Heidi is one of our talented Canterbury-based kaiako.“This Is How It Feels” is a powerful and deeply human collection of lived experiences of mental and emotional distress from across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Through a rich blend of poetry, storytelling, visual art, and photography, contributors share honest reflections that illuminate what distress feels like from the inside.

Spanning diverse ages, cultures, genders, and backgrounds, this 230 page paperback brings together both established and first-time writers and artists. The result is an authentic, unfiltered exploration of struggle, resilience, and the many ways people navigate difficult emotional landscapes.

This is not a clinical guide or a book of diagnoses. Instead, it offers something often missing in mental health conversations: real voices, real feelings, and real insight. Readers experiencing distress will find recognition, connection, and reassurance that they are not alone. For whānau, educators, and support professionals, the book provides a valuable perspective to deepen understanding and compassion.

Beautifully presented and deeply relatable, this is a book to return to again and again. It invites quiet moments of connection, sparks meaningful conversations, and makes a thoughtful, impactful gift for anyone seeking greater understanding of themselves or others.

At its heart, this collection challenges stigma, fosters empathy, and affirms a simple but vital truth: mental and emotional distress is part of being human, and no one has to face it alone.”

Look inside:

https://youtu.be/pBItFTmEErU?si=T1YVg3MwR1oNSLy4

It will be at booksellers and in libraries but if you’d like to purchase the book directly, flick Heidi a message via messager on this page for a 40% discount (RRP $29.00)

Congratulations, Heidi, your mahi and published book is incredible.