In June 2026, 2,322 young people aged 5–25 accessed free counselling through Gumboot Friday, with 3,776 sessions delivered nationwide.
Sessions are free, no referral is required, and young people choose who they want to talk to from Gumboot Friday’s network of registered counsellors.
Breakdown by age group:
- • 656 young people aged 5–11 (28%)
- • 716 young people aged 12–17 (31%)
- • 950 young people aged 18–25 (41%)
June’s figures mark the busiest month of 2026 so far for Gumboot Friday. They show young people are continuing to reach out in high numbers, and that fast, simple access to counselling remains critical.
Since 2019, Gumboot Friday has funded 164,835 free counselling sessions for young New Zealanders as at 20 July 2026, with more than 927 registered practitioners across the country helping make that possible.
Every month, thousands more sessions are delivered to young people aged 5 to 25, often at a time when they simply can’t afford to wait or pay for support.
“June tells the story pretty clearly. More young people are reaching out, and we have to be ready when they do. These kids don’t have time to sit on a waitlist, jump through hoops, or prove they’re struggling enough. They need someone safe to talk to, and they need it when they ask for it,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.
“Since 1 July last year, 12,242 rangatahi have accessed Gumboot Friday and 37,630 counselling sessions have been delivered. That is 37,630 times a young person has sat down with someone safe and been able to say what’s really going on and we couldn’t do it without the support of New Zealanders,” King says.
Government support helps pay for counselling sessions, but running Gumboot Friday takes more than session funding alone. Donations help support the platform young people use to book counsellors, the team who keeps it running, counsellor support, compliance, awareness, school programmes, community outreach, and the prevention work that helps young people know support is there before things reach crisis point.
With demand now at its highest point this year, community backing remains essential. Every donation, fundraiser, shared post and gumboot sold helps keep Gumboot Friday moving and helps young people connect with free counselling when they need it.
If you or someone you know is 25 or under and needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz to book a free counsellor today — no referral needed.
To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope, head to www.iamhope.org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.