Help Esme and Oki through a difficult time

I’m reaching out on behalf of my dear friend Esme, a loving mother from England, and her 3-year-old son, Oki, born in Australia. They now live in Auckland, New Zealand, and are facing an unexpectedly challenging and heartbreaking time.

Since just before Christmas, Esme has been largely cut off from financial support by Oki's father, leaving her unable to buy food for herself and her son. Despite her relentless efforts to seek help from local organisations like Women’s Refuge, the City Mission, and even her family in the UK, she remains without the support she needs.

Esme is not eligible for much in the way of New Zealand benefits or charitable programs until late February, when she can apply for permanent residency. This leaves her without crucial assistance at the moment when she needs it most.

Esme is doing everything in her power to build a better future for her and Oki, but the hurdles keep piling up. She has received a substantial and urgent legal bill (£6,454) for divorce proceedings—a situation that was beyond her control and one that has been exacerbated by lawyer's poor communication and legal advice. On top of this, Oki has a medical condition requiring special round-the-clock care and dietary requirements and Esme has no additional support to manage it alone. Along with having limited friends in Auckland to call on and a difficult relationship with Oki's father, it has become a desperate and isolating experience.

Despite the hardships, Esme tries to remain optimistic about creating a stable, happy life for her and Oki in New Zealand. With residency just around the corner, she is hopeful that better days are ahead. But right now, she urgently needs a helping hand to get through these next few weeks.

We are asking for support to help Esme and Oki with their immediate needs:

Asking for help has not been easy for Esme, but the love she has for Oki keeps her going. Your support—no matter how big or small—would mean the world to her.

Let’s rally around this wonderful mother and her son to help them through this incredibly tough time. Together, we can give them hope and a brighter future in 2025.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your kindness, generosity, and words of support.

With love,

`Virginia, Esme and Oki