The Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust exists to assist New Zealander’s that have been diagnosed with Dementia and their whānau, to take part in knitting a baby blanket for a family in need. We have established the Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust to assist Māori and non-Māori that have been diagnosed with Dementia and their whānau, to utilise activities that will stimulate their neuro pathways and assist i
n fun and meaningful activities that both the person who has been diagnosed with dementia can take part in, their care giver and their greater whānau. Nanny Raiha is Lisa Cassidy who was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in 2021. She passed away in 2025, and her whanau are dedicated to assisting others that have also been diagnosed. One of the core activities of the Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust is the production (knitting) of a baby blanket that will be made available to maternity hospitals throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand, to provide newborn babies in need with a taonga (gift) from this wonderful group of ever-growing people being diagnosed daily throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. To do this, we first ask the whānau or caregiver to register their person with mate wareware (dementia) on our page. We then send a welcome email to them confirming their involvement with all required links (how to cast on, cast off, how to courier your parcel) to watch videos and access any resources that may be of assistance to them on their journey. Following this, we then send a package out to the care giver that will contain all the materials they require to start their knitting activity with the Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust and give a baby blanket to a pepi (baby) in need, while having some fun with a person who has been diagnosed with dementia, as they knit along to a very simple pattern. We also give some tips and tricks to ensure this journey is a positive experience. For example, Nanny Raiha likes to listen to a little playlist on Spotify, that includes, Jim Reeves, Freddy Fender, Anne Murray, The High Marks, and a lot of Dolly Parton. We combine that with some You Tube videos on the Television that are ‘colourful birds’ in their own environment with a stress-free soundtrack. Then we ask the care giver to contact us when the blanket is completed, and we organise a pickup, and ask that the finished product is placed into the bag we have provided. They are welcome to keep the needles to continue their knitting journey, or request more wool to undertake another blanket. Once we have the bag back with the finished product, we look at patching any significant holes we might see and prepare a form that acknowledges the person with dementia’s contribution to the project and for the product to be made available to the maternity hospital team to distribute. We understand this is important work for everyone involved and we do not underestimate the mahi (work), love and effort that goes into each and every blanket. That is what makes each blanket a special taonga (treasure) for each pepi (baby) and their whānau (family) that receives one. These families understand that the blankets will not be perfect, and there will be dropped stitches, patches and different tensions used to knit them. But they will be made with enduring aroha (love), manaakitanga (engagement & care for each other’s wellbeing) and whakawhānaungatanga (the building of positive relationships). Our feedback to date is that these new families want to support our mahi (work/project) to continue to participate in the circle of life that they themselves are contributing to. To enhance the quality of life to those that have been diagnosed with dementia, by supporting the Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust* by accepting this koha of a blanket to start their baby’s journey in life. To be able to tell this story to their little one in years to come of how they contributed and the memories they have made with their very own koha blanket.
*Māori account for 6.2 percent of New Zealanders living with dementia – or 4,306 of the known 70,000 people – in estimates in the 2020 New Zealand Dementia Economic Impact Report, but Dr Makarena Dudley of the University of Auckland-Waipapa Taumata Rau says that figure is likely too low. Māori have worse odds for developing mate wareware (dementia) than non-Māori, and will undertake further research to uncover why. Additional activities will include mindful colouring-in packs, for those not wishing to knit. Inline with our purpose to raise awareness of those with Dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand in the hope that more solution providers become available and heightened awareness is gained. In order to undertake the many functions of our charitable trust, we will rely on volunteers, koha and donations. We will ask for these in-line with our charitable trust status and the guidelines of the New Zealand Charities Service. If you would like to support our important work, then please contact us at [email protected]
