July 2026 A Heartfelt Thanks Hospital Chaplaincy extends its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Deacon Jim Nees, who has retired after fifteen years of dedicated service as the Catholic Hospital Chaplain at Whangārei Hospital. ​ Originally from Pittsburgh, USA, Jim was commissioned as a hospital chaplain in 2011 by Bishop Patrick Dunn. Since then, he has become a familiar and much-loved presence throughout the hospital, providing pastoral care, spiritual support, and compas

Looking after more than your physical health Women's Health Week is often a time to focus on physical wellbeing, encouraging women to prioritise health checks, healthy habits, and preventative care. But when a health crisis occurs unexpectedly, it can affect far more than the body. It can impact a person's confidence, relationships, work, identity, and sense of what the future holds. A story of resilience Recently, one of our chaplains met a woman whose life had changed drama

When life changes in an instant, your kindness is there. Donate today and help provide support and comfort to people like Joe*. *Name changed to protect identity Joe's Story: This Is All He Had With Him An old knapsack. A pair of worn leather sandals. That was almost everything Joe had with him when he arrived at hospital. After a life-changing injury, Joe faced a long recovery, an uncertain future, and nowhere stable to go when he left hospital. More than anything, he felt a

Father's Day is a time of celebration, where we recognise and give thanks to all those father figures in our lives that have shown strength, resilience, and love for us each day. | To the dads, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, and all the men that are there for the big and the small wins, we say thank you. Fatherhood comes in all shapes and sizes, but the care and support we receive from the men in our lives is deeply important, however it is received. ​​In hospitals, Fathe

When Vanessa found out she was pregnant, she knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. But she never imagined just how terrifying it would become. Bring comfort and support to families facing the unimaginable. Vanessa's Story Noël was Vanessa’s miracle baby; conceived through IVF after years of hope and heartache. From the very beginning, doctors warned her that he might not survive. But she held onto hope. Then, at just 26 weeks pregnant, Vanessa’s world turned upside down. She