$20 Million And Counting: Gumboot Friday Keeps Kids Talking

Gumboot Friday — the iconic movement that’s become a symbol of hope for young New Zealanders — returns this year with a milestone worth celebrating: more than $20 million spent on free counselling for Kiwi kids and young people since 2019.

Founded by mental health advocate and I Am Hope founder Mike King, Gumboot Friday has helped deliver over 137,000 therapy sessions to rangatahi and tamariki across Aotearoa — every single one made possible through the generosity of everyday New Zealanders.

While the charity began receiving government funding only last year, Gumboot Friday continues to rely heavily on donations from the public to keep its service running. Every dollar raised helps ensure no young person is ever turned away, and that they can access help when they need it most — not months down the track.

“People can say whatever they want about us,” says Mike King. “The truth is, the numbers speak for themselves — $20 million, 137,000 sessions, and countless young lives given hope. That’s what matters. We’ll keep showing up, we’ll keep delivering, and we’ll keep fighting for our kids until the system catches up.”

Since its launch, Gumboot Friday has become one of New Zealand’s most recognisable awareness and fundraising events — a nationwide moment of unity, community and action. Each year, schools, workplaces and communities across the country don their gumboots, donate a gold coin, and raise funds so young people aged 5–25 can access free, immediate counselling.

For many of those young people, that single counselling session can be life-changing. Behind every dollar donated is a story of someone choosing to walk through the mud with our kids, not past them.

This Friday, 7 November 2025, New Zealanders are once again being asked to Gumboot Up— to stand together, to donate, and to remind our rangatahi that they’re never alone in the fight for better mental health.

For more information or to donate, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz

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