About Us

Who/what is Sands?

Sands New Zealand is a network of parent-run, non-profit groups supporting families who have experienced the death of a baby. We have over 25 groups/contact people around the country. All of the people involved in Sands give their time and energy voluntarily - we are not a government funded organisation.  Most of our members/supporters are also bereaved parents. We offer empathy and understanding. We are not counsellors and do not give professional advice but we do offer an opportunity and environment to share experiences, to talk and to listen. We promote awareness, understanding and support for those dealing with the death of a baby in pregnancy, birth or as a newborn, and due to medical termination or other forms of reproductive loss.

History of Sands New Zealand

1986 - in April of 1986 Rosemary Williams from Levin wrote to SANDS UK enquiring about their organisation and the possibility of starting a similar group in New Zealand. She was given information and referred to some people in Australia who were also starting a SANDS group there.

1987 - after shifting to Palmerston North, Rosemary started the first SANDS group in New Zealand. She had the help and support of the Palmerston North Hospital Chaplain and some community midwives.

1997 - Indrea Alexander started work as the first (unpaid) national coordinator. Through her efforts and alongside Libby Gairdner Cooney from Sands Waikato the first SANDS conference was held. A national constitution was also developed and implemented.

1999 - the second national SANDS conference was held in Napier; the theme was 'All Our Babies'.

2001 - the third national SANDS conference was held in Wellington; the theme was 'Hidden Treasures'. 

2003 - the fourth national SANDS conference was held in Napier; the theme was 'Past, Present and Future Hope'. 

2005 - the fifth national SANDS conference was held in Wellington; the theme was 'Grieving and Growing'. SANDS' first website was also launched at the conference, this initiative was spearheaded by Tiffiny Hodgson, the Chairperson of SANDS.

2006 - SANDS NZ's first paid position was established through the Vodafone World of Difference award. The position was National Projects Coordinator and was held by Vicki Culling. This position helped to redevelop SANDS nationally and reinstitute communication amongst the groups and contact people throughout the country. We also held our first national training weekend in Wellington in November - thanks to the generosity of the Tindall Foundation.

2007 - From SANDS to Sands - we re-branded! A new logo, new colours and new support packs were introduced. A new pamphlet on the transporting of a deceased baby was also developed and launched. The sixth national Sands conference was held in Christchurch; the theme was 'Living, Loving, Remembering'.

2008 - Our website was re-designed to incorporate our new branding. 

What 'services' does Sands offer?

Sands Support Packs - these are produced by Sands New Zealand and are usually provided to bereaved parents, families or whanau by the hospital staff or a midwife. They contain practical information for parents, grandparents and siblings after a baby has died. The pamphlets are entitled 'The Next Few Days', 'Your Baby's Funeral', 'Fathers Grieve Too', 'When a Baby Brother or Sister Dies', The Loss of a Grandchild' and 'Transporting Your Baby'.

Moses Baskets - some groups provide Moses baskets, clothing, bath packs and teddy bears to their local hospitals who give them to families whose babies have died. Many families are not prepared for such an event, so the baskets and baby things help them to parent their baby during the short time they have with them.

Phone Contact - Sands volunteers can provide phone support to bereaved parents and families. If you are unable to make the first call please ask a family member, friend or your LMC to contact us and we can then call you.

Meetings - Regular support meetings in the community allow for the expression of loss and grief in a safe and caring environment. Parents who share similar experiences can often listen, acknowledge and accept feelings that others may find hard to comprehend. The group meetings offer a non-judgemental space to share stories, concerns and feelings.

Library Books - some groups operate a lending library, books can be posted out or collected at local support group meetings.

Newsletters - Some groups produce regular newsletters. These provide an alternative forum for sharing stories and poems and gaining information on the Sands group and any upcoming events either in the local area or nationally.

* Please note that Sands groups around the country may offer different support 'services', as our groups run autonomously and reflect their local community.

Sands New Zealand Goals

Sands New Zealand goals are:

• To support parents and their families who have experienced a stillbirth, newborn death or other reproductive loss;
• To provide parents and their families with information too assist them to make informed decisions regarding their loss;
• To provide ongoing education to health professionals and other caregivers about the experience of stillbirth, newborn death or other reproductive loss;
• To raise public awareness of the society (Sands), the service it provides and issues relating to stillbirth, newborn death or other reproductive loss;
• To promote the implementation of health care policies in accord with the philosophical statement set forth below;
• To promote research into the causes and consequences of stillbirth, newborn death or other reproductive loss;
• To network with other organisations which hold similar aims to Sands (New Zealand)

Sands New Zealand Philosophical Statement

• That the death of a baby through reproductive loss often has a significant and lifelong impact on the lives of women, their partners and families;
• That parents and their families must be supported through recognition, acceptance and acknowledgement of their diverse experience of loss;
• That partnerships with health practitioners, community groups, grief and bereavement services, the Government and wider community are crucial to raising awareness of the experience and impact of stillbirth and newborn death;
• That the diversity of individuals with regard to culture, religion, socio-economic standing, gender and uniqueness of grief reactions must be acknowledged and respected.