Friday 5 April is GUMBOOT FRIDAY

New Zealander of the Year, Mike King and I AM HOPE are asking New Zealanders to wear their gumboots to work or school on Gumboot Friday (5 April) for a gold coin donation. It's a positive and fun way for kiwis to join in the mental health conversation, while raising money to provide free and timely counselling for any kid in need.

For many, having depression or anxiety can feel like walking through mud every day. By wearing gumboots and spending a day walking in someone else’s shoes, New Zealanders can “show people who are struggling that they’re not alone, and that it’s important and normal to talk about the things that they’re dealing with internally,” King says.

“Now more than ever, we need kiwis to reach out to friends and whānau. On Gumboot Friday, we want kiwis to have lots of fun and take the opportunity to ask those you’re closest to if they’re ok.”

King announced Gumboot Friday when he was named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2019. Since then, King and I AM HOPE have been overwhelmed with the positive response from around Aotearoa. Schools, businesses, sports clubs and individuals around the country have started their own Gumboot Friday events and opened the conversation around mental wellbeing in their communities.

“The amazing messages of support we’ve received from New Zealanders shows how much we all care, and that kiwis want to do more to help each other when our friends and whānau are going through rough times.”

Gumboot Friday aims to raise $2million to fund counselling for school aged kids. King says that initially this felt like a lofty goal but based on the level of support he’s received from around New Zealand, he’s confident the target will be met.