Hello, my dear Frankies!

As much as we highlight all the awesome local businesses and organisations in Franklin every week, it's easy to forget about all the local legends doing important work behind the scenes to keep our gorgeous community running. This week we're talking to an amazing local legend Liz from Aunty Lizzies's Respite Care!

I've actually known Liz for a few years now (she can back squat over 100kg at the gym, which is suuuuuper impressive 😂), so I can't mention her without also mentioning her beautiful side business, Scattered Platters. She creates incredible grazing platters and even makes many of the dips and spreads herself. ♥

But her day job is something really special, and probably a role many of us don't know much about. So, it was a real privilege to learn more about Liz, the families she supports, and the passion she has for respite care here in Franklin.

I hope you enjoy reading her story too.

See ya out there!

R. and the Frankie team xx

P.S. We're officially one month into our three-month Japan adventure! Next week we're heading a little off-grid to hike the pilgrimage trails of Kumano Kodo, so Instagram may be a little quieter than usual.

If you have any events coming up over the next couple of weeks, please send them through as soon as possible. I'll need to get the events list organised before we disappear into the mountains!

And because I can't help myself, here's a little snapshot from our time in Hokkaido. this week ♥

Aunty Lizzie's - Where care feels like coming home

There’s a very real strength that exists inside families who care for children with disabilities.

It shows up in the routines no one else sees...in the constant balancing of appointments, school, therapies, siblings, work, and everything in between. And it shows in the kind of love that is steady and fierce...but often a little bit tired. And somewhere within that, there’s a need that often goes unspoken - the need for a pause.

That’s where Aunty Lizzie’s Respite sits.

Tucked into the Franklin community, Aunty Lizzie’s is a home-based respite service supporting whānau who are caring for children and young people with disabilities and complex needs. It’s a place where kids can come and feel safe, known, and perfectly at ease - and where the people who care for them can step away for a moment, knowing their child is not just looked after, but truly cared for.

As Liz puts it, “It supports the wellbeing of the whole whānau - when caregivers are looked after, they’re better able to continue providing the incredible care they give every day.”

More than respite

What Liz has created doesn’t feel like a service in the traditional sense. It kind of feels like stepping into someone’s home, because that’s exactly what it is.

“Aunty Lizzie’s is not just a service, it’s a home,” she says. “It’s not a rostered, shift-based environment it’s me, Craig [Liz's husband] when he’s not working, and my son Cyruz when he’s home from boarding school.”

That consistency is really important. The kids who come through her doors aren’t having to adjust to new people or new routines every time - it’s familiar, it’s steady, and it gives them the space to relax into themselves.

While Liz has spent more than 30 years working in the disability space, including over a decade with CCS Disability Action, the idea for Aunty Lizzie’s started much earlier.

“I grew up in a home where respite care was just part of life…kids coming and going on weekends and school holidays. It was normal for us…and looking back now, it definitely planted the seed.”

In June 2023, she stepped away from a full-time job she loved and decided to give respite work a go.

“I didn’t have much ‘business’ experience - I was just here to WING IT,” she says, laughing. “But one thing kept showing up…there just wasn’t enough specialised respite care for kids with high and complex needs.”

Now, around thirty young people spend time at Aunty Lizzie’s - some for the day, some overnight, some for longer stays so their families can properly rest.

“A typical stay is relaxed, engaging, and tailored to the child…it might be cooking together (with the thermomix, of course!), arts and crafts, outdoor activities, or simply time to unwind.”

A different way of seeing

Liz’s approach to care has been shaped just as much by her own life as her work.

“Growing up with ADHD and dyslexia…I never really fit in a box,” she says. “So I’ve always worked with the mindset - why not create a box for children to fit in, rather than trying to fit them into one that’s not built for purpose.”

It’s a simple idea, but you can feel it in the way she talks about the kids she cares for. Nothing about them needs to be fixed or reshaped - just understood.

“My biggest focus is that every child feels safe, valued, and happy, and that their whanau feel confident and at ease.”

She also gently pushes back on the idea that respite is only for when things are falling apart.

“One common misunderstanding is that whanau only seek respite when they’re struggling,” she says. “In reality, it’s a proactive and positive support.”

And it’s not just for the adults.

“Our kids need a break just as much as we do. Respite isn’t a luxury - it’s a reset, for the whole whanau, especially the kids.”

The moments that matter

When Liz talks about what this work means to her, it’s the everyday moments that come to mind.

“Parents being able to go on a holiday on their own for the first time in 19 years…a young person having respite away from whanau for the first time in 19 years…teenagers reconnecting and having their first sleepover together.”

They’re the kinds of things that don’t always get seen from the outside, but they matter deeply.

“Building that level of trust and knowing you’re making a difference in people’s lives is incredibly meaningful.”

Part of the community

Liz has been part of Franklin since she was a teenager, after moving from Whanganui to Pukekohe. Over time, that connection has settled in, especially in Waiuku.

“I’ve fallen in love with Waiuku because of the people, the connection, and the amazing businesses,” she says. “Making connections with whanau in the area that are seeking respite brings me so much joy.”

Alongside respite care, she’s also started creating space for caregivers themselves, through Aunty Lizzie’s Reset Days - gentle, low-key retreats for parents, caregivers, mums and aunties who are usually the ones holding everything together.

“They’re a chance to step out of that ‘always on’ role…to refill their cup and leave feeling seen, supported, and a little lighter.”

A space built on trust, care, and connection

There’s something really special about what Liz has created. Not loud or in-your-face, but life-changing as it wraps itself around families in need of respite and care, and gives them a little bit of space to breathe again.

Aunty Lizzie’s - and respite care in general - is often not fully understand until you need it, so I was really grateful Liz shared her beautiful journey and important work with us.

If you’re part of this world, or even just curious to see the care and connection Liz brings to it, you can follow along with Aunty Lizzie’s Respite on social media. It’s a small window into a space that’s doing a whole lot of good, one family at a time ♥

phingel dhsan

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

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Thursday

🎨 South Pacific Island Paradises — Exhibition by David Sharland Franklin Art Centre, 9.30am A stunning exhibition of Pacific island scenes by local artist David Sharland. More info here​

🧘 Exhale with The Pause Society Sanctuary Retreat, 9.30am One hour to reset your nervous system and finish the week the right way. Check it out!​

🎯 Quiz Night at Pukekohe Golf Club Pukekohe Golf Club, 6.30–8.30pm A fun weekly quiz night — grab your team and test your knowledge!

🍹 Cocktail Happy Hour at Little Ed Little Ed, 6–7pm All your favourite cocktails, just a little bit cheaper every Thursday!

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Friday

🥃 Pokeno Whisky Tasting at Waiuku LiquorLand Waiuku LiquorLand, time TBC Matt walks you through a selection of Pokeno whiskeys and what makes each one special — contact waiuku@liquorland.co.nz or 09 235 9705 for tickets.

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Saturday

🛍️ Tuakau Community Market Central Park, corner of George St and Jellicoe Ave Tuakau, 9am–1pm A great local market to browse and support your community.

🎓 Pukekohe High School Yr12 Business Studies Market 12 Massey Ave, 9.30am Support the next generation of local entrepreneurs at this student-run market. More info here​

🌕 Moon Bloom Markets Spookers, Karaka, 2–8pm A unique market experience at a very unique venue! Check it out!​

🔔 Sanctuary Sound Bath Sanctuary Retreat, 2–3.30pm Relax and restore with a deeply soothing sound bath experience. All the details here​

🕯️ Candle and Room Spray Workshop Little Batch Wax Co., Pukekohe, 4.30–7pm Make your own beautiful candles and room sprays in this hands-on workshop. More info here​

👗 Pukekohe Ladies Night Pia Event Centre, 5pm A fun evening out for the ladies — get the details and grab your tickets. Check it out!​

🎉 Otaua School Quiz Night with ClueHQ Otaua School, 6pm A fundraiser quiz night for a great local school — round up your team! All the details here​

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Sunday

🌿 Kawakawa Balm and Snail Seed Workshop 5 Hosking Place, Waiuku, 10am Learn to make natural kawakawa balm and plant snail seeds with Waiuku Zero Waste. More info here​

💃 Puni Line Dance Club "Western" Social 232 Pukekohe East Rd, 10.30am Put on your boots and join the Puni Line Dance Club for a western-themed social. Check it out!​

🎵 The Shed Shakers Live at Little Ed Little Ed, Pukekohe, 1–3pm Live music from The Shed Shakers — a great Sunday afternoon out!

🏇 Franklin Country Market at Pukekohe Park Raceway Pukekohe Park Raceway, 8am Homegrown produce, handmade crafts, food trucks, live music and more at this popular Sunday market. All the details here​

🧘 Sunday Stretch Sessions with The Stretch Collective RxFitness235, 42 Belgium St, Waiuku, 9am A 45-minute guided stretch session to set you up for the week — bookings required. More info here​

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monday

☕ Good Food, Bright Minds Cafe Queen, Waiuku, 7–9am A community collaboration providing nourishing breakfasts for school kids every Monday during term time.

🏃 The Wellness Run Club Your Local Coffee, West Street, 5.45am A welcoming 5km loop run for all levels — coffee community vibes!

🎉 Quiz Night at Good Home Pukekohe Good Home, 65 Edinburgh Street, 7pm Monday quiz night with bookings recommended — a great way to kick off the week!

🌱 Midwinter Makers Circle with Waiuku Zero Waste 5 Hosking Place, 7pm A creative evening of making together with the Waiuku Zero Waste community. All the details here​

🧘 Monday Reset Room at Hilltop Haven with The Pause Society Hilltop Haven, 9.30am One hour to reset your nervous system and start the week the right way. More info here​

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Tuesday

☕ Coffee Cupping at Your Local Coffee 173 Manukau Rd, 10am Explore the flavours and aromas of specialty coffee at this guided cupping session. Check it out!​

🎨 Painting Club at Franklin Arts Centre Franklin Arts Centre, 6–8pm Two hours of dedicated painting time to work on your own projects alongside other local artists — term time only.

🏃 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club 21 Martyn Street, Waiuku, 7pm A fun, free, pressure-free walk or run for all levels — come for the movement, stay for the community. All the details here​

🏠 First Home Buyer Evening Pizzata, 6.30pm An informative evening for anyone looking to take their first steps onto the property ladder. More info here​

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Wednesday

📚 Fetch a Friend — Pukekohe Library Pukekohe Library, 10–11am A lovely social session at the library with adoptable dogs — bring a friend or come along and make one! Check it out!​

🧒 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Avenue, 3.30pm A safe, inclusive after-school space for teens to hang out, try fun activities, and connect at their own pace.

🔥 Fire Station Run Club Fire Station Eatery, Pukekohe, 5.30pm 2.5km and 5km options with spot prizes and bar menu discounts after — all welcome!

🏃 Flying Mullet Run Group with Carl Read Waiuku College Running Track, 5–6pm Run technique, intervals and race prep for $5 per session — contact Carl at reado79@gmail.com.

🌿 Plant Lingo at The Good Home Pukekohe The Good Home Pukekohe, 6.30pm A fun evening all about plants — come along and chat with fellow plant lovers! All the details here​

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Word Scramble answer: Helping Hands

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