Tawhai Reti life saving treatment- Multiple Myeloma.
Tawhai and Lani needed to leave their children behind in New Zealand to receive life saving treatment in Australia -Multiple Myeloma
Blaketown, Greymouth
I am creating this Give a Little to help continue to support my brother in law and sister in law with their on-going stay in Australia as he receives life-saving treatment. As well as help to support their 4 children who have had to stay at home in Greymouth, NZ.
We all know how difficult day to day expenses can be, but imagine having to do so while in another country, without the ability to work to provide for your family.
These funds raised will help to continue everyday expenses and running of their household ( mortgage , insurances, and the care of their children ).
Tawhai was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma in 2019 at the age of 29.
During this journey he has had 2 stem cell transplants and countless amounts of chemotherapy and management medication.
In 2025 Tawhai was told there were no longer any options available for his disease in NZ.
Tawhai alongside his wife Lani had to make the incredibly tough decision to leave their home, life and most importantly their children behind to receive life saving treatment. Tawhai and Lani are the strongest people I know, being away from there beautiful children breaks my heart. Though it must be done to give him extra time.
Tawhai and Lani have worked very hard to try and be advocates for people with Multiple Myeloma and share their journey publicly to spread awareness in hope for change in current processes and availability for much needed treatment not just for Tawhai but for all effected by this disease.
Erina Telford's involvement (page creator)
I have known Tahwai and Lani since 2012, lucky to be able to call them my Brother and Sister in Law. I have added Lanis Facebook Profile if you would like to follow their journey ❤️
Use of funds
Supporting their 4 children back at home, keeping a roof over there heads with the runnings of Mortgage, Insurance. So they do not lose everything whilst overseas trying to save Tawhais life
Latest update
Update from Lani Reti 12 March 2026
Tawhai and I, with our tamariki, lived in Australia from 2023-2024. When Tawhai relapsed, we returned to NZ for family support, unaware of how detrimental that choice would be for his care. Had we known how far behind NZ is in funding and accessibility, we would have stayed.
Getting back to Australia was life-or-death. In NZ, Tawhai was placed on palliative care; I could not accept that he was being left to die. I bypassed referrals, contacted the Sydney team directly, and we were on a plane within three days—only after urgent transfusions to make him stable enough to fly. Our doctor was clear: "You need to be here this week; by next week it could be too late."
Since arriving in Sydney, the doctors and their haematology team have undoubtedly saved my husband’s life. The "next level" care from the nursing staff has been paramount. It is heartbreaking that 21,000 blood cancer patients in NZ cannot access this.
We feel deep empathy for NZ doctors, who are forced to deliver substandard care due to lack of funding. Seeing this from a new perspective, we truly appreciate what they did despite the restrictions.
Our hardest obstacle is the separation from our children. Missing assemblies, bedtimes, and milestones while living through a phone is agonizing. Our children are suffering. We need urgent action: families should not have to split apart just to survive.
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