Special Olympics Kapiti

06/10/2026

Big feelings? Yeah, we get it. Let's navigate them together.

Sometimes frustration, overwhelm, or stress creeps in—when we're trying something new, heading somewhere unfamiliar, or just living life. Sound familiar?

This Mental Health Awareness Week, Special Olympics New Zealand is hosting a FREE webinar with Educational Psychologist Cathy Robson to help you:

- Recognise big feelings in yourself and others
- Understand what's happening in your brain and body
- Respond with practical tools (mindfulness, calming techniques, reframing)
- Connect—because belonging matters

This is for everyone: People with intellectual disabilities, family, coaches, volunteers, and supporters. You're all welcome.

Wednesday 14 October | 6.30pm
Register here - 07b75994-9548-4514-96a9-757f5376b530@932b2548-c8c1-457c-a67f-c22e0fc081a8?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/07b75994-9548-4514-96a9-757f5376b530@932b2548-c8c1-457c-a67f-c22e0fc081a8?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

Bonus: You'll get a practical handout to use at home, time to ask questions, AND a chance to win a prize pack if you stay to the end.

Let's build stronger minds and stronger connections, together.

Special Olympics Kāpiti: Strong Minds. Big Feelings. Strong Connections. 💪

05/10/2026

LAST CALL - ORDERS CLOSE FRIDAY 9 NOV

PM us now to get your order in.

Special Olympics NZ is back with another run of our "I'm Part of Something Special" T-shirts – and they're absolutely brilliant!
Just $45 each
Wide range of sizes:
• Women's: XS – 3XL
• Men's: S – 3XL
Show your pride, rock the shirt, and support our special Olympic community!
Ready to order? Drop us a PM and we'll get you sorted.

02/10/2026

SORRY NO WALKING GROUP TODAY!
Our leaders for the Walking Group are in the Manawatu today at an Athlete Leaders programme so no walking group today people.

See you next week!

29/09/2026

🏊‍♀️ WE’RE LOOKING FOR AN ASSISTANT SWIMMING COACH! 🏊‍♂️

Special Olympics Kāpiti is looking for a volunteer Assistant Swimming Coach to join our team.

Kāpiti Aquatic Centre
Sunday evenings
5.00pm – 6.00pm

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is a current or former swimmer and understands the mechanics and technique of swimming
• Is patient, encouraging and understanding
• Enjoys working with people with intellectual disabilities
• Is happy to learn and work alongside our existing coaching team
• Most importantly, wants to help our athletes enjoy swimming and reach their potential

You don’t need to be an experienced coach. If you know your swimming techniques, your freestyle to butterfly, and have the right attitude, we can help you develop the coaching side.

And honestly, volunteering with Special Olympics is one of those things where you often get just as much out of it as the athletes do — if not more.

Seeing someone master a new skill, gain confidence, achieve a goal or simply have a great time in the pool makes it incredibly rewarding.

If you think this could be you — or you know someone who would be perfect for the role — we’d love to hear from you. Please pm us

Please share this post with anyone who might be interested.

23/09/2026

Exciting News, Kāpiti Special Olympics Family!

Special Olympics NZ is back with another run of our "I'm Part of Something Special" T-shirts – and they're absolutely brilliant!

Just $45 each
Wide range of sizes:
• Women's: XS – 3XL
• Men's: S – 3XL

Show your pride, rock the shirt, and support our special Olympic community!

Ready to order? Drop us a PM and we'll get you sorted.

👕 Order a Something SPECIAL tee!

We’ve had lots of interest in our “I’m part of something SPECIAL” tees, so we’re making them available to order over the coming weeks.

Order through your local Special Olympics club. Orders will be batched and sent to clubs to help keep costs to a minimum.

📅 Orders and payment close: Friday 9 October
📦 Delivery from: Monday 9 November

Want one? Get in touch with your local club to place your order.

22/09/2026

A massive well done to our swimmers who last weekend competed in their 2nd competition for the year. After many years of no swimming in Kapiti we are thrilled to have some amazing coaches who have brought our swim team to life again. Well done team, absolute fantastic effort.

16/09/2026

Fit 5 is on tonight. Don't forget to bring your water bottle and something comfortable to wear. We're exercising tonight!

11/09/2026

NO WALKING GROUP TODAY
Sorry team but there is no walking group today. Our basketballers are hosting their last tournament of the year at Kapiti College. Feel free to come on down from 10am and watch a few games, support the teams from Kapiti, Wellington, Hutt Valley, Porirua and Manawatu
See you next week!

Send a message to learn more

28/08/2026

Walking group is on today!
11am outside Paraparaumu Library taken by the fantastic Kelly today.
Please join the group, get that body moving and let's stay healthy together.

26/08/2026

LET’S GET BEHIND PARAPARAUMU COLLEGE!

We are incredibly proud to share that our amazing friends at Paraparaumu College have entered a beautiful documentary into the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival — and we’d LOVE your help to get it across the line!

The film, “The Greatest Show – Inclusive Dance on the National Stage”, captures the incredible collaborative dance project from last year and, more importantly, shows the power of inclusion, friendship and believing that everyone has a place on the stage.

It’s a wonderful story of what can happen when a community comes together and inclusion isn’t just something we talk about — it’s something we do.

And now they need your vote!

Voting is quick and easy:
Click HERE: https://focusonability.com.au/films/2026/the-greatest-show-inclusive-dance-on-the-national-stage-12242
Watch the film
Click VOTE
Enter your email address
Confirm your vote using the number sent to you

And please share this post and the film with your friends, family and anyone who believes in the power of inclusion. Every vote and every share helps!

A huge congratulations to Debbie Cowens for creating such a beautiful documentary, and to everyone at Paraparaumu College who helped make this incredible project happen.

From all of us at Special Olympics Kapiti — we’re cheering you on!

The Greatest Show Inclusive dance on the national stage is a 2026 school documentaries film by Debbie Cowens from New Zealand. Watch it free.