OUR
PASSIONATE
INDIVIDUALS.
Annie
Cousins
Chair/Lived Experience Mentor
The Hear4U Trust holds a close place in my heart. Having been involved in the charity since quite early on in a voluntary capacity, I have seen the huge impact that Hear4U has on our community. I ran 21km at our first Taupo Half Marathon in 2021 and since then have been involved in many of our events.
Supporting the people of Tairawhiti the way Hear4U does is incredibly rewarding. Seeing, hearing and sharing the good stories coming from men helps others to speak up and seek healing pathways. In turn, this leads to better outcomes for our whole community.
As the Chair of Hear4U, I bring to the table strong leadership skills honed through various experiences. My tenure in local government has equipped me with valuable insights into governance practices, ensuring that Hear4U operates ethically and transparently. Moreover, my passion for people drives my commitment to serving our community and making a positive impact through Hear4U's initiatives.
He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata - Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure.
I am the creator of #Hear4U, which was co-founded alongside my good friends, in September 2019. My lived experiences and overcoming personal mental health challenges paved the way for the creation of the #Hear4U Charity.
Over the last four years I've led our #Hear4U whanau through the Covid 19 Pandemic, Cyclone Gabrielle, and constant weather challenges - aligning and supporting Tane and Wahine from all walks of life, in collaboration with like-minded community organisations.
My academic journey in social work, spanning from Lincoln to Massey University since 2005, has provided me with a solid foundation. Currently pursuing a Diploma in Positive Psychology under the tutelage of Dr. Denise Quinlan at Langley Group, I'm equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to empower individuals towards holistic well-being.
Certified as a Psychological First Aider and Life Keeper - practicing peer support onsite at #Hear4U enables me to feel deeply committed to upholding the principles and model of Te Whare Tapa Whā, ensuring that our approach is culturally sensitive and holistic.
Throughout my time as project manager and guest speaker at over 30+ community events facilitated by #Hear4U, I've had the privilege of amplifying unheard voices and paving pathways to healing through innovative means. These events have not only served as platforms for support but have also provided invaluable insights into the nuances of mental health distress, reinforcing the importance of our mission.
I
n essence, my journey with #Hear4U is not just about creating an organisation; it's about fostering a community where every individual feels seen, heard, and supported on their journey towards wellness.
"Na te whakarongo me te titiro ka puta mai te korero" - Through looking and listening we gain wisdom"
Krissy Mackintosh
Creator/General Manager/Trustee/Lived Experience Mentor/Red Cross Psychological First Aider
Certified NZ LifeKeeper
David
Parker
Trustee/Lived Experience Mentor/Justice of the Peace
To be asked to be a trustee of this charitable trust is an absolute honour.
I walked the #Hear4U half marathon in Taupo – on the challenge of my daughters Michaela, Lulu and Samantha.
I am honoured because I have a second chance at life now (my daughter, Michaela has shared her/our story through the #Hear4u social media platforms.)
In a nutshell, you don’t know how much you are loved, until you are gone. As a Funeral Director I have done too many suicide funerals where the message is always the same – why didn’t they reach out?
For the family left behind, the pain and guilt they are left with (as in where have I gone wrong ) is so vast. Any work to help those in need is so valuable and worthwhile.
My dedication to Hear4U is deeply rooted in the profound loss of our youngest son, Toby. Losing him at just 21 years old shattered our family. Toby was vibrant, intelligent, and full of promise, and his absence left an irreplaceable void in our lives.
The pain of Toby's passing made it unbearable for me to continue in my career as an Orthodontic Auxiliary. We had a newly planted avocado orchard with 1000 trees, so I began to manage that. I now pick, pack and market the entire crop single handedly selling to a boutique market.
In addition to our orchard, my family and I are partners in a successful forestry company. Through this, we've become intimately familiar with the challenges facing primary industries today.
Being actively involved with Land Search and Rescue I have had the opportunity to do peer support training. This is offered to fellow members following search events or when a member is in need. Community engagement with both organisations in turn allows me to nurture and care for others. I offer my experience to be available to those whether it be pre or postvention.
Chris
Fraser
Trustee/Lived Experience Mentor
Lianne
Jenkins
Wellbeing Advocate/ Qualified Social Worker
Living With Balance – Founder
Kia Ora my name is Lianne Jenkins founder of Living with Balance. I work with Hear4U who are breaking down stigma, making it easier and more common to talk about our wellbeing. Their model sits well with my mission and vision.
Living With Balance Mission
Working alongside individuals and professionals as they navigate the change and uncertainty that everyday living brings.
I have a degree in Social Work and over 18 years’ experience working with whanau of all ages. Many years have been dedicated to working with individuals and whanau adapting to change and life experiences.
I offer a range of wellbeing strategies, counselling, advocacy and strengths-based practice to clients of all ages.
Living With Balance Vision
Imagine Tairāwhiti a community of resilient individuals, organisation's and workplaces who know and understand mental wellbeing.
I have beautiful studio spaces at both Living with Balance and at HEAR4U. We can also easily arrange a phone call zoom session.
Once again, we are dealing with the effects of another weather event and the wet conditions our region has been dealt with for the past several months. For many of us, these events have altered our day-to-day living.
Contact Krissy or I if you wish to know more about how we can support you through uncertainty.
When times are uncertain and things feel out of your control it’s important to reconnect with the people and places that lift you up. However, you may be feeling, it's a chance to take a moment to reflect and do something good for your wellbeing.
Think about contacting people and loved ones, The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand have so many great resources, activities & stories. I love all the info they share.
Check them out here and set some whāinga/goals for the week ahead.
Seeing the massive importance and impact that Krissy and Hear4U had on friends and our community was infectious right from the first moment I experienced it.
Knowing Krissy for a long time and knowing how passionate she is in caring for others, I was very proud to be asked to be a trustee and help form and govern the trust, thus giving our community a service that has been so badly needed and had already provided so many positive outcomes for everyone that had been touched by it.
Growing up in Gisborne, my parents have always been involved in the community and this has shown me many of life's true rewards in helping others. I myself have been involved from a very young age in Surf Life Saving and am now one of the coordinators and active responding members of the Character Roofing Surf Life Saving Search And Rescue Team. This has allowed me to grow personally through some very tough life and death situations, one of which we received Rescue of the Year for New Zealand.
On a professional side, I also deal with stressful situations for a lot of people and are always trying to provide the best outcome in the most stress free way for my clients.
With this, I feel that I bring a unique and balanced skillset to help the Trust grow positively for the future and keep providing the best service possible to our community.
Alan
Thorpe
Trustee/Lived Experience Mentor
Andie
Bruce
Therapist
Contracted to #Hear4U
My name is Andrea Bruce (Andie) I was a midwife in Gisborne for 17 years but now work from home and online to help people who are feeling stuck in persistent physical or emotional pain.
I come from a farming background (on every erosion-prone hill country) and my husband is in forestry and has been for 30 years. This background has given me an understanding of the struggles people in our district are going through at present. I
'm qualified in a variety of therapies but more importantly, I connect with my clients. Solution-based work is important to me - helping people to get out of their stuck place and access their inner resources. I'm pretty down to earth so don't expect fancy therapist lingo from me. It takes guts to reach out for help and sometimes, just having someone outside the family to talk things through with is enough. If you'd like a call with me, please, just ask.
There's no shame in asking for a hand. You help your mates, so it's OK for you to have a turn getting support.
Kia Kaha,
Andie
Hey, I’m Becs. I’m a Gizzy girl and the face behind HeartSpace. My passion lies with helping others and bringing out the best in people. I’ve spent over 20 years in the not-for-profit sector, the last 15 of those were with a global organisation that directly improves the health and well-being of children. I’m a certified Ayurveda & Yoga Health Coach and a practitioner of Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda (a lifestyle science).
My own healing journey drove me to take my health and wellbeing into my own hands, which led me to Ayurveda in 2014. After implementing the daily routine of Ayurveda and noticing the profound impact it had on my health, energy and happiness, I began coaching clients into these simple mind/body practices.
What I know to be true is that the quality and experience of life heavily depends on how we take care of our body – and “we don’t know what we don’t know.” I’m a lifetime student of holistic health and Eastern medicine. I bring this integrated knowledge to my clients, to empower them as individuals on a unique path of health and wellbeing.
I live at Wainui beach with my husband Phil and daughter, Naia.
To get to know me, or understand more about health coaching and how it may meet your requirements, you can book a free 20-min call here - I’d love to hear from you!
Becs
Erickson
Health Coach/ Yoga Teacher and Meditation Guide
Heart Space - Founder
Contracted to #Hear4U
Amanda
Roe
Medical Practitioner
Contracted to #Hear4U
Kia Ora! I'm Amanda Roe, and I am a gigantic nerd when it comes to all things nature, including the human body & how it works. I'm medically trained, but the way I practice doesn't exactly follow the standard template of medical care.
The way I practice is innovative, integrative, and individualised.
I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in America and completed my undergraduate studies at James Madison University (Grad. 2000 Pre-Med, Biology and Research). I then moved out west to Oregon to attend the oldest accredited Medical school for Naturopathic Studies, National University of Natural Medicine.
I completed my doctorate in medicine along with my certificate in midwifery while at NUNM (Grad. 2006). I practiced integrative family medicine for 13 years before moving back to Gisborne to be with my husband’s whānau in 2020.
When you walk into my office, we focus on "What Matters to You", not "What's the Matter WITH you?" Let's look at what you've been through: all your concerns, health history and even labs. What's working well in your body and what needs more support? In a relaxed, no-rush visit, we can uncover root causes for ongoing health issues. In a visit with me, you’ll leave knowing how the following areas are impacted and what you can be doing to improve them:
Sleep, Nutrition, Mood, Energy, Exercise, and Stress.
I've had my own mental & physical health challenges along the way, so I get it. I'm a survivor, and I am who I am because of those hard times. Now, I stay resilient having figured out what makes me tick. We'll find your resilience builders and get you on the track to feeling good again.
Patterns emerge as you go through life, and you can influence those patterns for the better. Let the HEAR 4U team know when you're ready!
My name is Brian Horwell, owner / operator of Primal Fitness, based in Gisborne NZ, I am also an advocate for better mental health. I have throughout my working life been involved in someway with mental health.
When I was completing my degree I worked on a project working with 11-19yr olds with mental and behavioural difficulties, acting as a mentor and fitness coach for a variety of youth. I have also worked on a pilot project with the NHS in the UK looking at the correlation between exercise prescription and medication usage, with a 99% success rate in decrease in medication once following a sustainable exercise programme.
Since moving to New Zealand I have worked at Stand Children's Village as a Residential social worker and a team leader, working with a variety of youth aged between 5 and 13yrs. Most recently I have been honoured to work alongside Krissy and the HEAR4U charity, engaging men and women in health, fitness and wellness programmes.
Since 2021 we have had over 200 participants through our doors for the HEAR4U 8-week Challenges, with rewarding results. To see triumph, strength and pride where doubt once sat is exactly what breaking the stigma is about for us at Primal Fitness.
Brian
Horwell
Fitness, Wellbeing and Health Coach
Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Leisure management (Sport Development)
Contracted to #Hear4U
Jess
O'Dwyer
Administrator/PA
I am a mum of 3 beautiful children and have been through my own mental health challenges when I had my youngest child.
Going through this gave me a larger understanding of what others face and the challenges we face in the mental health sector. I am very energetic, some would say I’m ADHD, dedicated & have always had a passion for helping others, I had previously been a ECE teacher for 9 years before starting at #Hear4U.
#Hear4U values and Kaupapa align with my own personal values. There is no judgement when you walk through the door and we like to see the good in every situation. We all have our good and bad days but breaking the stigma around speaking up and knowing that it's ok to not be ok is what I love the best.