Kahu Youth Trust

Kahu Youth Trust Kahu Youth engages with Youth in the Upper Clutha region to encourage, educate, entertain, help buil

Our vision is to empower ALL Upper Clutha rangatahi to live their best lives. Kahu Youth provides programs, activities, events and a fun, safe, base for young people aged 11 to 24 in Wanaka, New Zealand. We are a charitable trust with five Youth Workers who work both at our base, The Crib, and in the local and wider community. Our Youth Workers run programs that cover a range of interests and involve members, local resources and members of the Wanaka community. Kahu Youth receives a fantastic amount of support from the community and relies on grants and fundraising for our various costs which allows us to provide exciting activities and programmes. We have 3 youth space that are safe where rangatahi 11yrs+ can drop-in for fun and general hangouts with friends. Drop-in hours are as follows;

The Crib, 11 Russell Street, Wānaka
MON: Closed
TUE, WED: 3:00pm - 5:30pm
THUR: 3:00pm - 5:30pm
FRI: 3:00pm - 8:00pm
SAT & SUN: Closed

The Cave, 28 Myra Street, Lake Hāwea
THUR 3:30pm - 6:00pm

KahuYouth.org

Big Love to Our Musicians, Photographer & Everyone Who Joined Us!Our Youth Volunteer Awards were filled with good vibes ...
03/10/2026

Big Love to Our Musicians, Photographer & Everyone Who Joined Us!

Our Youth Volunteer Awards were filled with good vibes thanks to the incredible talent and community spirit in the room.

Ruby Smith opened the night beautifully, followed by Juno & Joplin Gerlach, who brought the perfect energy to close out the evening. Such awesome performances from all three.

A huge shoutout to Deanna Gerlach, whose photos captured every moment with so much heart. 📸✨(we need to get a photo with you in it next time!)

And thank you to everyone who showed up, supported our rangatahi, and helped make the night truly magical. We couldn’t have asked for a better community to celebrate with.

✨Meet the team✨Meet Savannah one of our superstar Youth Workers.You’ll find Savannah supporting our rangatahi during our...
01/10/2026

✨Meet the team✨

Meet Savannah one of our superstar Youth Workers.

You’ll find Savannah supporting our rangatahi during our afterschool drop-in sessions.

Before joining Kāhu Youth Savannah worked as a youth outreach worker in Melbourne supporting rangatahi facing difficult challenges. She has recently completed her Certificate IV in Youth Work and is passionate about helping young people feel seen and heard. Savannah brings a warm, empathic and an overall positive presence to her role here at Kāhu.

Outside of work, Savannah enjoys ticking off her bucket list, browsing op shops for unique finds, and transforming them into creative pieces that perfectly suit her themed home. She is a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, often settling in for a movie marathon through Middle-earth. 💫💛

Youth Volunteer Awards 2026 - What a Night!We loved celebrating over 50 amazing rangatahi who give their time, energy an...
01/10/2026

Youth Volunteer Awards 2026 - What a Night!

We loved celebrating over 50 amazing rangatahi who give their time, energy and heart to our community. Big aroha to everyone who was nominated, your mahi makes Wānaka better every day.

Category Winners:

11–12 yrs: Maggie Hall

13–15 yrs: Alice Chaly

16–18 yrs: Oli Wyeth

Arts & Culture: Duncan Eely

Community: Finley Sharman

Environment: Charlie Baumgren

Sports: Tom Gibson‑Padfield

Supreme Award: Daisy Speak 💛
Presented by Councillor Cody Tucker with an epic prize of Lamborghini hot laps thanks to Highlands Motorsport.

Huge thanks to the local legends who donated prizes: The Albie, Base Camp Wānaka, BaseNZ, The Corner Store, Highlands Motorsports, Paradiso, Puzzling World, Redstar Burgers and Site Wānaka. Your support means the world to our youth.

📸 Photo: Deanna Gerlach

✨Meet the team✨Meet Ruby, another friendly face on our Youth Work team.Ruby has just recently joined the Kāhu team as on...
24/09/2026

✨Meet the team✨

Meet Ruby, another friendly face on our Youth Work team.

Ruby has just recently joined the Kāhu team as one of our Youth Workers she has been in Wānaka just over a year. With a background in hospitality, including cocktail bartending and management, Ruby also spent a ski season in Japan working in a kindergarten. She holds a Psychology degree from the University of Auckland and is passionate about working in mental health. Ruby is excited to begin her career in Youth Work and support our local rangatahi.

Ruby brings a good sense of humor and a positive attitude to her role here at Kāhu💛✨

NEW START TIME: 6:45AMTerm 4 Club alert!Kick off your Mondays with a social 40-min run guided by Braden Currie & Pete Mi...
24/09/2026

NEW START TIME: 6:45AM

Term 4 Club alert!

Kick off your Mondays with a social 40-min run guided by Braden Currie & Pete Mitchell.
Yr 11–13, all abilities welcome — we’ll split into pace groups so everyone’s comfortable.

Bremner Bay, 6:45am
Van ride back available
Sign-up required via our website (limited spots)

Questions: [email protected]

✨Meet the team✨Meet Bridie, Our Programme Manager.Bridie is our Programme Manager for our youth development programmes.B...
17/09/2026

✨Meet the team✨

Meet Bridie, Our Programme Manager.

Bridie is our Programme Manager for our youth development programmes.
Bridie brings several years of hands-on experience in both frontline and leadership youth work, having supported young people across the West Coast and Central Otago. Her mahi has included mentoring, mental health support, programme design, and crisis response. Bridie is passionate about amplifying rangatahi voice and leadership, and fostering whanaungatanga across the community. She brings lived experience, empathy, and a whole lot of heart to this mahi.✨💛

Term 4 Club alert!Kick off your Mondays with a social 40‑min run guided by Braden Currie & Pete Mitchell.Yr 11–13, all a...
13/09/2026

Term 4 Club alert!

Kick off your Mondays with a social 40‑min run guided by Braden Currie & Pete Mitchell.
Yr 11–13, all abilities welcome — we’ll split into pace groups so everyone’s comfortable.

📍 Bremner Bay, 7:30am
🚐 Van ride back to school available
📝 Sign‑up required via our website (limited spots)

Questions: [email protected]

✨Meet the team✨Meet Barry, another member of our Youth Worker team.Barry has been with Kāhu for nearly three years. Befo...
10/09/2026

✨Meet the team✨

Meet Barry, another member of our Youth Worker team.

Barry has been with Kāhu for nearly three years. Before Kāhu, he worked locally with Sticks ‘n Stones in bullying prevention and he is now studying to be a counsellor. Barry brings plenty of playfulness to his mahi, encouraging playful kōrero that helps rangatahi step away from the everyday humdrum. He is passionate about connecting the dots between young people and the community around them.💛

Spring Holidays are on the way with heaps happening at Kāhu Youth. Jump onto kahuyouth.org for details and bookings.
10/09/2026

Spring Holidays are on the way with heaps happening at Kāhu Youth. Jump onto kahuyouth.org for details and bookings.

It's not too late! Nominations close tonight for the Youth Volunteer Awards.Do you know a rangatahi (11-18yrs) that has ...
07/09/2026

It's not too late! Nominations close tonight for the Youth Volunteer Awards.
Do you know a rangatahi (11-18yrs) that has volunteered their time to make our community a better place? Nominate youth by visiting kahuyouth.org 💛

Nomination form: https://forms.gle/xePS6VBFJzep92DU9

Youth nominated will be invited to our award ceremony FRI 18th September at Kāhu Youth Trust along with their familys.

📸Photo Credit :Deanna Gerlach

Address

Paetara Aspiring Central, 35 Plantation Road, Wānaka
Wanaka
9305

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 8pm

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