When the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Dunedin shut down, it wasn’t just the end of a workplace. It was the end of a whānau.
For so many of the workers, Cadbury wasn’t just a job, it was a second home. A place of laughter, pride, and deep connection. So when the factory closed, it left behind more than empty buildings. It left a deep ache.
The pain didn’t stop there. Many who moved into new roles were met with bullying, discrimination, and gaslighting. And while the world moved on, a quiet mental health crisis unfolded, one marked by grief, isolation, and, tragically, lives lost.
Through all of this, the system didn’t show up the way it should have. There was little understanding. Little support. Too many fell through the cracks.
But this is not where the story ends.
A group of former Cadbury workers came together with one shared belief: no one should go through this alone. From that belief, Project Hope & Beyond was born. Calling themselves the Chocolate Queens and Kings, these courageous, big-hearted individuals turned their pain into purpose.
