Island Breeze in Ashburton

Crafts, Culture and Connecting

Register for event

This is a private event!

Date

Aug 21, 2025 12:00 PM

Cost

Free

Location

Ashburton Art Gallery 327 West Street, Ashburton 7700 Online

About the event

Hosted by Tangata Atumotu Trust

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Island Breeze is a community programme bringing Pasifika families together for a time of fellowship, creativity, and cultural celebration.

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Our sessions are filled with traditional crafting, singing, and storytelling, and offer a space to connect, share, and uplift one another.

Most of our crafts have a health-related focus to drive awareness and encourage positive wellbeing within our communities, including nurses checking vital signs.

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At our next session, we’re excited to welcome a health promoter from Cancer Society who will talanoa with us about Pasifika health outcomes—adding another layer of meaningful engagement to our gatherings for Daffodil Day.

Island Breeze runs every third Thursday of the month in Ashburton at the Ashburton Art Gallery, thanks to our partnership with the Art Gallery and Plunket.

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These special sessions are child-friendly and provide a fantastic opportunity for our Pasifika families in Hakatere to celebrate their heritage and strengthen community ties.

Parking:

Attendees are asked to use public parking near the Art Gallery. Alternatively, you can contact Fifita on 027 529 0022 if you need transport in the Ashburton area.

Event category:

Community

Our Experts

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Dr. Eileen Sables

Dr. Eileen is a GP at Tend Pakuranga with decades of service to the community. Renowned for her ability to explain health issues in simple, accessible language, she was the resident doctor on the popular TV show Good Morning with Mary Lambie.

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Professor Bev Lawton (ONZM)

With 17 years as a GP, Bev (Ngāti Porou) is an academic at Victoria University. She has been recognised for her contributions to women's health, particularly advancing Māori health and cervical cancer prevention through equitable and innovative practices.

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Dr. Olivia Smart

OBGYN Dr Olivia is an advanced laparoscopic surgeon with a focus on women’s health, particularly endometriosis, vulvo-vaginal disorders, and colposcopy. Trained in the UK and NZ, she has introduced new techniques for treating painful sexual intercourse.

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Dr. Alex Lafaele

Dr. Alex is a Tend GP completing her fellowship with the RNZCGP with extensive experience focusing on improving health access for Māori and Pasifika communities. She also holds post-graduate qualifications in contraception and pregnancy care.

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Nurse Nicky Holder

Nicky is Head of Nursing at Tend. With nearly a decade of experience in community based nursing and a PGDip in Advanced Nursing Practice, she excels in compassionate care for children, families, and communities, enhancing their health and wellbeing.

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Dr. Megan Ogilvie

Endocrinologist Dr. Megan specialises in menopause, PCOS, athlete hormone health, PMS/PMDD, VSCs, and gender-affirming medicine. Trained in Auckland and London, she works with Fertility Associates and Auckland DHB.

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Dr. Amelia Ryan

Dr. Amelia is an Auckland-based gynaecologist and obstetrician specialising in endometriosis and pelvic pain, a difficult and debilitating condition. She studied in NZ and Australia and has advanced expertise in laparoscopy (keyhole surgery).

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Dr. Jenny Kruger

Dr. Jenny is the CEO of JUNOFEM and a senior research fellow at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute. Trained as a midwife, she specialises in pelvic floor research, focusing on birth outcomes and postnatal recovery with cutting-edge technology.

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Dr. Linda Dear

Dr. Linda is a UK-trained, NZ-based specialist menopause doctor dedicated to spreading menopause awareness. She founded Menodoctor and led New Zealand's largest menopause survey, impacting over 4,000 women.

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Lily Henderson

Lily is a registered dietitian with over 17 years' experience, specialising in health and culinary nutrition. She passionately provides evidence-based advice and advocates for lifestyle medicine via good diet and nutrition. She is the resident nutritionist at My Food Bag.

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Michelle Kasey

An award-winning Sex and Relationships Therapist with over 7 years of experience, who's supported 1,000's of clients worldwide to have healthier relationships and more satisfying sex lives. She's also a burlesque artist, champion pole dancer and writer.

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Steph Polson

Steph, Director and Lead Nutrition Consultant at podcast up_statuss, is a registered nutritionist in Australia and NZ. With a BSc in Human Nutrition and Food Science, she has over 10 years of experience helping individuals lead healthier lifestyles.

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Dr Lee Mathias ONZM

Over the course of her carerer Lee has made significant contributions to New Zealand's healthcare, including founding Birthcare, NZ's first primary maternity facilities, and co-founding Labtests. She is a currently a Director at Tend Health.

Our Wāhine Toa (Alt A)

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Dame Valerie Adams

Champion Aotearoa shot putter, Dame Valerie, has triumphed in sports while managing chronic injuries. Her resilience and strength have inspired many. She is a proud ambassador of Tend.

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Sarah Gandy

Sarah is a renowned Kiwi radio host, now on MoreFM Drive show, who bravely shared her battle with breast cancer. She continues to inspire others with her journey and resilience.

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Suzanne Paul

Suzanne, a TV personality darling and entrepreneur, has openly discussed her struggles with mental health, including severe depression. Her candidness aims to raise awareness and inspire others facing similar challenges.

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Melissa Chan-Green

Melissa is a journalist with two decades experience in broadcasting, based in New Zealand and London. She has a keen professional interest in reporting women’s health stories but has a personal interest too as one of four sisters and with a daughter herself.

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Simran Kaur

Champion Aotearoa shot putter, Dame Valerie, has triumphed in sports while managing chronic injuries. Her resilience and strength have inspired many. She is a proud ambassador of Tend.

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Megan Alatini

Megan is a renowned New Zealand singer, actress, and television personality, best known for her role in the pop group TrueBliss and as a judge on "New Zealand Idol."

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Dr Michelle Dickinson

Dr Michelle is an engineer and co-founder of Nanogirl Labs, an organisation dedicated to empowering everyone, everywhere to have a positive relationship with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

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Dame Theresa Gattung

Dame Theresa (CNZM) is a pioneering and prominent businesswoman, leader, author and philanthropist. She is known for her advocacy of women in leadership and entrepreneurial ventures. She is a Director and Chair of the Tend board.

Amanda Gillies

Amanda is a respected journalist and TV presenter. At 39 she was told she was entering perimenopause. She has talked openly about her menopause journey and continues her mission to spread awareness.

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Ellie Harwood

Ellie is a broadcaster and actress, known for her work on ZM radio and Viva La Dirt League. She has openly discussed her experience with depression, raising awareness for mental health

A women in a white shirt is smiling

Matilda Green

Matilda is a mama to three young children who gained fame from "The Bachelor". She has a parenting podcast called Untidy and with her co-host they tackle topics such as relationships, mental health and sex and body issues (including leaky boobs).

Sarah Page

Sarah is an inspirational woman and the founder of the Kindness Collective. She works tirelessly to provide resources and support to whānau in need, promoting a culture of giving and community care across Aotearoa.

Jordyn Gregory

Jordyn, host of Kiwi Birth Tales, shares powerful birth stories from Kiwi couples. She creates a supportive space, fostering open dialogue about childbirth, pregnancy, and postpartum experiences.

Our Wāhine Toa

A woman in a purple shirt is smiling

Dame Valerie Adams

Champion Aotearoa shot putter, Dame Valerie, has triumphed in sports while managing chronic injuries. Her resilience and strength have inspired many. She is a proud ambassador of Tend.

A women in white is smiling

Sarah Gandy

Sarah is a renowned Kiwi radio host, now on MoreFM Drive show, who bravely shared her battle with breast cancer. Having completed treatment, she continues to inspire others with her journey and resilience.

A women in a pink floral dress is smiling

Suzanne Paul

Suzanne, a TV personality darling and entrepreneur, has openly discussed her struggles with mental health, including severe depression. Her candidness aims to raise awareness and inspire others facing similar challenges.

A women in a pink floral dress is smiling

Petra Bagust

Petra Bagust is a renowned Kiwi broadcaster, MC and host of her podcast Grey Areas, where she empowers women through candid conversations, education, and awareness, promoting holistic well-being and positive change.

A woman in a red dress smiling

Melissa Chan-Green

Melissa is a journalist with two decades experience in broadcasting, based in New Zealand and London. She has a keen professional interest in reporting women’s health stories but has a personal interest too as one of four sisters and with a daughter herself.

A woman in a grey blazer is smiling

Simran Kaur

Simran trained as an optometrist and is the founder of "Girls that Invest", a podcast that has grown into an online phenomenon. Focusing on financial health she is helping millions of women learn how to invest and make money.

A woman in a red dress smiling

Megan Alatini

Megan is a renowned New Zealand singer, actress, and television personality, best known for her role in the pop group TrueBliss and as a judge on "New Zealand Idol."

A woman in a black shirt with a red t-shirt on is smiling

Dr Michelle Dickinson

Dr Michelle is an engineer and co-founder of Nanogirl Labs, an organisation dedicated to empowering everyone, everywhere to have a positive relationship with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

A woman in a green textured dress is smiling

Dame Theresa Gattung

Dame Theresa (CNZM) is a pioneering and prominent businesswoman, leader, author and philanthropist. She is known for her advocacy of women in leadership and entrepreneurial ventures. She is a Director and Chair of the Tend board.

Amanda Gillies

Amanda is a respected journalist and TV presenter. At 39 she was told she was entering perimenopause. She has talked openly about her menopause journey and continues her mission to spread awareness.

A women in a denim jacket is smiling

Ellie Harwood

Ellie is a broadcaster and actress, known for her work on ZM radio and Viva La Dirt League. She has openly discussed her experience with depression, raising awareness for mental health

A woman in a yellow shirt is smiling

Kimberley Crossman

Shortland Street darling, Kimberley, is an actor, comedian and author. She has publicly disclosed her depression journey on her podcast "Pretty Depressed" and more recently experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage.

A women in a white shirt is smiling

Matilda Green

Matilda is a mama to three young children who gained fame from "The Bachelor". She has a parenting podcast called Untidy and with her co-host they tackle topics such as relationships, mental health and sex and body issues (including leaky boobs).

Sarah Page

Sarah is an inspirational woman and the founder of the Kindness Collective. She works tirelessly to provide resources and support to whānau in need, promoting a culture of giving and community care across Aotearoa.

Jordyn Gregory

Jordyn, host of Kiwi Birth Tales, shares powerful birth stories from Kiwi couples. She creates a supportive space, fostering open dialogue about childbirth, pregnancy, and postpartum experiences.