Latest news with #CanineFriendsPetTherapy
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Paws and Pages programme helps boost young readers at Cambridge Library
The programme launched with 12 children and 12 dogs this month, with the four-legged friends being supported by their handlers from the Canine Friends Pet Therapy organisation. Canine Friends president Vicky Graham said the programme benefited all involved, including the 'nonjudgmental' pups. 'It's very rewarding for children, parents, and our members to see that child who lacks some self-confidence, and is a wee bit shy, read to a dog,' Graham said. 'You [can] see the confidence grow and their reading ability actually improving, it's wonderful.' She joined Canine Friends more than 30 years ago as a volunteer after buying a dog from the organisation's founder, Eileen Curry. The organisation's 'core focus' is to brighten the day of people in rest homes, hospitals, and hospices, a goal that resonated with her. 'I had an elderly grandmother who went into a rest home when I was quite a young teenager ... because of that experience, I was very comfortable going into rest home facilities and enjoyed it.' Graham, who is originally from Taupō, said she still regularly visited the inpatient ward at Taupō Hospital with her 3-year-old border collie, Cohen. More recently, Canine Friends expanded their horizons to reading programmes, having been visiting schools and council libraries nationwide for several years. Paws and Pages have been happening around New Zealand for a few years, with Waipa's becoming Canine Friends' 29th. Cambridge resident Emma Harper and her 6-year-old miniature schnauzer, Frank, are first-time volunteers in a programme of this kind. 'As a mother, former nurse, and now educational psychologist, I've seen firsthand how vital early support can be in helping children thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.' Harper is setting up a psychology practice, Cambridge Educational Psychology Services, to support children and young people in their education. When Paws and Pages came around, she said the programme really appealed to her values and knowledge. 'It has been a beautiful example of connection and confidence-building through reading. '[It's] been absolutely heartwarming. Children who might usually feel anxious or reluctant to read light up when they see the dogs. 'Frank brings a calming presence that helps kids feel safe, seen, and celebrated.' Cambridge librarian Claire Mead helped kick off the programme. She said she, too, has seen the benefits of the programme. One boy who was really quiet and wary of going near a dog in the first session built up self-confidence in the second session, she said. 'He reads to the dog, talks to the dog, talks about the dog to other people and even gives it pats. He is much more confident now.' Paws and Pages, currently catering for people aged 5 to 13, starts as a pilot at Cambridge, with plans to expand to Te Awamutu Library soon. People can register for the next round of the programme at the end of the current school term.
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Miss NZ finalist ‘never thought' it would happen
Mosgiel-born, now Auckland-based, student nurse Emily Faulkner has been named one of the finalists in the Miss New Zealand 2025 pageant. Photo: supplied A former Taieri College student never thought a Mosgiel local would make it on to the stage of New Zealand's premier pageant. Now Auckland-based student nurse and part-time rest-home healthcare assistant Emily Faulkner has been named as one of the Miss New Zealand 2025 finalists. She will compete for the crown in Auckland on July 11. Miss Faulkner said she was feeling a mix of emotions. "Coming from Mosgiel, I never thought this would actually happen to me." There were 10 finalists in the competition and the women were on "quite a fun little adventure" together, she said. "It's so exciting, but at the same time, it's quite a time-consuming competition." Miss Faulkner grew up in Mosgiel and went to Taieri College before making the move north. She said she had a lot on her plate to juggle. She was at the point of her nursing studies at the University of Auckland where she was doing eight-hour placement shifts four to five days a week in hospitals, all the while going home to complete assignments. On top of that, she was also working part-time in a rest-home as a healthcare provider. "I've had a lot of people ask 'how do you manage it?'. And I'm like, 'ah, I don't, I just kind of do it'." In the lead-up to the competition, she and the other contestants would be supporting two charities, the Girls Brigade No 1 Squadron in Auckland and Canine Friends Pet Therapy, Miss Faulkner said. She would be running a charity event for Canine Friends Pet Therapy in the coming weeks. She had a soft spot for the organisation as it often brought dogs into the rest-home where she worked. When they brought the dogs in, you could see the happiness on the faces of the residents, she said. "Something so small goes so far for them because I've watched the everyday pattern in rest-homes, and people can get bored." She said many in rest-homes could forget they still had a life they were living, and the smiles on the residents' faces when the dogs came in were "honestly priceless". As part of the pageant, she was raising awareness and supporting three more causes. They were mental health, diversity and awareness around the "pink tax". "When mental health is talked about, I don't see it carried through enough — even though there's so many of us around, people are still feeling alone, and I don't think that's noticed enough." She said mental health was related to everything, including diversity. "Whether it's cultural, physical, personal, we're all different, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing to be different." She also wanted to see the end of the pink tax — she said the purple women's disposable razor with fewer blades than the men's equivalent had no business being more expensive. "A lot of people do think pageants are just about the glitz and the glam, but it's so much more than that." Miss Faulkner said Mosgiel and Dunedin gave her the strength and foundations to go for her goals. "Growing up in this beautiful city surrounded by nature, strong values and a caring community has shaped me into the person I am today. "Now I want to make our community proud by using this platform I've been given for good."
