PĀNUI
NEWS
Pink Ribbon Breakfast 2026
21 / 05 / 2025
This morning we gathered with our whanau and community for our Pink Ribbon Breakfast here at He Waka Tapu. The room was full of warmth, great kai, and some truly powerful korero, and we are so grateful to everyone who came along and showed up for this kaupapa.
We were honoured to hear from three incredible speakers. He Waka Tapu's own Vic Ashworth and Maria Lemalie-Herbert both shared their personal journeys with breast cancer, speaking with raw honesty about what early detection meant for them. Cheryl from Screen South brought a different but equally important perspective, speaking to the work being done in this space and the support available to wahine across our community.
But it was Maria who stopped the room. She spoke openly about the women around her who normalised screening and made it feel ordinary, and how that quiet example was what finally got her to book her appointment. Not long after, her doctor called with news that changed everything. She needed surgery, and she needed it soon.
Maria stood before us this morning to say: if she had kept putting it off, the story she told us today would have been a very different one. She knows someone in the room might be putting it off right now, telling themselves next month, after the holidays, once the kids are sorted. She understood that, because she had lived it. Her message was simple and clear. Book the appointment. Go with a friend if you need to. And when you come out the other side, tell someone, because that is how we change things, one conversation at a time.
A huge thank you to Jason, whose live music lifted the room all morning. To Kaytrina, Teulia, and Nia for the delicious kai, and to Toma for his generous pie donations that were gone in no time. To Dave for carrying the kawa of the morning with such grace. And to Lyn, Alice, and Zoe whose hard mahi behind the scenes made the whole day possible.
Our goal was to raise $1,500. We are thrilled to share that we have raised $1,081 so far and it is not too late to donate. Everyone who gives via the link below goes in the draw to win one of four gift baskets. Please share it with your whanau and friends.
What is Pink Ribbon about?
The Pink Ribbon Breakfast is a fundraising campaign in New Zealand that supports the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Individuals, workplaces, and groups host breakfasts, morning teas, or other meals during May to raise money for breast cancer education, research, and patient support. The funds raised help the Breast Cancer Foundation in its mission to reduce breast cancer deaths and improve the lives of those affected by the disease.
Donate to go in the draw to win.
While out Pink Ribbon breakfast has been, there is still time to donate to the cause. And go in the draw to win on of our hampers and prizes from the day.
We will be drawing these on friday 27/06/2025!
