Christmas is here, and all that it brings

Social IssuesCulture Dec 23, 2019 Tim Baker

You are probably sat reading this with a glass of bubbles in hand and loved ones dotted around busily opening presents or firing up the BBQ, the cat may have torn down the Christmas tree and batted the baubles across the living room floor during the night. Your family dog will surely be lying in wait underneath the dining room table, waiting for someone to miss their mouth and send food hurtling toward the floor for it to be devoured.

For some of you there may be empty seats around the table this year. I for one know how this can feel. For me, its the eighth Christmas without my father. The holiday has never been the same since. Loved ones who would normally be part of your Christmas card list can leave us at a moments notice, their warmth and banter will leave an empty hole in the festivities as you remember their warmth and spirit.

This Christmas, let us remember all the people that made our lives what they are today. Whether they are here or not. Let us remember and spare a thought for those that have lost their loved ones this year, this year will be their first Christmas without that special person.

Remember, and if you can, share your table with someone in need. Someone without family. Christmas can be a very lonely time of year for some people and you can change that by opening your hearts and homes to each other. This is a time of giving, a time of hope and goodwill.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

From all of us at Kiwis For Good.

A Moment to Rethink: Policing, Protection, and Public Trust Social Issues A Moment to Rethink: Policing, Protection, and Public Trust Residents of of Clyde Rd, Bryndwr, Christchurch were alarmed by the sound of gunshots around 11pm on 13th August 2025 ,and woke to the shocking news that a woman, that police were called to protect during a domestic incident, was fatally shot by officers. Read Finding Hope: Message to Young People Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Social Issues Finding Hope: Message to Young People Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Dear young one. If you're reading this, it's because you're feeling overwhelmed right now. It might seem like there’s no way out of the pain you’re experiencing. First, I want you to know that you're not alone. Many young people face these feelings, and there is hope. This message is for you. It’s a reminder that your life is precious and worth fighting for. Read A Kiwi Leading the Way in Healing Trauma Social Issues A Kiwi Leading the Way in Healing Trauma At Kiwis For Good, we love seeing New Zealanders push the boundaries of what’s possible — especially when it comes to mental wellbeing. One of our trustees, Dr Robin Youngson, is helping to bring a remarkable new approach to trauma healing to Aotearoa. Read An Exposé: Study 329, Antidepressants, and New Zealand’s Youth Suicide Crisis Social IssuesTechnology An Exposé: Study 329, Antidepressants, and New Zealand’s Youth Suicide Crisis The alarming prevalence of antidepressant use among New Zealand’s youth demands urgent scrutiny. According to Ministry of Health data obtained by Kiwis For Good, in 2021, over 10,000 prescriptions for the antidepressant paroxetine were written for individuals under 30, including 1,330 for those under 19. These figures are particularly concerning given the dark history of paroxetine, a drug at the centre of one of the pharmaceutical industry’s most notorious scandals: Study 329. Read Lockdown Life 3: Physiological Reactions and Cycles PoliticsEnvironmentSocial IssuesCulture Lockdown Life 3: Physiological Reactions and Cycles Having now familiarised ourselves with the ABC model, automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, core beliefs, and thinking traps, we are now almost ready to start considering disputation; the process by which old, maladaptive thoughts and beliefs are transformed into new, functional ones. Read In Hindsight: The Heartbreak & Tragedy Of The Vaccine Mandates PoliticsSocial IssuesTechnologyCulture In Hindsight: The Heartbreak & Tragedy Of The Vaccine Mandates At the end of 2021, my trauma clinic began to be overwhelmed by a new category of clients: those traumatised by the government's COVID vaccine mandate. Here are some of the stories… Read
Help Us Help Others!

Your donations are incredibly important for us, and enable us to use our initiatives to help our fellow Kiwis.

Donate today
Join Our Newsletter

For the latest news and projects, keep up-to-date with our newsletter. We promise not to spam you; we get enough of that ourselves!