Kia ora,

I started this trust to honour my mum, Nanny Raiha, and to help others living with dementia find joy, connection, and purpose — one stitch, one memory, and one blanket at a time.

Our Story

The Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust was created to support New Zealanders living with dementia (mate wareware), along with their caregivers and whānau. Through simple, meaningful activities like knitting, we aim to bring joy, connection, and purpose — while also helping to stimulate the brain through movement and creativity.

At the heart of our mahi is a special kaupapa: supporting people with dementia and their whānau to knit baby blankets, which are then gifted to newborns in need through maternity hospitals across Aotearoa. It’s a beautiful way to honour life — from one generation to the next.

The Trust is named after Nanny Raiha (Lisa Cassidy), who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2021. She passed away in May 2025. Her whānau created this Trust to honour her memory and to support others walking the same journey.

Our Knitting Project

One of the core activities of the Trust is our baby blanket knitting programme. People living with dementia, alongside their carers or whānau, knit a blanket to be gifted as a taonga (treasure) to a newborn baby and their whānau. These blankets are far more than just wool and stitches — they represent aroha (love), manaakitanga (care), and whakawhānaungatanga (connection).

Here’s how it works:

Registration
Whānau or caregivers register their person living with dementia here. Once confirmed, we send a welcome email with useful links to videos — like how to cast on and off, basic stitches and more.
Knitting Pack Sent Out
We send out a care pack with everything needed to begin: yarn, needles, a pre-paid return bag, and a simple pattern. You’ll also receive tips and suggestions to help make the experience fun and positive.
For example, Nanny Raiha loved listening to her favourite Spotify playlist while she knitted — Jim Reeves, Freddy Fender, Anne Murray, The High Marks, and of course, plenty of Dolly Parton. She also enjoyed calming YouTube videos featuring colourful birds and peaceful nature sounds. These little touches help create a soothing and enjoyable environment.
Knit Together

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s participation, connection, and enjoyment. Whether a few rows or a full blanket, every stitch counts. Once the blanket is finished, it can be placed in the return bag and we’ll organise a pick-up. The knitting needles can be kept, and if you’d like to do another, we’re happy to send more wool.
Gifting the Blanket
When we receive the completed blanket, we check for any major holes and gently patch where needed. Each blanket is accompanied by a note acknowledging the person with dementia who helped create it. The finished taonga is then passed on to a maternity hospital to gift to a pēpi (baby) and their whānau.

Why It Matters

These blankets are not perfect — and they’re not meant to be. There will be dropped stitches, wobbly tension, and lovingly patched holes. But each one is filled with aroha and story. They carry the hands, the hearts, and the memories of those who made them.

We’ve heard from new parents who are moved by receiving something so personal and full of love. And we’ve heard from whānau who’ve made blankets together, grateful for the calm, joy, and sense of purpose the process brought into their lives.

This is our way of celebrating the circle of life — from kaumātua to pēpi — and ensuring that every stitch carries a legacy of care.

Beyond Knitting

Not everyone wants to knit — and that’s okay. We also provide mindful colouring-in packs for those who’d prefer a different creative outlet. The goal is always the same: create meaningful moments for people living with dementia and their whānau.

How You Can Help

The Nanny Raiha Charitable Trust relies on volunteers, koha, and donations to keep this work going. All support is received in line with our charitable trust status and the New Zealand Charities Service guidelines.

By helping us, you’re contributing to better awareness and support for the growing number of people diagnosed with dementia across Aotearoa.

Research shows Māori are disproportionately affected by dementia, with many cases going undiagnosed. A 2020 report estimated Māori make up 6.2% of New Zealanders living with dementia — around 4,300 people — though experts like Dr Makarena Dudley believe the real number is much higher. We hope that by raising awareness, sharing stories, and encouraging engagement, we can support better outcomes for all.

Our Purpose

We want to enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia in Aotearoa — through connection, creativity, and contribution. And we want every pēpi who receives a koha blanket to grow up knowing their story is already part of something bigger — a gift made with love by someone who gave what they could, when they could, for the next generation.