Mind & Nature NZ

30/10/2026

🌿 What if nature was part of healthcare?

We often think of healthcare in terms of medicines, medical procedures and consultations. But what about the role of nature in supporting our health and wellbeing?

Around the world, there is growing interest in bringing nature into mainstream healthcare, recognising that our connection with the natural environment can be an important part of health and healing.

An encouraging example comes from Changi General Hospital (CGH) in Singapore, which announced its Nature-Based Therapy initiative earlier this month.

It is a reminder that nature is more than just something pleasant to have around us. Our interactions with the natural world can offer opportunities to pause, restore our attention, reduce stress and support our overall wellbeing.

As we continue to rethink how healthcare can better support whole-person health, perhaps we should give greater consideration to the natural environments in which we live, work and receive care.

Could we see nature playing a bigger role in mainstream healthcare here in Aotearoa New Zealand?

22/10/2026

🌱 What if the key to healthier people and a healthier planet starts beneath our feet?

I’m looking forward to the upcoming Building Healthscapes event at Lincoln University next month, exploring the powerful connections between soil, food, farming and human health — including mental wellbeing.

It’s exciting to see diverse perspectives come together, with Professor Pablo Gregorini, Professor Julia Rucklidge, Jacopo Orazi and Amanda Currie contributing to conversations that bridge agriculture, science and health.

Looking forward to the insights, connections and fresh thinking this event will inspire as we explore how healthier soils and food systems can help nurture healthier people and communities. 🌿

Please join us for a day of information and collaboration.

14/10/2026

🌿 Can a garden help us feel better?

Spending time in a garden offers more than just a chance to enjoy beautiful flowers. Being surrounded by greenery, noticing the changing seasons, listening to birdsong or simply sitting quietly among plants can give us a welcome pause from the busyness of everyday life.

Research suggests that contact with nature can support mental wellbeing by helping us unwind from stress, restore our attention and feel more connected to the natural world.

But what makes a garden a healing garden? It is not necessarily about having the most beautiful flowers or the most elaborate design. Thoughtfully designed gardens can offer spaces for quiet reflection, gentle movement, sensory exploration, social connection and a closer relationship with nature.

🌱 As part of the Gardens Ōtepoti Bloom Spring Festival, I will be giving a talk on Healing Gardens for Wellbeing at the Dunedin Botanic Garden next Monday on 19 October.

Perhaps the next time you’re in a garden, take a moment to slow down, notice what’s growing around you and see how you feel.

https://events.humanitix.com/healing-gardens-for-wellbeing-an-introduction-to-naturalistic-garden-design

07/10/2026

🌿 What happens when gardening becomes part of healthcare?

I recently spent some time in Singapore exploring this question as part of a Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture.

One of the highlights was visiting the Therapeutic Garden at West Coast Park. It was fascinating to see how a garden can be designed not just to look beautiful, but to make it easier for people to move around, interact with plants and spend time in nature.

We also made kokedama in the horticulture lab — a Japanese style of growing a plant in a ball of soil wrapped in moss instead of a traditional pot. 🪴

At the shade house, we learnt how to propagate plant cuttings and explored how simple gardening activities can be adapted for different people and abilities. 🌱

It got me thinking about something we often take for granted: gardening can be good for us in many different ways.

Research suggests that gardening can support mental wellbeing, physical activity, social connection and quality of life. Therapeutic horticulture takes these everyday experiences and uses gardening activities and garden environments more intentionally as part of health and wellbeing interventions.

You don’t need a big garden to experience some of this. A few pots, some herbs on a windowsill or simply caring for a plant can be a small way of bringing more nature into everyday life.

There’s something quite special about growing things — and perhaps growing ourselves along the way. 🌱

08/09/2026

🌱🧠 Nourishing the Mind | Auckland

A wonderful evening in Auckland exploring the connection between food, the gut, the brain and mental wellbeing.

Thank you to Lifestylerz.NZHealth for inviting me to share an introduction to nutritional psychiatry with the community, and to everyone who came along, asked questions and joined the conversation.

We explored how dietary patterns, the gut microbiome, inflammation and other pathways may connect nutrition with brain health—and some practical ways of thinking about food beyond individual nutrients.

A big thank you to Auckland GP and lifestyle medicine physician Dr Lira Lecias for organising the talk and bringing the community together.

It was a pleasure to share this space with you all. 🌿

28/08/2026

🧠🌱 What does your food have to do with your brain?

We often think about nutrition in terms of physical health—but there’s another part of the story worth exploring.

On 1 September, I’ll be in Auckland for Nourishing the Mind, a community talk organised by Lifestylerz.NZHealth.

We’ll explore the connections between food, the gut microbiome, inflammation and the brain and what nutritional psychiatry can tell us about mental wellbeing.

If you’re curious about the science behind the food–brain connection, I’d love to see you there.

📍 Auckland | 📅 1 September 2026

27/07/2026

🌿 What if hospitals could help us heal through nature?

A glimpse of the incredible greenery at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore — a beautiful example of biophilic healthcare design, where nature is woven into the healing environment.

Because sometimes, healing begins with simply being surrounded by green 🌿

14/07/2026

I’m looking forward to my upcoming online health workshop on Nutritional Psychiatry hosted by Grow Ltd on 29 July, exploring the latest evidence on how food, dietary patterns and the gut microbiome influence mental health. If you’re interested in the science of nutrition and mental wellbeing, I’d love for you to join us—register now to secure your place! 🌿

Nutritional Psychiatry: Food, Gut Health and Mental Wellbeing
Delivered by Dr Ivan Lin

The workshop aims to bridge scientific evidence with everyday practice, helping participants better understand how food environments and dietary habits may influence mood, stress and cognitive wellbeing.

Online, 29 July, 9am - 3.30pm
https://www.grow.co.nz/nutritional-psychiatry/

23/06/2026

A inspirational day of learning, connection and curiosity at Nourishing the Mind in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.

The workshop brought together health professionals, including GPs, nurses and allied health practitioners, alongside community members to explore the links between soil health, food quality, gut microbiome health and mental wellbeing. As an RNZCGP-endorsed event, it was encouraging to see clinicians engaging with these emerging areas of knowledge and their relevance to health and wellbeing.

Highlights included live soil microscopy, a fascinating look at kombucha under the microscope, thought-provoking discussions and a healthy cooking demonstration showcasing practical recipes to take home.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the rich kōrero throughout the day, and to Tūranga Health for supporting this event.

🌱 From soil to gut to mind, the day was a reminder of how interconnected our health, food systems and environment truly are.

22/06/2026