Addiction
Drug and Alcohol – Alateen
Provides meetings on a daily basis for those whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking. Provides a group for teens called Alateen, principally for young people aged 13-17 years. Ph: 09 309 4792
Salvation Army
Net Addiction
According to a 2012 report, most New Zealanders play video games in moderation, but 6-8% of us may have problems with the way we spend our time gaming or using the internet, whether it's playing action games on a console, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games on the PC, or social games through a phone or tablet.
Net Addiction aims to provide information to people interested in understanding problematic use of gaming and gaming addictions in New Zealand. It aims to provide a critical look at how we as a people are using the internet and gaming, and provide resources for those looking to change the way they or their family are doing things, by drawing on the available local and international research.
Drug Rehab
Drug Rehab is a free international web resource that provides information about addiction, eating disorders, and mental health issues.
COMMUNITY ALCOHOL AND DRUG SERVICES - CADS
Recreational drug use and addiction is a complex issue that has permeated the culture and touched the lives of most families. Find out more here.
Adventure and Youth Development
Outward Bound
Outward Bound uses an incredible learning environment to aid social and emotional learning, the foundations of personal development. Sponsorship and scholarships for a range of courses are available.
Hillary Outdoors Education Centres
As New Zealand’s leading provider of outdoor education to secondary schools, the Hillary Outdoors Education Centres' vision is to provide education using outdoor pursuits to New Zealanders. Hillary Outdoors offers a variety of courses for youth ranging from their most popular course, the Youth Adventure Challenge to their Summit Leadership and youth skills courses.
Spirit of Adventure Trust
The Spirit of Adventure Trust programme facilitates opportunities for young people to discover things about themselves and those around them. The Emphasis of the Youth Development Programme is on team work, leadership, independence, problem solving, motivation, public speaking, self-confidence, community spirit, self-esteem and overcoming challenges.
Raise up n Represent
Raise up n Represent is a youth programme for 13-18 year olds that has been designed to provide a safe and healthy environment in which youth can relax, socialise and achieve goals. The aim is to support youth in being physically fit, to encourage personal ownership and leadership, and to foster a sense of pride and respect for themselves, and the communities in which they live.
Tracks (Boys) / Tides (Girls)
Tracks specialises in organising events that are a 'Rite of Passage' for boys becoming young men, and Tides specialises in 'Rites of Passage' for girls becoming young women. Events aim to encourage all young people, instil positive values, increase self-esteem and help develop visions for the future. Ongoing access is provided to a supportive community of peers, role models and mentors.
Autism
Autism New Zealand including Aspergers and related disorders
Autism New Zealand Inc. provides support, training, advocacy, resources and information on autism spectrum disorders including Asperger syndrome. Our members include those who have these conditions, their family/whanau, caregivers and professionals working with them.
How to Calm a Child with Autism
Techniques for avoiding and managing meltdowns can be found here
Estate Planning for Parents of Kids with Autism
Bullying
Netsafe (Online Bullying)
Online bullying can be tough to deal with, and it can feel like there’s ‘no escape’ – but there’s help available.
If you’re being bullied online, or if someone has sent or posted something about you that makes you upset, you can contact Netsafe and they'll let you know what you can do about it.
0800 What's Up
0800 WHAT'S UP is a safe place for you to TALK about ANYTHING at all.
Youthlaw
The Lowdown
Depression Helpline
Depression and anxiety affects us all differently. We all face challenges to our mental health. Depression and anxiety changes the way we think, feel and deal with tough times. Talk to the Depression Helpline today.
Change, Loss & Grief
Skylight
Skylight is a national not-for-profit trust that enables children, young people, their families/whānau, and friends to navigate through times of trauma, loss, and grief by building resilience.
Community Helpline
211 Community Helpline
The 211 Community Helpline is a free, confidential service that connects people to a wide range of community services and information. Ph 0800 211 211.
Internet Safety
NetSafe: The internet safety group
NetSafe, the programme of New Zealand's Internet Safety Group (ISG), is cybersafety education for all New Zealanders - children, parents, schools, community organisations and businesses. The ISG has been designated the Ministry of Education's 'agent of choice' for cybersafety education in New Zealand.
Cyberbullying and Internet Safety for Kids
The stranger danger scare easily applies to a random creepy person your kid might run into on the street. Most kids know better than to go near them. But what happens when a friend — someone they’ve been opening up to for months, building a solid, trusting emotional relationship — wants to meet in real life? How does a parent deal with classmates who’ve created a group on social media dedicated solely to humiliating, embarrassing, and spreading rumours about their child?
Read more here.
Mental Health
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health & wellbeing.
Mentoring
Big Brothers Big Sisters (Christchurch)
Big Brothers Big Sisters is designed to provide young people with trustworthy adults who will listen, take an interest in them and be there in times of need.
NZ Youth Mentoring Network
NZYMN is the national hub for the youth mentoring sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. We work with organisations and practitioners to promote safe and effective practice in youth mentoring.
Parenting Support
Family Works
Family Works is a national organisation providing social work, counselling and support for children, adolescents and their families as well as development programmes to help young people make good choices.
Kiwi Families
Kiwi Families provides one of New Zealand's largest and most comprehensive free information websites for NZ parents. Its mission is to save parents time, effort and frustration in searching for good quality parent-related information.
Youthline
Toughlove
Toughlove is a non-profit, self-help organisation that provides ongoing education and active support to families, empowering parents and young people to accept responsibility for their actions and stop destructive behaviours.
Special Interest Groups
Performance Net
Based in Auckland, this private company offers regular weekly classes in drama and dance which lead to professional productions, and school holiday programmes. Contact Performance Net today.
Special Needs
Parent to Parent
Parent to Parent is a support and information network for parents of children with special needs. Parent to Parent provides information and emotional support to families who have a child with a disability, special need or health impairment. There are more than 3600 different conditions covered by the service, ranging from the very common through to the rarest condition.
Create a safe play ground for Children with Special Needs
Sensory Processing Treatments
Classroom Accommodations for Kids with Sensory Issues
Most kids with mild sensory problems and no other issues do just fine learning and socializing at school with a bit of understanding, extra support, a sensory diet, and a few simple accommodations. You may be able to work this out informally with your child’s school. However, a child with sensory processing disorder (SPD) may need more help to thrive in the classroom and elsewhere at school (the cafeteria, gym, art class, etc.).
Moving with Special Needs Kids
Teen Help
Sparx
SPARX is an online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland, and funded by the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project. SPARX is free in New Zealand. SPARX has been proven to help young people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. It could help you or people you know.
Work Preparation and Training
Forward Focus
Forward Focus provides work preparation and training courses for young people. A range of topics are covered including obtaining a drivers licence, and developing skills that prepare young people for work.
Big Buddy
Big Buddy matches well-screened male mentors with fatherless boys and is currently delivered in the Auckland region.
Buddy Programme
The Buddy Programme is a preventative mentoring programme for children between the ages of 4 and 12 who are in need of additional adult support.
Youth Counselling
I Am Hope New Zealand
I Am Hope is the youth and community focused support group run by The Key to Life Charitable Trust set up to connect kids with mental health counsellors and practitioners in their region or online, so they can get timely support, without the added stress of how to pay the bill.
Find a counsellor here
or Text or call 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor, completely free of charge.
Kidsline
Children can call Kidsline free from anywhere in New Zealand or from any mobile phone to 0800 KIDSLINE (0800 543 754).
Youthline
A valuable source of information for youth issues, Youthline also offer a counselling service both in person and by telephone (individual and family therapy) and self-development programmes. Youth help line: 0800 37 66 33.
Home & Family
Home and Family Counselling are a community-based counselling service providing professional counselling either as a group or on an individual basis for children, youths and adults.
Please help us keep this resource list up to date; contact us with any changes in details or if you are involved with or know of other organisations that provide help, information, advice or support to parents.