OfficeMax New Zealand is proud to announce it has signed up as an ongoing sponsor to telephone counselling service 0800 What's Up.

The not-for-profit helpline has been supporting children and young people across New Zealand for the past 12 years.

0800 What’s Up employs fully trained counsellors to answer over 100,000 calls a year. The close relationship OfficeMax has with schools in New Zealand make it well equipped to promote this vital service.

Managing Director of OfficeMax New Zealand, Kevin Obern, said helping to provide a safe place for young people to talk confidentially is an important part of enabling students to concentrate on their education.

“OfficeMax is dedicated to supporting children at school age beyond the point of just providing them books and stationery. School is not always easy for children, so we aim to ensure appropriate support services are available to those who need them,” Mr Obern said.

“We are involved in a number of programmes within the education and not-for-profit community throughout New Zealand. OfficeMax is currently providing small grants and assistance to disadvantaged families and children through our Max e Grants initiative, as well as rewarding exceptional teachers through our A Day Made Better programme.”

0800 What’s Up Manager, Rhonda Morrison, said the support and generous contributions given to 0800 What’s Up from organisations such as OfficeMax New Zealand is invaluable. 

“The helpline received over 320,000 calls last year, but our professional counsellors only have capacity to answer less than 40 per cent of the calls coming through. Help from our sponsors will allow us to communicate with as many children in need as possible,” Ms Morrison said.

“Children and youth are able to access 0800 What’s Up 365 days a year. To ensure we can keep this service available, we rely heavily on the support of the community and our corporate partners. We can’t thank OfficeMax New Zealand enough for getting involved.”