Good Lives Wairarapa

14/06/2026

A fantastic day out at the hazelnut orchard with tree-croppers, where Eric and Annette Cairns introduced us to an amazing array of wood-crafting tools and techniques that can be used to turn hazel prunings into works of art. Proceeds from the event were donated to Good Lives Wairarapa.

11/06/2026

The Good Lives team receiving their Health, Wellbeing and Active Recreation award from Carterton Mayor Steve Cretney, Sponsor Linda Penlington from Gain Momentum and Judge Latoria Reiri at the 2026 Charles Rooking Carter Awards. Representing Good Lives Wairarapa are Chris, Anita, James, Leslie and Alex. Well done team! Photo credit: Lucia Zanmonti Edwards.

08/06/2026

Are you a garden survivor? Would you like to learn how to create a vegetable garden from scratch? Would you like to learn how to make your garden survive and thrive in a changing climate? Then sign up for this 16 week course with Steff and Chris. It’s open to people with disabilities and their supporters of all ages.

We will cover:
• Creating a garden bed
• Making compost
• Weeding and foraging
• Growing from seeds and cuttings
• Planting for spring and summer
• Surviving pests and harsh weather
• Ways to make your garden thrive

When: Every Thursday from1 to 2.30 pm, from 16 July to 22 October.
Where: IDEA Services, 46 Bentley St, Masterton.
What: 8 workshop sessions every 2 weeks with working bees on the weeks between workshops.
How: Register with Chris at [email protected] by Monday 29 June. Limited to 20 participants, so get in fast!
Cost: Nothing! The course is provided by Good Lives Wairarapa in collaboration with Indigo & Thyme and is funded by Masterton District Council Climate Action Fund and the IHC Foundation.

07/06/2026

Very proud to have received the 2026 Charles Rooking Carter Award for contributions towards health, wellbeing and active recreation, particularly community health and wellbeing through our cooking and life skills programme, community garden workshops, organic waste collection and composting initiative and helping run another successful disability expo. Thanks to all our supporters, sponsors and collaborators.

The fifth category in our Charles Rooking Carter - Carterton Community Awards is the Gain Momentum Wellbeing and active recreation award.

This award recognises businesses, initiatives or individuals improving physical, mental, or social wellbeing - including contributions to sport, fitness, recreation, and community health.

Congratulations to the 2026 Wellbeing and active recreation award winner:
🏆 Good Lives Wairarapa🏆
For being a significant contributor to the health and well-being of many disabled people in Wairarapa.

The 2026 Charles Rooking Carter - Carterton Community Awards are being held at the Wairarapa Events Centre this evening. We'll announce each category winner here throughout the night.

Congratulations to all those who were nominated and announced as finalists in this category.

17/05/2026

Very humbled to be finalists in the Charles Rooking Carter Award for Health, Wellbeing & Active Recreation, but oh dear look who we are up against!

Health, Wellbeing & Active Recreation Award
Alex Terris – for volunteering his time dedicated to improving mental and physical health and building resilience through karate training.
Good Lives Wairarapa – for being a significant contributor to the health and well-being of many disabled people in Wairarapa.
Rivenrock Mountain Bike Park – for creating an inclusive, high‑quality mountain bike park that boosts wellbeing, youth participation and regional tourism.

The Awards were created to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding volunteer work, business innovation, and achievement in Carterton District.

17/05/2026

We tried out a new venue for our cooking class this week and it was a roaring success. Nothing like a commercial kitchen to bring out some serious skills. Thanks to Salvation Army Carterton for the opportunity.

13/05/2026

The Complex Care Group is offering for a free online workshop on the new Needs Assessment Process on either 27 or 28 May. Details in the link.

A conversation about the new Disability Needs Assessment process and what you can do to prepare. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How the new Needs Assessment Tool works Tips for a successful Needs Assessm…

18/04/2026

May Day rally - learn about the important work of Unions. Note free sausage sizzle 😀

01/04/2026

Great article on what we hope to achieve in our biochar project.

https://biochartoday.com/news/good-lives-wairarapa-and-regional-partnerships-scale-local-biochar-and-waste-initiatives/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ5qihleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE1WVQxdEl1dERJWHJ2U0dac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsPfEwFx7Nz2Nb7ARn-VxwWL7kdfWqfoTkbh_Fr9BQdNi9excKf_KuKUIoGu_aem_y_E_ZHWt0bxXKTYCQ6Dc5Q

Good Lives Wairarapa, supported by local councils and the IHC Foundation, is employing disabled workers to process organic waste into biochar and mulch. The project overcomes high equipment costs t…

10/03/2026

This sounds like excellent news for those of us using or considering using flexible funding. The many submissions on the proposed changes would appear to have had the desired effect and it does seem that there will be more choice and control. All will depend on how NASCs and Hosts effect these changes after 1 April.

Disabled people will have more choice over how they use their flexible funding from April, while keeping the same level of support they receive today.