Spring is a season of growth, fresh beginnings, and new opportunities, and for our Advisor of the Month Lawrence, it’s also a time to bring fresh energy into his mahi across Waikato. His approach to “springing into Inclusion” is about reimagining, reshaping, and reconnecting with whānau, schools, organisations, and communities to create more opportunities for young people to participate. Whether it’s supporting schools with future planning and camp programmes, or working alongside organisations to review resources and embed more inclusive practices, Lawrence sees spring as the perfect season to influence positive change.
Supporting young people to stay engaged in sport and recreation is at the heart of his work. Across Aotearoa, many rangatahi are stepping away from physical activity, often because opportunitities don’t feel relevant or accessible. Lawrence is motivated by finding ways to make sport and recreation meaningful, showing teachers, coaches, parents, and organisations that inclusion doesn’t need to be complicated. By simplifying approaches and focusing on adaptability, he helps communities create environment where more young people can take part, enjoy themselves, and feel supported alongside their peers.
The last two months have been particularly busy in Waikato, with Lawrence leading and contributing to a wide range of initiatives. He worked with BLENNZ at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome to give students a day of cycling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and adaptive games, while also supporting Parafed Waikato and Waikato Wheelchair Basketball to deliver school programmes that not only engage students but also upskill teachers. In Taupō, he joined forces with Sport Waikato and PENZ for the Tai Tōrua Workshop, where Halberg Advisors ran Inclusion Training sessions for teachers, followed by thr Taupō All Abilities Sports Extravaganza – a com,unity event showcasing both adaptive and mainstream sports.
In Putaruru, a year-long projects came to fruition through three All Abilities Sports Days supported by Lichfield School and Sport Waikato. What began as a conversation about supporting one student developed into a cluster-wide initiative involving eight schools, with students of all abilities coming together to celebrate sport and play. September also brought the Whakapapa Adaptive Ski Festival, where participants and their whānau spent three days of skiing, snowboarding, and connecting in an uplifting environment supported by volunteers and staff.
These three events highlight the importance of collaboration. Lawrence sees the strength of these programmes in the partnerships with schools, Regional Sports Organisations, and community groups, all of whom contribute to making inclusion a reality. This collaborative mindset has also been evident with Taupō District Council, where an Inclusion Training earlier in the year sparked the creation of an Accessibility Champions Group. Bringing together 29 staff from across the Council, the initiative is driving long-term inclusive practices at a community level – a true flowering moment of inclusion.
Youth leadership is another area Lawrence is passionate about. The Halberg Youth Council provides rangatahi with a platform to share their experiences and push for change. By amplifying youth voice, Halberg is helping to ensure that inclusion is not only led from the top down but also shaped by the very people it impacts most.
Looking ahead, Lawrence is excited about the growth of the Waikato Disability Active Recreation Collective – a new collaboration between disability sport and recreation organisations and mainstream Regional Sports Organisations. By aligning efforts and sharing information, the collective aims to strengthen opportunities across the sector and provide more consistent, inclusive experiences for communities.
For Lawrence, inclusion flourishes when people are willing to challenge traditional approaches, try something new, and keep and open mind. This spring, his work is not only planting seeds of change but nurturing them into long-term growth that will benefit young people and their communities across Waikato and beyond.
