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Match Story | How mentee Aria and her mum welcomed not one, but two mentors into their lives that changed their world for the better.

When Aria was 10 and started with BBBS, they were looking for a male role model for Aria as her dad was not in the picture. Her mum felt a ‘Big’ mentor would be helpful – a trusted friend and support person to stand by her side as she navigates life. Little did they know Aria would be matched with her big sister ‘Bernie’ Bernadette and later big brother Ben, for 5 years of friendship and mentoring!

Bernie and Ben are one of Big Brother’s Big Sister’s couple matches. They both joined BBBS hoping to give back and they loved the idea of being a ‘big sister’ and ‘big brother’ to support a young person. With both of them there to mentor Aria, she would have extra friendship, kindness, and connection around her as she grows up. The saying goes it takes a village to raise a child, and our mentors Bernie and Ben were a great addition to help unlock her potential.

Fast forward to now, they have graduated their match and we can see all of the above came true. From running around on the beach with Aria on mentor Ben’s shoulders, Aria had a big brother to make her laugh and be a male-figure in her life. Then, Rainbow’s End trips, phone calls, and girls hang outs with Bernie, Aria had a reassuring big sister in her life. In Bernie and Ben, she had friends to give her a helping hand when life felt hard, and cheerleaders to help her drive forwards.

Now a teenager, Aria reflects, “Bernie and Ben being in my life has done a lot for me, when I haven’t had a lot of people to speak to, they were there.” She also has some advice for future mentees: “Don’t be afraid to be open and be yourself, they [mentors] won’t judge you, they want to be there and support you, let loose and be yourself.”

Although graduated from BBBS Auckland, we know the connection between Aria, her mum, Bernie and Ben, will remain strong for a long time to come.

 

Ready to unlock a child’s potential? To become a mentor click here. To enroll a child click here.

What a night! Last Thursday evening, Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland hosted ‘Brushstrokes of Impact’ at Eden Park, and what unfolded was nothing short of magical.

From the moment guests arrived, there was an energy of excitement in the air. Guests got to ushered through Eden Park, walked through the tunnel out onto the field, then back into the changing rooms for an evening of paint, sip, and impact. After hearing a few speeches, our wonderful MC Matilda Green, and artist Andrew Steel supported us through the evening of art and creativity, all in support of youth mentoring. Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland thanks everybody who came to Eden Park to support the cause, and made their brushstrokes of impact for tamariki in need of mentoring.

Our Program Manager Dayna reflected “It has been incredible to see our community show up to support youth mentoring and be a part of our mahi.”.

Partnerships and Fundraising lead Courtney shares “A special shoutout to everyone who bid on auction items, purchased tickets or tables, and supported our cause in so many ways. Because of you, we can continue to support more tamariki in need of mentoring across Tāmaki Makaurau. We are so grateful.”

There were many highlights of the night. Andrew, our artist, painted two art pieces live to be auctioned off called ”The Moa” and ”Marg”. Guests were drawing each others faces from across the table, guests were drawing Andrew, and some guests unleashed full-blown abstract paintings which were fantastic. But, the true highlight of the evening was the heartfelt kōrero, and seeing a room full of people committed to creating brighter futures for our young people. The evening became a true celebration of community which BBBS is incredibly grateful for.

Throughout the weekend, the support didn’t stop, with the Brushstrokes of Impact Auction bidding continuing online. With many people bidding from home, it showed just how strongly our community believes in the mahi of mentoring. Thanks goes out to everyone who bid on Auction Items, the wonderful businesses who donated them, and the winners who bid the most to win them!

💙 “From all of us at Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland, thank you for joining us for Brushstrokes of Impact.”  – BBBS Auckland

Thank You to BBBS Sponsors & Supporters

This night could not have been possible without the generosity and creativity of BBBS partners:

• Resene for bringing colour to life and helping us “paint” Brushstrokes of Impact.

• Eden Park for opening its doors and providing such an iconic stage for our event.

• Andrew J. Steel for lending his creativity and passion to the event.

• Matilda for capturing the MC magic in every brushstroke.

And to every guest, artist, donor, and volunteer: thank you. Your presence, generosity, and belief in our cause mean more tamariki across Tāmaki Makaurau will have the chance to be matched with a mentor who can walk alongside them.

Together, we proved that when art, community, and generosity collide, the impact goes far beyond the canvas, it shapes futures.

Get ready for the Brushstrokes of Impact Auction, delivered alongside Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland’s special fundraising event of the year, a paint and sip called “Brushstrokes of Impact” at Eden Park. Get ready to be a part of it!

🎨 Auction opens Friday, 1 August and closes 17th August at 5:00pm
📍 Live event: Thursday, 14 August at Eden Park
🖌️ Tickets + Auction: Visit the event site here

Whether you’re bidding from the comfort of your couch or joining us for an unforgettable evening at Eden Park, every brushstroke and every bid makes a lasting impact.

What’s Brushstrokes of Impact All About?
This event is more than just art and auction, it’s about supporting tamariki who need additional help to have a strong start in life. Each dollar raised helps Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland match more local young people with caring mentors who walk alongside them through life’s challenges. From confidence and belonging to resilience and growth, mentoring has the power to transform their futures and you can help make it happen.

What’s Up for Grabs in the Auction?
We’ve got something for everyone:

• Luxury experiences (think date-night-ready picnics and weekend getaways)
• Family adventures to Snowplanet, Stardome, Eden Park, and more
• Incredible local art, including a one-of-a-kind piece from Football Fern Hannah Wilkinson
• Dining and shopping vouchers from beloved local businesses
• And plenty of surprise treasures still to come!

Bidding opens Friday, 1 August – keep an eye on the site and get ready to make your mark.

Look at the Auction Site here.

Join Us at Eden Park – Tickets Still Available!
On Thursday 14 August, we’re bringing our community together for a night of creativity, connection, and giving back. Set in the iconic All Blacks changing rooms at Eden Park, Brushstrokes of Impact is a Paint & Sip experience like no other. We will have wine, kai, live art, and support a wonderful cause.

🎟️ Grab your tickets now: Book your seat here

Every Bid is a Brushstroke
Whether you’re attending in person or bidding online, you’re part of something bigger and helping one mentoring match at a time. Together, we can paint a brighter picture for our tamariki.

 

Inspiring Future Innovators: A STEM-Powered Weekend Thanks to Worley NZ

Over the weekend, a group of our mentees and mentors stepped into the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), thanks to the incredible generosity of Worley NZ.

This hands-on, curiosity-driven event was about more than just learning new skills, it was about sparking imagination, building confidence, and opening doors to future career possibilities for our tamariki.

Throughout the day, our young people explored STEM concepts in a fun, engaging space, guided by Worley staff who brought science and tech to life. It was a powerful reminder that learning flourishes when someone believes in you. We could see the amazing care and effort the Worley team put in, and it was fantastic to see our mentee’s unlock new thinking and skills.

To make the experience even more impactful, each mentee received a gifted Chromebook, along with access to IXL educational software, allowing them to continue their learning journey at home and explore their newfound interests at their own pace.

Chelsey, Programme Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland, shares “Events like these are incredibly valuable for our young people. Not just because of the skills they learn, but because of the confidence and curiosity they walk away with. It’s about creating experiences that show our tamariki what’s possible and giving them the tools to explore that. We’re so grateful to Worley for not only supporting our mentees and mentors, but for genuinely investing in their growth and future. Thank you for being part of their journey.”

The feedback from our BBBS whānau says it all:

“That was awesome, thank you! [Mentee] was super stoked with his Chromebook… Thanks to the Worley Team!”

“That was such an awesome experience! [Mentee] loved it and can’t wait for the next one. Many thanks to everyone who organised it.”

“Thanks so much! The girls really enjoyed it. They were expecting it to be far more intense and school-like, so they were pleasantly surprised. Also stoked about the Chromebooks—it led to a discussion around sponsorship and people they don’t know investing in their future.”

“Thank you so much for this opportunity. [Mentee] and I both commented that we had no expectations going into today, not entirely sure what the day would entail. But it exceeded our expectations. 😀
Thank you, thank you. [Mentee] ran inside to start charging her laptop straight away when she got home!”

We’re incredibly grateful to Worley NZ for making this unforgettable experience possible. Their support is empowering our tamariki to explore new passions and take confident steps toward a future they’re excited to shape for themselves.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who helped make this day such a success!

 

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland –5th June 2025 – Big Brothers Big Sisters Tāmaki Makaurau is thrilled to announce an exciting and fun-filled evening of competition, camaraderie, and charity at our upcoming Charity Quiz Night. This R18+ event promises an unforgettable experience while raising funds to support the children and mentoring programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland.

Event Details:

• Date: 5th June 2025
• Time: 7:00pm – late.
• Location: Beerspot Morningside; 596 New North Road, Kingsland
• Age Requirement: 18+ only

Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and join us for an evening of challenging trivia, great beer, and plenty of laughs. The best part? All proceeds from the evening will go directly towards creating new mentoring matches with Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland, helping the 100+ children on our waitlist find mentors who can make a significant impact in their lives.

Ticket Information:

• Individual Tickets: $30 These tickets cover one person. You can join as an individual and we will assign you to a team, or you can specify your team during payment.
• Team Tickets: $125 Enjoy a small discount when purchasing for a team of up to five members. Make sure to choose a team name and fill out the names of your team members during registration.

Register your quiz team today and support a fantastic cause, with the chance to win great prizes, enjoy beer provided by The Beerspot, and enjoy food from Watta Burger food truck on site.

Fundraising:

Your participation in the evening’s quiz night and donations will directly support more children being matched with mentors, igniting their potential and making a lasting difference in their lives.

On the Night:

Whether you come as a group or solo, we will ensure you are part of a team. Prepare to test your trivia knowledge, compete for free beer, and partake in our exciting raffle. With food truck catering to all your hunger cravings, Urbanaut beer, and Black Pinnaple cocktails, you are in for a treat!

Invite your flatmates, whānau, and friends to showcase your trivia skills and enjoy a night of fun while making a meaningful contribution to our community.

We can’t wait to have you join us!

For More Information and Registration:

Visit the event page: https://bbbsakl-quiz-night.raiselysite.com/

About Big Brothers Big Sisters Tāmaki Makaurau:

Big Brothers Big Sisters Tāmaki Makaurau is dedicated to helping children and young people achieve their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact. Our vision is that all children achieve a strong start in life and reach their full potential.

Contact:

Chelsey Harnell (Programme Manager)

[email protected]

0212 379 7169

PRESS RELEASE

Brushstrokes of Impact: A Paint and Sip Evening at Eden Park in Support of Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland

WHEN: Thursday 14 August 2025, 7:00pm to 9:30pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
WHERE: All Blacks Changing Rooms, Eden Park, Kingsland

Step into the legendary All Blacks changing rooms for a night of creativity, connection, and community at ‘Brushstrokes of Impact’, a fundraising event hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland. This exclusive paint-and-sip experience offers guests the chance to find their inner artist inside one of Aotearoa’s most iconic sporting spaces. Whether you’re a rugby fan, art enthusiast, or just someone who believes in the power of mentoring, there’s something for you.

Hosted by Matilda Green (Podcaster, Influencer, and BBBS Ambassador), guests can enjoy a guided painting session with Kiwi artist Andrew J Steel – known for thought-provoking murals and street art – alongside a fundraising auction with some enticing prizes up for grabs (hello private Eden Park tour!) Nibbles will be provided, with all proceeds from the event going directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland to help to match more tamariki with dedicated, caring mentors.

“This event aims to support tamariki who are bright, resilient, and full of potential – they’ve just had a harder start than most or need additional support.” says Program Manager Dayna Taramai. “With the right mentor – someone who shows up and believes in them – they can thrive.”

Based on the tuakana-teina model of mentorship, Big Brothers Big Sisters matches young people (teina) with trusted adult mentors (tuakana) who provide consistency, guidance, and friendship. Research shows that these relationships build resilience, boost confidence, and help taiohi feel more connected.

Whether you’re flying solo, bringing a date, rallying your workmates, or catching up with friends, Brushstrokes of Impact promises a memorable night blending art, sport, and generosity. Spots are limited, so make sure you secure your spot – tickets can be bought here.

Please note that Eden Park pitch access is restricted during this event.

Media Contact:
Courtney Reynolds-Smith
Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland |  022 4882584
courtney.reynolds-smith@bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz

About Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland supports children aged 6-12 by matching them with trained, caring adult mentors. Each match is built on trust and consistency, offering children the opportunity to thrive through positive relationships.

 

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