Inaugural HPH Australia & New Zealand Event Held in Auckland on 4th October 2025 - Part 2!
Posted
-
- Oct
- 5
- 2025
by Elizabeth Boisson
Inaugural HPH Australia & New Zealand Event Held in Auckland on 4th October 2025
What began as an excited, exploratory video conversation between three Affiliate Leaders manifested into a deeply meaningful and connecting experience for 15 shining light parents in HPH Australia & New Zealand in Auckland.
Mothers, Jo Greaney (Affiliate Leader of Moving Forward After Suicide ANZ, Dylan in Spirit), Anne-marie Taplin (Affiliate Leader of HPH ANZ, Harry in Spirit) and Mary-Jo Quinn-King (new Affiliate Leader of Moving Forward After Suicide ANZ, Grace in Spirit) collaborated to plan – over eight weeks – the first in-person event held in for the ANZ group.
Jo travelled five hours from the centre of New Zealand and Anne-marie travelled by plane from Adelaide, Australia to host the event with Mary-Jo (MJ). It was made possible for a modest ‘love donation’ from attending parents by MJ’s role as Events Manager in Auckland’s Next Gen Fitness & Wellbeing Centre, a stunning venue located in the centre of New Zealand’s largest city.
We were so pleased to host this first-ever event to connect mums and dads from across both countries, most of whom had never met in person before. It was beautiful to see new relationships develop, with opportunities for conversation and sharing experiences or questions over a delicious shared lunch. The day was truly special – deeply healing, comforting, and filled with love. It was an honour and a privilege to hold sacred space together, to share our stories, our tears, our laughter, and our children’s light with each other.
The full-day program included a traditional Māori welcoming ceremony, a practical neurographic art experience, crystal bowl sound healing, a breathwork relaxation exercise, as well as the opportunity to share our stories and talk about our dear children. We ended the ‘Say Their Names’ circle segment by sharing stories of favourite signs and connections across the veil, with an important reminder from Jo that ‘tears are necessary and healing.’ The love and empathy in the room was palpable, both for our children and for each other.
The neurographic art session included a presentation for background and guidance, plus a practical exercise set to a relaxing soundtrack to settle the nervous energy in the room. Anne-marie hoped that parents could experience the power of slowing everything down to the micro actions of softening and connecting intersecting lines in this healing modality that doesn’t require ‘artistic talent’. Neurographic art is as varied as people are – a simple, meditative art practice that’s a form of somatic therapy, which can be so helpful for people living with trauma or grief. HPH Art for the Heart has a recorded presentation available under the page’s Events tab, plus Anne-marie will be holding a virtual session acter Christmas for the ANZ parents who could not attend the NZ event.
After lunch, MJ and Jo created a sacred atmosphere while expertly working the sound bowls, and our guest instructor, Elaine Kollor, guided us through a grounding mindful movement and breathwork journey. We ran out of time for the rock painting session, so next year we hope to have time for that!
We were all at different stages in our healing journey – some at five or ten years down the track, and others only a few months. The event created an opportunity for parents to connect with others in similar situations and locations, seeing that we are not alone. As leaders, we found the experience to be profoundly impactful – supportive, raw, vulnerable and inspiring, reminding us that we are walking this difficult journey hand in hand, soul to soul.
We all feel indebted to our beautiful children for creating the synergies and sparks that led to this event. We know they are so incredibly proud of us all for showing up with such courage and love. The signs that MJ, Jo and Anne-marie experienced leading up to and immediately after the event were truly astounding (see below for details).
Our hearts are already being inspired by the parents who attended and our children across the veil to create another gathering for 2026! We hope it will expand on the magic we shared in this inaugural event, and we will give plenty of notice for HPH members in Australia, New Zealand and beyond to arrange travel plans.
Signs in abundance!
Here are the signs and photos together with a little context. Almost always we were talking about our child or our event when we were rewarded with a nod from across the veil. We felt so blessed and grateful!
On the day before or the day of the HPH ANZ inaugural event:
- Anjel number plate in front of us while driving and talking about the coming gathering of parents (day before)
- GR8DAY number plate IMMEDIATELY after the event (day of) – our kids giving us the wink that they were with us, and also a huge double rainbow at nearby Bethal’s Beach later on
- Rainbow t-shirt and peace sign for Jo whose son Dylan always brings rainbows and peace signs (day before)
- 3 red cars in a row outside our cafe plus one driving past for Anne-marie when she asked for a red car sign from her son Harry (day before)
- 'Honey' & sunflowers for MJ from her daughter Grace and dad (day before).
Driving from Auckland to Tauranga on the east coast of NZ:
- 'Son' number plate followed by 'What about it' when Jo & Anne-marie were talking about Harry
- 'Felix' number plate spotted at the same time by MJ back in Auckland (Harry's middle name)
- Heart in the tunnel as we hiked, being intentional in looking for signs from Harry
- Fantail birds many times on our hike (spiritual signs in NZ)
- Double rainbow for Jo and Anne-marie on our walk around Mt Maunganui plus 2 heart clouds.
Comment from the local Iwi (Māori representative who opened our event, as it was held on traditional lands):
“It was a privilege to be there and open up the kaupapa (gathering) this morning. I could feel the mamae (pain/grief) in the room and I hope being part of event I was able to support that ease for those parents who were there. Your mahi (empathy) for these parents is amazing and I hope you all had good healing korero and powerful wananga. Thank you again for allowing me to be a part of it.” Joseph Royal, Tauhere Matua Hakinakina, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, Auckland, NZ.
From MJ to Joseph Royal:
“Thank you so much for your beautiful message — it truly means a great deal. It was such an honour and a blessing to have you with us to open our kaupapa on Saturday. Your presence, words, and mana brought a depth of grounding and respect to the space that set the tone for the entire day. You were absolutely right — there was a lot of mamae in the room, but also a profound sense of aroha, connection, and shared understanding. Your mihi helped create a safe and sacred space for that healing to begin. Many parents spoke afterwards about how meaningful it was to be welcomed in such a deeply respectful and heartfelt way, and I know that your role in that will stay with them for a very long time. Thank you for walking alongside us and for recognising the heart behind this mahi. It was a truly special day — one that I believe was just the beginning of something important for our community here.”
From shining light parents who attended:
“Thank you for such an amazing day to connect and heal a little bit more. It was a very emotional day for me but an important step. So many steps. I’m grateful to have met you all and thank you all for being so real, no pretence just honesty, love and connection. I feel very thankful to be a part of this group and I look forward to next year.” Sahita
“Thank you so much for the opportunity, it was a privilege to be there and meet you all. I would definitely benefit from another gathering next year. For now I see myself continuing the art practice. Thanks again to you all for sharing and being a part of my healing journey.” Julie C
“Thank you all for such a beautiful healing day. I am just so grateful to you all and so pleased I made the effort. I am absolutely there next year for as many days as required - part of my healing journey I can’t wait nor thank you enough.” Jule MM
“Thank you everyone. It was such a privilege to share our stories together- to cry, laugh and heal a little. Definitely there next year. Thanks again and much love to you all and your children.” Julie O
“Thank you so much ladies, for bringing us all together, it was so nice to be amongst people who understand what we all go through every day. I'm looking forward to next year's meet up. Love and hugs to everyone.” Joanne
“Thank you all for an enriching day in Auckland. While our stories are all tragic, it’s so good to be part of HPH as we go through our journey.” Kate
“I just wanted to say thank you for organising the HPH Meet Up and also to acknowledge yourself, MJ and Anne-Marie, as it would have been an emotional day for you all as well. So hugs and love to you three. It was lovely to meet everyone, and I couldn't help but notice how strong we all, thank you again, take care of yourself and I look forward to meeting up again next year.” Jo T
~Anne-marie Taplin
- Petra Keough's Validation with her daughter Emilee through Kathy MacMannis
- Angela Merendino's Validation with her son Ian through Stacey Lynn Cripps