MusicHelps’ annual fundraising initiative NZ Music T-Shirt Day is back for another year on Friday 30th May 2025, rounding off New Zealand Music Month.

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NZ Music T-Shirt Day is all about celebrating great New Zealand music, donating to support the mahi of MusicHelps and showing your support of local music by sporting your favourite artists or band tee.

NZ Music T-Shirt Day raises funds for MusicHelps, a charity that helps the most vulnerable in our communities by supporting organisations that use the power of music to help and heal. This includes music therapy sessions, music programs in respite and palliative care, music education programs for the at-risk and vulnerable and rehabilitation programs to name a few. Since inception, they have positively impacted the lives of over 100,000 people across Aotearoa.

New Zealand Music T-Shirt Day continues to prove itself as a favourite fundraising event during NZ Music Month. This year’s event aims to continue spreading the aroha for New Zealand music throughout Aotearoa, showcasing the myriad of talented musicians we have right on our doorstep and far away, both new on the scene and long-time kiwi favourites.

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Supporting the mahi of MusicHelps is easy:

STEP ONE

Buy a T-shirt. 100% net proceeds goes to MusicHelps

STEP TWO

Fundraise individually or create a team with your friends/family/workplace.

STEP THREE

Or you can simply make a donation.

TXT Music to 2448 to donate $3

MusicHelps supports initiatives and provides grants communities across Aotearoa, from Whanganui to Tamaki Makaurau, Hamilton to Dunedin, Wellington to Whangārei. Some highlights of communities that MusicHelps has supported this year include:

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CANCER SOCIETY CANTERBURY – Christchurch

The Cancer Society is a national organization that aims to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer in New Zealand. The Southern Cancer Society Division (CSNZ) offer a range of services to clients who have a terminal diagnosis to support them to live well in their last weeks / months / years of life, including counselling, memory making opportunities with whanau and emotional support. MusicHelps will be assisting with funding of a Music Therapy pilot programme to support and resource terminal cancer patients and their whānau.
Website

CHAMBER MUSIC TRUST – Wellington

Chamber Music New Zealand (CMNZ) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading not-for-profit organisation devoted to the performance and development of chamber music and small forces musical performance in the country. In partnership with Yellow Brick Road (a national mental health support organisation) and Kia Haanga Whakarereke Inc, CMNZ are running Create Moerewa, a two-day music-based holiday programme in October 2024 for twenty rangatahi in Moerewa. MusicHelps is contributing towards the local musicians’ fees.
Website

CRESCENDO – Auckland

The Crescendo Trust of Aotearoa offers music mentoring and wellbeing programmes for young people aged 15-24 who may not fit into mainstream education settings or may have been referred by other services. Crescendo provides music mentoring and wellbeing programmes for rangatahi/young people aged 15-24 years. MusicHelps are assisting with music mentoring costs for Crescendo’s Pathway Programme.
Website

GLASS CEILING ARTS COLLECTIVE – Warkworth

Glass Ceiling Arts Collective (GCAC) provides accessible community and youth performing arts programmes, performances and provides music workshops using traditional instruments and music technologies to empower disabled people to create their own music. Their programmes allow individuals and communities to break the glass ceiling so that disabled people can be seen as creatives first and foremost. MusicHelps are funding instruments for GCAC workshops.
Website

SISTEMA WHANGEREI – Whangārei

Sistema Whangarei – Toi Akorangi provides free orchestral instrument and musicianship lessons to children in Whangarei and Northland who may otherwise lack access to such opportunities. MusicHelps are assisting with the purchase of music instruments which will be used in programmes through the rural areas of Northland and a new after-school programme within the Whangarei area.
Website

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Further information on the MusicHelps Grants programme is here

MusicHelps is also thrilled to award their MusicHelps Music Therapy Award to Kate Owen for the second year in a row. The award, first created and awarded to Owen in 2024, is for wāhine identifying students who have been accepted into the Master of Music Therapy Programme at Victoria University. Presented in collaboration with Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust and The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust, the recipient of the award received an $8,000 scholarship for one year of study, and if they are in their second year of study, the award will include a supported student placement with the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.

MusicHelps also assists Aotearoa music people through their Benevolent Fund and Wellbeing Service programmes. They provide a confidential 24/7 Helpline, counselling services and financial assistance Aotearoa music workers who are experiencing hardship or are in crisis. By supporting all sectors of the local music industry, MusicHelps ensures the continuation of a vibrant and thriving local music community.

For a list of kiwi bands and artists who are currently selling merchandise online, please head HERE

If you are lacking a NZ band tee (or struggling to make a decision!) please visit HERE

The net profits of all official NZ Music Month T-Shirts are donated to MusicHelps where 100% of all donations raised through T-Shirt day will be used for their Grants programme.

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Check out all things MusicHelps below:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

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