LIVE Q&A: Financial well-being with Cat Rikihana
Today (Wednesday) we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Cat Rikihana who is a financial mentor, educator and financial capability practitioner at Financial Freedom Trust in the Manawatū.
Cat Rikihana (Ngai Tahu) like many financial mentors around Aotearoa, works with individuals, groups and whānau to successfully navigate financial stress and hardship. Mentors work alongside whānau to increase confidence and skills in personal money management and advocate with and for clients. Cat enjoys delivering online and face-to-face workshops which provide opportunities to normalise money conversations and encourages people to make time to consider their financial well-being.
Cat is also an independent financial well-being coach, educator and indigenous life coach at Restore Wellness Network. She is a published writer and currently in the process of writing her first non-fiction book: 'A financial self-care guide for women in Aotearoa.'
She'd love to answer any questions you may have around your budgeting and spending habits, strategies for saving, retirement planning and debt. (Don't be shy, but be mindful about what you disclose!)
↓ Share your questions now and Cat will reply to your comment below ↓
Did you know that there are over 250 Heart Kids members in Taranaki?
Yes that is a true fact and did you also know that this Organisation is the only one in Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong care and support for children, teens, adults and families impacted by childhood heart conditions? These vital services are provided at no cost to ensure that all those impacted will feel supported, informed, educated and connected. The practical and emotional support is vital in helping individuals and families cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a childhood heart condition.
There are over 40 different types of childhood heart conditions. Nationwide each week 12 children are being diagnosed with a childhood heart condition and over 500 major heart surgeries are carried out on heart kids every year – that is almost 10 per week. Generally these will be for congenital heart disease and are the most common serious birth abnormality in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There are also Acquired Childhood Heart Disease, and this is an issue with a child’s heart that develops after birth. They can be caused by bacterial or viral infections or be the result of chronic diseases or medications that affect other parts of the body.
All these conditions are ones that Heart Kids offer support to and here in Taranaki we are very lucky to have the Wonderful Narelle who is the Family Support Taituarā. She is available to support families through their journey from diagnosis for life. Once a heart kid, always a heart kid. Heart families can be faced with separation, isolation, stress, financial hardship and loneliness during their journey, The future is uncertain, and these families need support, whether it is at home or visits to the local hospitals and / or Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital, all these unknown possibilities can be stressful and to know that they are not alone in their journey can be really helpful.
If the little one does require surgery, they receive a Maia Bear which they treasure, however, if they are not requiring surgery Volunteering New Plymouth now have knitters and crocheters who are producing tiny teddies to be gifted to these little ones, and are always grateful to all of these volunteer for the hours they put in to help a little one feel supported and cared about. We also have volunteers who are knitting beanies, booties, cardies and singlets. Volunteers are also required to support Narelle with events and fundraising.
If you would like to hear Narelle talk about the support, she and others around the country offer Heart Kids you can find the recorded session of Volly Voices on Spotify and Apple Podcast - to find these go the either Access Radio Taranaki website where these recordings can be found under Community or to Volunteering New Plymouth website and look under Volunteers and Volly Calls.
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and / or how you can get involved then contact Wendy at (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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16.7% A week before Christmas
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32.5% Whenever you wish
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One?
This belongs to you, but everyone else uses it.
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.