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Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place on the 9th to the 15th of October every year. We have gathered together events that are happening across New Zealand in 2021, as well as locations of landmarks around the country that will be lighting up in pink, blue and purple in honour of Baby Loss Awareness Week. 

Events for Baby Loss Awareness Week

Unfortunately, a number of events across the country have been cancelled due to COVID-19. For this reason, Sands NZ invite you to join them in the Wave of Light.

WAVE OF LIGHT

The International Wave of Light invites baby loss families, friends, loved ones and supporting organisations from around the world to join in honour and remembrance of all loved and longed for babies gone too soon. No matter where you are in the world, you light a candle in memory of your baby or babies. This wave of light and aroha begins in Aotearoa and wraps around the globe.

Sands NZ will livestream the service from 6.40pm. Hosting it will be Sands Waikato, and they can light a candle for your baby/babies during the service if you DM Sands New Zealand on Facebook with your baby’s name by October 13th. The livestream link will be posted on the Sands NZ Facebook page.

 

MISCARRIAGE MATTERS ANNUAL BUTTERFLY FUN RUN

  • Sunday 10 October, race starts at 9.30am

  • The Groynes, Johns Road, Christchurch (virtual tickets also available)

  • This event will help keep vital MMNZ (Miscarriage Matters NZ) services running in our community.

  • Tickets available via eventfinda

 

SANDS TARANAKI - RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

  • Saturday 9 October – 15 October. 

  • Each day Sands Taranaki will be completing a Random Act of Kindness on behalf of all angel babies. 

  • They invite you to join them, do your own Random Act Of Kindness to remember the babies we hold close in our hearts no matter what gestation, length of life or how they passed, and together we will honour our children. 

DUNEDIN BABY BEREAVEMENT GROUP

  • Sunday 10 October at 2.30pm

  • Anderson's Bay Cemetery Baby Memorial Garden

  • Followed by coffee and a chance to chat. Wet weather alternative will see this service take place in the crematorium Chapel.

  • Questions or queries, please call Julie on 027 256 6953

FLOWER FLOAT AT THE CHRISTCHURCH BOTANIC GARDENS 

  • Sunday 10 October at 3pm
  • Located at the Botanic Gardens Band Rotunda, Christchurch
  • Sands Canterbury will be holding a flower float at the Botanic Gardens. There will be a short time of reflection and remembrance before dropping flowers into the river from the bridge. 

  • Please bring flowers for yourself and some to share if you are able. All welcome.

BABY LOSS NZ ANNUAL CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY 

  • Friday 15th of October at 7pm

  • If you would like a candle named for your precious baby, please head to BabyLoss New Zealand and comment on the original post.

  • The ceremony will be streamed live on the BabyLoss New Zealand Facebook page at 7pm. 

  • Anyone can join this event virtually in remembrance of your babies and children taken too soon. 

ENGRAVED STAINLESS STEEL KEY RINGS VIA SANDS NZ

  • Perfect for engraving your precious baby or babies name. 

  • To purchase please head to the Sands New Zealand Facebook page or the online ordering form here

  • $10 each and all proceeds go to Sands NZ.

 

CHRISTCHURCH WOMEN’S HOSPITAL MEMORIAL SERVICE 

  • Friday 15th of October at 10.30am

  • Nurses Chapel in front of the Christchurch Women’s Hospital. 

  • An invitation to attend this years International Baby Loss Awareness Remembrance Service. 

  • Followed by friendship and morning tea 

  • In memory of the babies taken too soon. 

 

SANDS WELLINGTON – GLOBAL WAVE OF LIGHT 2021

  • Friday 15th of October at 6.45pm for a 7pm candle lighting. 

  • Petone Beach walkway, Eastbourne side of Petone Settlers Museum

  • To celebrate the global 'Wave of Light'

  • Wherever you do this, you will be joining a global 'Wave of Light' in memory of all the babies who lit up our lives for such a short time.

  • You are welcome to bring your own candle, something to keep the candle sheltered is also very useful in the wind. You are also welcome to bring photos of your babies and children you are remembering. 

 

SANDS NELSON – GLOBAL WAVE OF LIGHT 2021

  • Friday 15th of October at 6.45pm for a 7pm candle lighting. 

  • 164 Tahunanui Drive Nelson.

  • To celebrate the global 'Wave of Light'

  • You are welcome to bring your own candle, or to use one of the ones we’ll be providing. Something to keep the candle sheltered is also very useful in the wind. Refreshments will follow

  • Contact Nelson SANDS on 546 5700 or 0800 546570 for more information. 

 

SANDS MANAWATU – VIRTUAL GLOBAL WAVE OF LIGHT 2021

  • Friday 15th of October at 7pm. Livestream on the Sands Manawatu-Horowhenua Facebook page. 

  • Please join us for our annual lighting of lanterns in honour of International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day which concludes Baby Loss Awareness Week.

  • At 7pm we will light and place a lantern in memory of your baby during a Live Facebook stream. Lanterns are limited, please send us a message if you would like a lantern in memory of your baby/ies. 

 

SANDS HAWKES BAY - RIDING IN REMEMBRANCE

  • Saturday 16th of October, 7am-7pm.

  • Napier Soundshell, Marine Parade, Napier

  • Riding in Remembrance 2021 is a fundraising event and family fun day hosted by Sands Hawkes Bay.

  • Get involved, come join us for the day and make a difference by entering a team in the 12-hour relay event where teams will be on spin bikes in support of our cause. Casual spots also available.

  • More information available on Facebook here.

SANDS BAY OF PLENTY

  • Sunday 17th of October at 2pm.

  • 414 Cameron Road, Tauranga.

  • Baby Loss Awareness Week Remembrance Service. 

  • All welcome to attend this special afternoon, more information available here.

Events

Locations of Light Up Memorials

This year for Baby Loss Awareness Week landmarks around Aotearoa are being lit up in blue, pink and purple (the international colours of baby loss - often represented with a blue and pink ribbon). 

The following landmarks are confirmed to be lit up so far:

  • Majestic Centre, Wellington

  • Hastings Clock Tower

  • Gisborne Clock Tower

  • Palmerston North Clock Tower

  • Regent Theatre, Palmerston North

  • Christchurch Art Gallery

  • Otago Museum

  • Cromwell Welcome Sign

  • St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin

  • Stratford Clock Tower

  • Hawera Water Tower

  • Old Town Hall, Whangarei

  • Victoria Canopy Bridge, Whangarei

  • Te Aroha Clock Tower

  • Albatross Fountain, Wellington

  • Nelson Cathedral

  • Blenheim War Memorial Clock Tower

  • Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland

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Locations
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