22/05/2026
๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ.
As we celebrate ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ, Iโve been reflecting on what it means to create spaces where taiohi are not only included, but ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ.
This yearโs theme, โ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ,โ speaks so strongly to the kaupapa of the Adventure Series, developed in partnership with
The Adventure Series supports autistic young people and their whฤnau to access physical activity, outdoor recreation, and connection in ways that work for them.
But more than that, it was designed to listen.
To whฤnau who told us what had not worked before.
To young people who needed different ways to communicate.
To taiohi who needed time, space, sensory support, predictability, and trusted relationships before they could participate.
That is why ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ถ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ is such a key part of our approach.
Youth voice does not always look like standing up and speaking.
Sometimes it looks like choosing yes or no on a communication card.
Sometimes it looks like using a heart face or sad face to share feedback.
Sometimes it looks like stepping back, then choosing to try again.
Sometimes it looks like joy, confidence, trust, and belonging.
Grounded in โs ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ถ๐ผ๐ต๐ถ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ, the Adventure Series reminds us that when we honour the mana of young people, we create spaces where they are heard, valued, and supported to thrive.
Proud to share this case study for Youth Week.
Ngฤ mihi nui to everyone who has backed this kaupapa, including , , , , and all the kaiฤrahi, volunteers, whฤnau, and young people who make it what it is.
