Good Grief: Building Compassionate Communities Through Shared Loss
A Movement Rooted in Connection and Compassion
In South Auckland, where community ties run deep and cultural diversity shapes everyday life, a quiet but powerful movement is growing—one that invites people to bring their grief out of isolation and into connection. Good Grief South Collective, an initiative of St Martin’s Presbyterian Church, is doing just that: creating spaces where loss is honoured, stories are shared and healing becomes a collective journey.
At its heart, Good Grief recognises a simple but often overlooked truth—grief is not one-size-fits-all. It is deeply personal, shaped by culture, faith, relationships and circumstance. Yet too often, people are left to navigate it alone.
“Grievers supporting grievers – because no one should navigate loss alone” is more than a tagline. It is the foundation of a growing, community-led response to grief that centres around compassion, dignity and belonging.
From Personal Loss to Community Movement
Good Grief began not as a formal programme, but as a response to profound personal tragedy. In 2022, founder Genevieve Simati experienced the loss of both her husband and mother within just five months. In the depths of her grief, she recognised a gap—there were few accessible, safe spaces where people could speak openly about loss without judgement.
What started as small, informal coffee gatherings quickly became something more. People came not only to share their pain, but to listen, to witness, and to walk alongside one another. These early meetings evolved into a support network grounded in empathy and shared experience.
In June 2024, a community Matariki event called “Good Grief” was organised to create a space for remembrance and reflection. Around 50 people attended, many from outside the church community. The response was overwhelming—people were not just attending, they were connecting.
From that moment, Good Grief became more than a support group—it became a movement creating spaces for healing and expression.
“Collaboration is key to our success… healing happens in many ways—through community, creativity, and connection.”
Creative Pathways for Grief and Remembrance
By 2025, Good Grief had expanded into a dynamic programme offering themed events, workshops, and support sessions that respond to the many dimensions of grief.
In May 2025, the “Isn’t She Lovely” Mother’s Day event—supported by the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board—welcomed 80 participants into a carefully designed healing space. Features included quiet prayer areas, a “Say Her Name” storytelling space, and a legacy tree and photo wall filled with messages and memories.
Creative expression played a central role. Through activities like “Sip and Paint” and “She is Music to Me,” participants used art and music as bridges to memory and healing.
Later that year, a Father’s Day initiative, Love U Miss U, included a 10-week woodcarving workshop culminating in an exhibition—turning grief into tangible acts of remembrance.
These offerings were complemented by partnerships with organisations such as Tōtara Hospice, Fit-With-Ree, Red Book Daily, and Bunnings. From carers workshops to fitness sessions and grief retreats, each initiative reflects an understanding that healing is not linear. It requires multiple pathways—conversation, creativity, movement, spirituality, and community connection.
Building a Compassionate Future
While rooted in a faith-based setting, Good Grief’s reach extends far beyond church walls. Its work aligns with broader social justice principles—equity of care, community empowerment, and the recognition of dignity in every life experience.
By the end of 2025 and into 2026, the movement continued to grow. New initiatives emerged, including “Beauty for Ashes,” a widows’ support group inspired by a workshop participant, and a quarterly Haven Retreat programme.
Looking ahead, partnerships like a Matariki Feast with PACIFICA WEST and growing international interest—including from Australia and the South Pacific—signal expanding impact.
Good Grief’s mission is both practical and visionary: to create inclusive, accessible support networks that meet people where they are, honour their stories, and walk alongside them toward hope.
In a world that often rushes or avoids grief, Good Grief offers something different—permission to pause, to feel, and to be held by a compassionate community. It is not about fixing grief, but about making space for it.
And in that space, something powerful happens: connection replaces isolation, stories replace silence, and hope begins to take root.
Contact: Genevieve Simati goodgriefsa09@gmail.com
Good Grief South Auckland
Creating safe spaces for connection, healing and hope.
Resources:
Article on the ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ Mother’s Day Event 2025: This article was published by Auckland Council on OurAuckland. Read the full article here
Good Grief Facebook Page: You can visit the Facebook page for the Good Grief Collective here