Introducing Jenny Paine

Regional Support Advisor Northland and Waitematā

Jenny Paine counts herself lucky to have escaped full time retirement by joining MND NZ as a support advisor covering Rodney and Northland late in 2025.

She spent her working life, prior to her retirement and un-retirement, in the health sector. Initially, she worked as an occupational therapist, and more recently as a registered counsellor specialising in grief and palliative care at Tōtara Hospice.

“There it was my privilege to meet a small number of MND patients who were admitted for short periods of respite care. I really enjoyed my years at hospice, and I strongly endorse their purpose to add life to years,” says Jenny.

Jenny sees her two adult sons in Auckland regularly. While her home base is on Kawau Island for the spring, summer and autumn, she comes ashore for winter and stays in Whangaparaoa, which is also her base for her MND NZ workdays.

“Living this seasonal life makes me a bit of a gypsy but it suits me well, and it means I can have a more multifaceted life which includes my part-time work for MND NZ,” explains Jenny. “When I am at Kawau Island I try to be outdoors or on the water as much as possible, and I also enjoy ‘extreme gardening’ on my steep, rugged section. My other more creative preoccupation is playing with fabric, lately I’ve been making fabric books which have a legacy theme.”

Jenny’s role is made possible through a generous grant from the Jubilee Trust. We are very grateful for their support. It enables people living with MND in the Rodney and Northland region to benefit from Jenny’s unique combination of occupational therapy, counselling and palliative care experience. Together, we can make time count for people living with MND through tailored support.