Kia ora,

Thank you for being a member of Cleft New Zealand Incorporated. In addition to being a registered charity under the Charities Act 2005, we also are an incorporated society under the Societies Act 1908. This means that all those who have dealings with us are members of our society (as opposed to ‘customers’), which provides entitlement to vote and provide input on matters affecting the organisation. Under New Zealand law, I am also obligated to inform all members of significant changes affecting the organisation.

Following the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 26 May 2015, there have been some important governance changes within the organisation. First, after three years as the organisation’s Chairperson, it is with regret that the quorum has accepted the resignation of Louise Ayrey from this role after a period of exceptional service. Second, the organisation has accepted with regret the resignations of Rachael Byles (Deputy Chairperson) and John Hellesoe (Executive Officer) after two years of loyal service. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Louise, Rachael and John for their contribution to the organisation in these roles and wish them well with their future endeavours. Louise will continue to be involved with the cleft community through her role in the Cleft Research Project with the University of Auckland.

Under the constitution of our organisation, the board must have a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Treasurer at all times.

Therefore, we are now seeking expressions of interest for the roles of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, as well as a third role of Board Secretary. To satisfy our consitutional requirements, the quorum on Tues 26 May elected Louise Ayrey as Acting Chairperson and myself as Acting Deputy Chairperson during this transition. Ian Jensen will retain the Treasurer position for the 2015/16 year.

I have endeavoured to see this board restructuring process completed within 3 months of the AGM.

This is your opportunity to be involved with Cleft NZ and make your mark on an organisation dedicated to serving all those in our country affected by cleft lip and/or palate. These positions are available to members of the organisation and members of the public aged 18 and over. These positions are open to people residing anywhere in New Zealand. Reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed (more info in position descriptions). New Zealand Permanent Residency/New Zealand Citizenship is required to be offered a position on our board.

Please see below for further information and to apply.

Information Pack – Chairperson Role

Information Pack – Deputy Chairperson Role

Information Pack – Board Secretary Role

To be considered for any of the roles, please send expressions of interest to the Chief Executive Officer, by emailing . For Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson positions, please include a short cover letter outlining why you believe you would be a good fit for the role.

If you have any questions surrounding the Chairperson roles, please feel free to contact the Acting Chairperson, Louise Ayrey, by emailing .

Applications for all positions close Friday 17 July at 5pm. Please send applications via email to . Queries surrounding the application process should be directed to myself.

 

Kenny Ardouin

Chief Executive Officer (General Manager)

Cleft New Zealand

Te Manatopu Ngutu Riwha o Aotearoa

| 021 414 099

Cleft New Zealand is currently looking for a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Board Secretary to join our goverance team!

This is your opportunity to be involved with Cleft NZ and make your mark on an organisation dedicated to serving all those in our country affected by cleft lip and/or palate.

Please see below for further information and to apply.

Information Pack – Chairperson Role

Information Pack – Deputy Chairperson Role

Information Pack – Board Secretary Role

 

To be considered for the role, please send expressions of interest to the Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Ardouin by emailing . For Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson positions, please include a short cover letter outlining why you believe you would be a good fit for the role.

If you have any questions surrounding the Chairperson roles, please feel free to contact the Acting Chairperson, Louise Ayrey, by emailing .

Applications for all positions close Friday 17 July at 5pm. Please send applications via email to . Queries surrounding the application process can be directed to Kenny via email or calling 021 414 099.

Thanks to all who attended the 2015 AGM on Tuesday 26 May. Here are all the resources discussed at the AGM

2015 AGM Formal Business and Year in Review

“I’m Only Human on the Inside” – Opening Address, Kenny Ardouin, Chief Executive Officer

Impact of Cleft Lip and Palate on Fathers – Nicola Stock, University of West England

Impact of Cleft on Adults with a Cleft – Nicola Stock, University of West England

Impact of Cleft on Siblings of those with a cleft – Nicola Stock, University of West England

Update on NZ Cleft Research Project – John Thompson & Louise Ayrey, University of Auckland

 

Cleft NZ Youth Camp Video

You can now get your 2015/16 books from Cleft NZ – 20% of every sale goes back to supporting Cleft NZ!

Head online now and get ordering at https://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/13744d0 - free pick up in Auckland or Hamilton or $7 courier delivery to anywhere in NZ or Australia – you can order all NZ and Australian versions. Contact Liz Wilson or Sarah White with any questions or queries – all details are in the link above! Thanks for your support!

 

The Annual General Meeting of Cleft New Zealand will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 26 May 2015 at The Parenting Place, 300 Great South Road, Auckland

This year’s meeting’s keynote speaker is Nicola Stock joining us via Skype link from The University of Bristol in the UK to talk about some of the psychological aspects of cleft – including the impact that it has on families, the individual growing up with a cleft, and some groundbreaking new research into the effect on dads. We are very privileged to have Nicola joining us, and look forward to seeing you there.

We also will have an update on what New Zealand is doing to help our counterparts in Indonesia and Cambodia affected by cleft, a brief report on the recent Cleft NZ Camp, as well as an update on the New Zealand cleft research project.

Please RSVP by Friday 22 May by emailing

 

Seasons Greetings!

Cleft New Zealand will close today (Wed 24 December) by noon and will re-open on Monday 12 January 2015.

Remember that if you are ever concerned about your or your child’s medical status, you can phone Healthline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year on .

Thank you to everyone who has supported Cleft New Zealand this year. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable festive season!

Registrations for the 2015 camp are now closed. If you have registered, please return your paperwork and payment now!

Our Youth Camp in December 2013 was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together from all around the country from all walks of life who were united by their experiences of being born with a cleft.

This was a very fun weekend with participants taking part in many fun activities such as rock climbing, bridge building, watersliding, riding NZ’s largest (and highest) flying fox, hanging out with Carmit Bachar from The Pussycat Dolls (via Skype) and making friends for life. See photos from the 2013 camp here!

We are now looking at offering another youth camp in April 2015 and registrations are now open for you to let us know that you would like to come, so whether you will be a first time camper, or a returning veteran, register now to let us know that you’d like to come!

 

Here’s what you need to know

• Registering your interest here is exactly that – a registration of interest. It does not mean that if Cleft NZ offers a camp that you have to attend, nor does it mean that Cleft NZ has to offer a camp.
• To register as a participant, you must be aged between 11-20 (inclusive) on 1 April 2015. You may register if you are 10 if you happen to be in Year 7 at school on 1 April 2015.
• For insurance purposes, you must be ordinarily resident in New Zealand or Australia to attend. You must be resident in New Zealand in April 2015 to attend.
• To attend camp, you must be available from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April 2015.
• The camp may be held anywhere in New Zealand and whilst Cleft NZ will do their best to secure fundraising to assist with travel costs, you will be expected to meet some of these costs and/or fundraise for this yourself.
• Cleft NZ will endeavour to make a decision as to whether or not a camp will be offered in 2015 by 28 February 2015. Should a camp go ahead, those who have registered will be invited to apply.

 

Apply now to become a 2015 Youth Camp Volunteer

Our Youth Camp in December 2013 was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together from all around the country from all walks of life who were united by their experiences of being born with a cleft.

This was a very fun weekend with participants taking part in many fun activities such as rock climbing, bridge building, watersliding, riding NZ’s largest (and highest) flying fox, hanging out with Carmit Bachar from The Pussycat Dolls (via Skype) and making friends for life. See photos from the 2013 camp here!

We are offering another youth camp from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April 2015 and applications are now open for you to let us know that you would like to come as a camp volunteer!

In exchange for your time, Cleft NZ will provide you with

• An opportunity to experience all the fun activities that camp will offer
• An opportunity to learn about cleft and work with some awesome young people
• A written reference from Cleft New Zealand
• A fun weekend away!

 

Here’s what you need to know to apply to become a Camp Volunteer

• You must be aged 21 or over on 1 April 2015.
• To attend camp, you must be available from 10-12 April 2015.
• The camp is held in Auckland. If you live outside Auckland, you are expected to meet any transport costs to attend camp yourself.
• You must be available to attend an information day in Christchurch on Saturday 4 April. We may opt to Skype you in to this session if you live a long way from Christchurch.
• You must be able to assist in an emergency (and be physically fit enough to do so).
• You may have no criminal convictions and must be capable of obtaining a full police clearance.
• For insurance purposes, you must have been a New Zealand permanent resident for at least two years, or be a New Zealand or Australian citizen (we may ask for proof of this).
• Not be a parent or caregiver of a camp attendee. Why?^

^Camp is a fantastic opportunity for many young people to come out of their shell and share stories that they may not always feel comfortable sharing with their parents which is natural and understandable. If a participant’s parent or caregiver is also attending the camp, the participant may not wish to fully participate. Therefore, in agreement with the way similar camps have been run internationally, we request that parents/caregivers do not apply to be a camp volunteer in the same year that their child is a participant.

Register your interest by filling in the form below today!

1. Your Name(required)
2. Email(required)
3. Daytime Telephone Number(required)
4. Evening Telephone Number(required)
5. Address (include city) (NEW ZEALAND ADDRESSES ONLY) (required)
6. Closest NZ domestic airport to you(required)
7. Your Age on 1 Apr 2015(required)
8. I confirm that I meet the eligibility criteria to be a camp volunteer
9. Yes
10. Please tell us in 150 words or less why you would like to be a camp volunteer (required)
11. I will be available the weekend of Fri 10-Sun 12 Apr and will be prepared to travel anywhere in NZ to attend
12. Yes

 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Cleft NZ Xmas party in Auckland this weekend Saturday 6^th December at Massey Ave Kindergarten, 21 Massey Ave, One Tree Hill.

 

Bring your water pistol if you have one (and maybe a change of clothes) and the older kids can have a good old fashioned water fight.

We will have a sausage sizzle and ice cream, but feel free to bring a plate if inclined!

Games, a bouncy castle and hopefully some sunshine should make for a lovely day

Hope to see you there 10am – 12.30pm

 

Louise and Rachael

RSVP to Louise –

A tribute to Dame Cecily Pickerill of Silverstream

All are welcome to the launch of this book about her pioneering and her work for New Zealand children born with cleft lip and palate. The tributes are written by many of her patients or families and have been compiled by Beryl Harris.

Friday 5th December 2014 • 5.00 – 6.00pm Rotary Lounge, Upper Hutt City Library

Profits will help support Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Cleft New Zealand and Interplast International

Available for Sale at Paper Plus RRP $49.95