Mai Lighthouse

18/06/2026

🌿 Franklin Community Fuel Resilience Initiative

💰 This week - Accessing Government Entitlements

Did you know there are over 64 different WINZ entitlements alone and many whānau across Franklin aren't claiming support they're already entitled to, simply because they don't know it exists.

If you or someone you know would benefit from this info, please share. You may be entitled to far more than you realise 💛


🏛️ Work & Income (WINZ)

❄️ Winter Energy Payment — automatically paid with NZ Super or eligible benefits from 1 May–1 October. No application needed. ~$21/week single · ~$32.50/week couple or with children.

🆘 Hardship Grants — one-off grants for power bills, food, and essential costs. These do not need to be repaid — and you do not need to be unemployed to apply.

🏠 Accommodation Supplement — help with rent, board, or home ownership costs. Many working whānau are eligible and don't know it.

💊 Disability Allowance — covers ongoing costs related to a health condition — including heating costs for medical reasons.

🌡️ Warmer Kiwi Homes — eligible homeowners can receive 80–100% subsidies on insulation and heat pump upgrades.

📋 Community Services Card — reduces GP visits, prescriptions, and some services. Check eligibility at workandincome.govt.nz


📊 IRD — Family Support

👶 Best Start — $77 per week in your baby's first year, regardless of family income. Years 2 & 3 are means tested. ird.govt.nz

👨‍👩‍👧 Paid Parental Leave — for primary carers following birth or adoption. Check current rates at ird.govt.nz

👨‍👩‍👧 Working for Families — Family Tax Credit, In-Work Tax Credit, and Minimum Family Tax Credit. For families with children earning up to $43,044. ird.govt.nz


🏙️ Auckland Council

🏡 Rates Rebate — means tested rebate on your rates bill for eligible homeowners. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

🐕 Dog Registration Concession — reduced fees for eligible Community Services Card holders.


💳 Loans & Payment Plans

✅ No Interest / Fee Free Loans — access goods and services without falling into debt traps. Subject to eligibility.

📋 Payment Plans — if you're struggling with any bill or service, contact your provider directly to arrange a regular payment plan that works for you.

Not sure what you're entitled to? That's exactly what our free financial mentoring service is here for. We'll sit down with you, go through your situation, and make sure you're accessing everything available. No forms to figure out alone. No judgement. Just practical support. 💚

📞 09 238 6233
📧 [email protected]
📍Pukekohe & Tuakau | Mon–Fri 9am–4pm

A community response coordinated by Mai Lighthouse alongside Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri, Franklin Attendance Service, and local schools.

16/06/2026

It's National Volunteer Week and we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible people who show up - week in, week out - for whānau across our community 💛

Our volunteers are the heartbeat of Mai Lighthouse. They give their time, their aroha, and their energy so that whānau who are going through challenging times, don't have to do it alone. The impact they make isn't just practical - it's personal. It's a warm meal, a familiar face, a moment of connection that reminds someone they are seen, valued, and supported.

To every single one of our volunteers - ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. What you do matters more than words can say 🌟

If you've ever thought about volunteering with us, this is your sign. Come and be part of something that truly changes lives.

📧 [email protected]
📞 09 238 2966

15/06/2026

This week, 15–22 June, is Elder Abuse Awareness Week in Aotearoa. Safety, dignity, and respect for our kaumātua is not optional - it is who we are as a community.

If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out:

📞 0800 32 668 65 (Age Concern)
🌐 ageconcern.org.nz

Or get in touch with our team at Mai Lighthouse:

📧 [email protected]
📞 09 238 2966

You don't have to face it alone💛

08/06/2026

🌿 Franklin Community Fuel Resilience Initiative — Weekly Update

🥕 This week — Kai on a Budget
We know that feeding your whānau well is one of the most important things and food shouldn't be this expensive. Rising grocery costs are a real pressure, and one of the most powerful things we can do is reconnect with the incredible local food systems right on our doorstep 💛

🌱 Practical ways to feed your whānau well this winter:

🧺 Franklin Market — every Saturday 8am–noon, Massey Avenue Pukekohe. Fresh, seasonal produce direct from the people who grew it. Often better value than the supermarket and you're supporting local.

🥩 Find a local butcher — quality cuts, better value, and many offer bulk buying options for the freezer. Ask about bulk orders.

🌾 Connect with a local farmer — some Franklin farms sell direct to whānau. Check community Facebook groups and look out for roadside stalls.

🍲 Cook in bulk — soups, stews, and slow-cooked kai stretch across multiple meals and keep your whānau warm and well fed all week.

🧊 Use your freezer — batch cook and freeze. Buy in bulk when available. Nothing needs to go to waste.

🌿 Grow something — even a pot of silverbeet or herbs on a windowsill makes a difference over winter.

🏠 Local food support in Franklin:

🥫 Pukekohe Salvation Army Foodbank — food parcels for whānau in need alongside practical mentoring support. Contact them directly for current hours.

🌿 Pātaka Kai — Open Street Pantries — free community pantries across Pukekohe. Take what you need, leave what you can. 👉 patakai.co.nz

🍎 Auckland Fruit Tree Map — find publicly accessible fruit and nut trees near you. 👉 aucklandclimateaction.nz/fruit-tree-map
If you're struggling this winter, our free financial mentoring service is here to help.

📞 09 238 6233 | [email protected]

A community response coordinated by Mai Lighthouse alongside Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri, Franklin Attendance Service, and local schools.

08/06/2026

Did you know we have our very own op shop in Tuakau where all the proceeds go straight back into our community? 🛍️👕

And right now, buy one get one FREE (equal or lesser value) is on for the next two weeks!

Head over to our Tuakau Op Shop page for all the details 💛

👕 TEE SHIRT SALE starts MONDAY at our Tuakau Op Shop! 🎉

Buy one tee shirt and get a second one of equal or lesser value ABSOLUTELY FREE!

We've got a great range of tees for all ages and styles - come in and grab yourself a bargain while stocks last! 🛍️

📅 Monday 8 – Saturday 20 June
🕘 Open Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm, Sat 9am-12pm
📍 5 George Street, Tuakau
👕 While stocks last!

06/06/2026

Find us on page 32 of this week’s Franklin Times! 📰💛

We’ve written about our rangatahi this week - the young people aged 16-24 navigating a world that demands so much of them, and the brand new free programme we’re launching to show up for them.

Rangatahi Strong starts Monday 15 June right here in Pukekohe an we’d love to see it full! ✨

Read full column here 🔗

https://issuu.com/times_e-editions/docs/franklin_times_june_5_2026

🗓️ Mon 15 • Wed 17 • Mon 22 • Wed 24 June
🕘 11am - 1pm
📍 205 King Street, Pukekohe

Know a rangatahi this would suit? Share this with them if anyone who might know someone 💛

📞 09 238 6233
📧 [email protected]
📲 DM on Facebook

Dive into our extensive resources on the topic that interests you. It's like a masterclass to be explored at your own pace.

05/06/2026

Are you or someone you know looking for a role in family law? 💼

Our friends at Blackwood Montagna Legal - part of our lawyer clinic here at Mai Lighthouse - are looking for someone to join their Family Team in Pukekohe.

To apply:
📞 09 283 8432
✉️[email protected]

And did you know - Mai Lighthouse offers FREE 15-minute lawyer appointments every Thursday 4–5pm? No referral needed ⚖️💛

📞 09 238 6233 | [email protected]

04/06/2026

Have you heard? New Zealand's Anti-Stalking legislation has just come into effect 💙

This is a really important step forward for the safety of wāhine and whānau across Aotearoa - and we want to make sure our community knows about it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking or coercive control, please know you don't have to navigate this alone. We're here, and so is support.

📞 09 238 6233 | [email protected]

In an emergency, always call 111.

04/06/2026

Have you seen our donation page? 👀

With Matariki approaching - a time of giving back and lifting each other up - we'd love to invite you to support the mahi we do every day for whānau across Franklin and North Waikato.

Counselling, financial mentoring, social work, medical transport, legal clinics, parenting support - every koha goes straight to the people who need it 💛

✨ mailighthouse.org.nz/donate

Ngā mihi nui 🙏🏽

02/06/2026

What a series it’s been! Celebrity Treasure island has officially wrapped and while the incredible mana wahine, CWK Nix took home a much deserved win, Frank took home something just as valuable: the love and support of an entire community behind him.

To everyone who watched, shared and rallied behind - thank you. Your support for Frank is support for Mai Lighthouse, and for every whānau we serve.

What a ride. We couldn’t be prouder 💛