https://keepwell.co.nz/Keepwell promotes the work of New Zealand's community organisations and the government agencies that support them, and the grants and support people can get. Every story links to its official source.en-nzhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/men-over-40-urged-to-ask-doctors-for-a-prostate-blood-test-tick/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/men-over-40-urged-to-ask-doctors-for-a-prostate-blood-test-tick/Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:07:21 +1300About 4,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in New Zealand, the Prostate Cancer Foundation says.Healthhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/five-simple-ways-to-show-good-white-cane-etiquette/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/five-simple-ways-to-show-good-white-cane-etiquette/Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:42:57 +1300A person using a white cane may still have useful sight, Blind Low Vision NZ says.HealthDisabilityhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/plunket-asks-for-help-to-keep-waikato-parent-mental-health-service/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/plunket-asks-for-help-to-keep-waikato-parent-mental-health-service/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:18:54 +1300Every donation on the day is matched dollar for dollar, and $410,000 is needed to fund the service through year two.Mental healthCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/ambulance-now-alerts-coastguard-and-surf-life-saving-straight-away/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/ambulance-now-alerts-coastguard-and-surf-life-saving-straight-away/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:57:28 +1300Two national agreements link New Zealand's ambulance communications centres directly with both groups for the first time.HealthCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/mental-health-foundation-asks-people-to-build-belonging-this-week/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/mental-health-foundation-asks-people-to-build-belonging-this-week/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:07:03 +1300The theme for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week is Belonging Matters.Mental healthMāoriDisabilityhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/pukehina-s-midway-park-to-get-a-skills-track-for-riders-of-all-levels/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/pukehina-s-midway-park-to-get-a-skills-track-for-riders-of-all-levels/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:59:11 +1300The new track will sit beside a pump track that locals have already finished building.Community sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/pharmac-funds-new-hospital-medicine-for-drug-resistant-infections/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/pharmac-funds-new-hospital-medicine-for-drug-resistant-infections/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:25:39 +1300About 20 to 33 people a year are expected to receive the new medicine over the next five years.HealthDisabilityCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/bread-collective-baking-programme-moves-49-of-participants-into-jobs/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/bread-collective-baking-programme-moves-49-of-participants-into-jobs/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:25:39 +1300Of 21 people in the two most recent cohorts, 12 have moved into employment.Community sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/le-va-s-atu-mai-team-shares-its-approach-at-sexual-violence-conference/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/le-va-s-atu-mai-team-shares-its-approach-at-sexual-violence-conference/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:19:18 +1300The conference theme, Kahupō to Toiora, framed healing as something taken one step at a time.PasifikaCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/mental-health-foundation-offers-280-000-for-community-led-wellbeing-projects/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/mental-health-foundation-offers-280-000-for-community-led-wellbeing-projects/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:40:02 +1300Applications for Top Up Community Grants close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 18 October 2026.Mental healthCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/manawa-trust-seeks-views-on-up-to-15-million-for-arena-extension/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/manawa-trust-seeks-views-on-up-to-15-million-for-arena-extension/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:27:09 +1300Community feedback on the proposal is open until 4:00pm on Monday 19 October.Community sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/over-half-of-3-000-new-zealanders-surveyed-open-to-gifts-in-wills/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/over-half-of-3-000-new-zealanders-surveyed-open-to-gifts-in-wills/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:27:09 +1300Just one in five people who receive professional advice have ever discussed charitable giving with their advisor, the research found.Community sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/iwi-led-takai-here-partnership-wins-maori-crown-award/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/iwi-led-takai-here-partnership-wins-maori-crown-award/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:54:52 +1300The partnership has connected more than 1,000 people to health and social services.MāoriPasifikaCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/smart-glasses-read-buses-menus-and-banknotes-aloud-for-blind-kiwis/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/smart-glasses-read-buses-menus-and-banknotes-aloud-for-blind-kiwis/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:19:59 +1300Blind Low Vision NZ lists 10 everyday uses, from reading expiry dates to describing art at a gallery.DisabilityCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/more-people-with-type-2-diabetes-can-get-four-funded-medicines/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/more-people-with-type-2-diabetes-can-get-four-funded-medicines/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:12:33 +1300Pharmac expects around 14,000 more people to gain access over the next 12 months, rising to around 31,000 after five years.HealthMāoriPasifikahttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/pharmac-extends-cancer-medicine-funding-to-about-15-more-people-a-year/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/pharmac-extends-cancer-medicine-funding-to-about-15-more-people-a-year/Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:19:59 +1300Pharmac says the change will give a clearer, more consistent pathway to funded treatment.HealthDisabilityCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/vision-loss-can-bring-phantom-images-blind-low-vision-nz-explains/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/vision-loss-can-bring-phantom-images-blind-low-vision-nz-explains/Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:19:59 +1300Charles Bonnet Syndrome is estimated to affect around one in four adults with sight loss or low vision.HealthDisabilityhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/report-inaccessible-transport-limits-disabled-peoples-participation/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/report-inaccessible-transport-limits-disabled-peoples-participation/Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:19:59 +1300Researchers found that, as of May 2024, New Zealand had no known projects or research examining disabled people’s experience of subsidised mobility.Disabilityhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/deaf-aotearoa-opens-new-riccarton-office-after-ta-i-te-kawa-blessing/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/deaf-aotearoa-opens-new-riccarton-office-after-ta-i-te-kawa-blessing/Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:08:14 +1300The office is open three days a week, and staff work from home on the other two.Disabilityhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/disability-assist-dog-handlers-get-a-national-id-card/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/disability-assist-dog-handlers-get-a-national-id-card/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:08:54 +1300The card creates no new rights but helps businesses and staff recognise trained and certified dogs.Disabilityhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/te-rau-ora-appoints-former-youth-health-midwife-jade-chase/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/te-rau-ora-appoints-former-youth-health-midwife-jade-chase/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:07:04 +1300She spent six years as Chief Advisor Pae Ora at Manatū Hauora and helped design the COVID-19 Care in the Community approach.MāoriCommunity sectorhttps://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/mental-health-awareness-week-2026-puts-belonging-at-its-centre/https://keepwell.co.nz/news/2026/10/mental-health-awareness-week-2026-puts-belonging-at-its-centre/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:05:36 +1300Only 53% of New Zealanders feel their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community, according to research the Mental Health Foundation cites.Mental health