora e te whānau,  

Welcome to 2022! 

For many of us in Auckland, these summer holidays have given us a chance for a change of scenery, to head to other parts of the country and to enjoy reconnecting with friends and family. Some of us have stayed put, keeping it local and catching up on all the things we have not managed to get to in the last year. Wherever you have been, I hope this update finds you a little bit more refreshed and recharged following such a full-on year.  

January has been a month of settling back into office life (goodbye working from home) and preparing for Foster Care Awareness Week in early March – keep an eye out for news on upcoming events in celebration of the incredible mahi (work) you do. I am also looking forward to connecting with more of you in person via events and training during the coming months. We will be providing a mix of online and in-person training sessions for Term 1. Training may look a little different with the Traffic Light COVID-19 Protection Framework, but it will still be a brilliant opportunity to learn with and from each other.  

Our virtual coffee gatherings are continuing this year.  You can sign up for the next group on Tuesday 8 February by clicking HERE. 

In-person coffee gatherings have been a bit of a mission during the last 18 months, but we are keen to get some in-person catch ups happening again in 2022. If you are interested in learning more about the current groups or would like to put forward an indication of interest for a new group, please reach out and give me a call to chat about what you would find most helpful. 
  

If you’re feeling up to venturing out for Waitangi Day there are a couple of events taking place around Auckland, see https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/tags/waitangi-day/ for more information. Waitangi Day might also be a chance to learn something together as a whānau, it may inspire questions, ‘wonderings’ and conversations with your tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young person) about what the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) and this day means for them. However you spend the long weekend, may it be a good one! 

Tiaki i a koutou anō, look after yourselves! 

Christie