Helping young Kiwis through some of life’s toughest times
Kenzie’s Gift supports the mental health of tamariki (children) and mātātahi (young people) affected by serious illness or grief.
If you or someone you love needs immediate help, please contact the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865.
Cold Comfort
Discover "Mackenzie," a Short Documentary on Grief, Cold Water, and Connection
Click to watch our founder Nic Russell and bereaved mama Sarah Luxon share their powerful story of grief, resilience, and the close bond they formed. Brought together by the death of their daughters—both named Mackenzie—they found comfort and strength in cold water and community
.png)
Grief & Serious Illness
Grief is a reality of life, it’s what it means to be human, and it’s inevitable. At some point or another, we all experience grief, and yet we aren’t very good at supporting one another during these times. What we don’t realize is that this can be all the more isolating for the person going through it.Serious illness is a major trigger of grief for everyone involved. Here at Kenzie’s gift, we use evidence-based professional support to help young Kiwis through the toughest times.
What we do
Articles
Backed by our team of therapists’ insights, our free online resources are full of helpful tips for tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and their whānau who are affected by serious illness or grief.
Support kits
Our support kits are designed for tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and mātua / parents and caregivers who are affected by serious illness (including mate pukupuku / cancer) and grief.
1-on-1 therapy
We provide up to 12 fully funded 1-on-1 therapy sessions with registered mental health professionals for tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Unthinkables Community
Our private Facebook group is a safe space for parents and caregivers who have lost a child.
Who We Help
We help young kiwis aged between 3 to 24 years old:
- who have a parent / primary caregiver with a terminal or life-limiting illness (including mate pukupuku / cancer).
- whose parent / primary caregiver / sibling have died.
- who has a serious, usually long-term or life-limiting illness (including mate pukupuku / cancer).
5776
Support Kits
4764
Therapy Sessions
6379
Families Helped
Contact Us
Talk to us today to see how we can help you and your whānau if you’re affected by serious illness or grief.
Please note that we’re not a crisis line – if you or someone you love needs immediate help, please contact the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865.
True Colours Children’s Health Trust
.jpg)
What’s Up
The Lowdown
The Grief Centre
Skylight
Rural Support Trust
Mental Health Foundation
Make-a-Wish Foundation
Home and Family Counselling
Child Cancer Foundation
CanTeen
Cancer Society of New Zealand
Anxiety New Zealand
Suicide Crisis Helpline
Samaritans
Youthline
Lifeline Aotearoa
1737, Need to talk?
True Colours Children’s Health Trust
What’s Up
The Lowdown
The Grief Centre
Skylight
Rural Support Trust
Mental Health Foundation
Make-a-Wish Foundation
Home and Family Counselling
Child Cancer Foundation
CanTeen
Cancer Society of New Zealand
Anxiety New Zealand
Suicide Crisis Helpline
Samaritans
Youthline
Lifeline Aotearoa
1737, Need to talk?
Recommended
Book List
Book List
Books are a great way to help tamariki / children (and yourself) begin to make sense of what they’re experiencing when it comes to serious illness or grief. See what we recommend.
Nic's Story
Kia ora, I’m Nic. I’m a heart transplantee, mate pukupuku (cancer) survivor and bereaved māmā who lives with Parkinson's. I’m an author, speaker, and proud founder of Kenzie’s gift.
Kenzie’s gift is born out of the loss of my 3-year-old daughter Kenzie to pukupuku (cancer). Kenzie’s Gift’s mission is to create a brighter future for young Kiwis affected by serious illness or grief by supporting good mental health and ensuring no young Kiwi faces serious illness or grief alone.
Thank you
From the families you help by supporting us
"We are very grateful for the help - our daughter is starting to smile again."
"I'll be eternally grateful for the support of Kenzie's Gift and what it has meant for my daughter letting her be the bright bubbly girl you meet now"
"Kenzie's Gift interceded when my daughter needed it most"
"Thank you for being a lifeline. Having a dedicated professional to talk to and work through my immense grief has been a huge comfort."
"It was a lifesaver service at a time of great need for my son."
"Nic's idea was one I just couldn't say no to. What she has done, and what Kenzie's Gift do for children, is very special."
"Kenzie’s Gift offers access to something you would find exceptionally difficult to provide for your kids."
"Nothing like this existed before Kenzie's Gift, there was a real need for support for families affected by cancer."
"Kenzies gift is not just opinion-based support, it's evidence based support from trained child psychologists."
Our Sponsors
As a charity, we don’t receive any government funding and rely on the amazing generosity of our supporters to keep our essential mental health services running.
Lindsay Foundation
Potter Masonic Trust
Linda Simmons
The Lion Foundation
ANZ
.jpg)
JB Hi-Fi
Dragon Community Trust
BlueSky Community Trust
.jpg)
David Levene Foundation
Hugo
Foundation North
Christine Taylor Foundation
Otago Community Trust
We Care Community Trust
Pub Charity
Linda Simmons (Bayleys Residential Sales)
JM Thompson Charitable Trust
Perpetual Guardian
Bupa Foundation
Lotto
Milestone Foundation
William Harvey Trust (Perpetual Guardian)
ILT Foundation
Hawke's Bay Foundation
TECT
Public Trust
Royston Health Trust
Four Winds Foundation
John Ilott Charitable Trust
COGS
Christchurch Casino
Aotearoa Gaming Trust
Lister Presbyterian Health Trust
Louise and Patrick Emmett Murphy Foundation (Public Trust)
Ernest Hyam Davis & The Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment
T G Macarthy Trust (Public Trust)
J A Redwood Charitable Trust (Perpetual Guardian)
Rata Foundation
Marsh Insurance
.png)
SkyCity Community Trust
Trillian Trust
Jones Foundation
Lindsay Foundation
Potter Masonic Trust
Linda Simmons
The Lion Foundation
ANZ
JB Hi-Fi
Dragon Community Trust
BlueSky Community Trust
David Levene Foundation
Hugo
Foundation North
Christine Taylor Foundation
Otago Community Trust
We Care Community Trust
Pub Charity
Linda Simmons (Bayleys Residential Sales)
JM Thompson Charitable Trust
Perpetual Guardian
Bupa Foundation
Lotto
Milestone Foundation
William Harvey Trust (Perpetual Guardian)
ILT Foundation
Hawke's Bay Foundation
TECT
Public Trust
Royston Health Trust
Four Winds Foundation
John Ilott Charitable Trust
COGS
Christchurch Casino
Aotearoa Gaming Trust
Lister Presbyterian Health Trust
Louise and Patrick Emmett Murphy Foundation (Public Trust)
Ernest Hyam Davis & The Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment
T G Macarthy Trust (Public Trust)
J A Redwood Charitable Trust (Perpetual Guardian)
Rata Foundation
Marsh Insurance
SkyCity Community Trust
Trillian Trust
Jones Foundation
News
As a charity, we don’t receive any government funding and rely on the amazing generosity of our supporters to keep our essential mental health services running.
News
For Adults
Cold Comfort - a Short Documentary on Grief, Cold Water, and Connection
Click to watch our founder Nic Russell and bereaved mama Sarah Luxon share their powerful story of grief, resilience, and the close bond they formed. Brought together by the death of their daughters—both named Mackenzie—they found comfort and strength in cold water and community
News
For Adults
Gráinne Moss conquers the Channel of Bones, kicking off four epic swims to support Kenzie's Gift
Renowned ultra-marathon swimmer and holder of the New Zealand and Irish Triple Crowns, Gráinne Moss has achieved an extraordinary feat by successfully swimming the grueling 42 kilometers between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi islands, famously known as the ‘Channel of Bones’.
News
For Adults
HRH The Duke of Cambridge’s letter of support
Back in 2005, Kenzie’s Gift Founder Nic and her daughter Kenzie had the privilege of meeting The Duke of Cambridge in Aoteaora New Zealand when he came to visit the paediatric oncology ward at Starship Children’s Hospital. Now, we’re so honoured to share his message of support.
Join us online
