COLLABORATION & PLAY WEEK 2025

As Halberg’s Advisor for the Otago and Southland region, Zoe spends her days helping create more opportunities for young people with physical disabilities to experience the joy of movement. Based in the beautiful South, her work is wonderfully varied – connecting with families, schools, sporting organisations and community groups to make inclusive play and sport part of everyday life.

“The kids down here are absolute legends,” she says. “They’re so down to earth and fun. working in this space has reminded me how important it is to play as an adult too!”

Over recent years, Zoe has seen the adaptive sport community in Otago and Southland grow from strength to strength. Schools and sporting codes are increasingly prioritising inclusion, supported by passionate people all striving toward the same goal, ensuring every young person has the chance to move, play and belong.

BRINGING PLAY TO THE SOUTH

This year’s Play Week was a big one for Zoe, who teamed up with Sport Clutha, Sport Otago, and Hungerball to deliver three play-based community events across the region. The focus was on bringing the fun to smaller towns like Milton – places that don’t often get to experience events like these.

“Our Play Week events in collaboration with Sport Clutha and Hungerball were all hits,” Zoe says. “It was awesome to target some of the smaller areas that tend to miss out, and we had an amazing turnout at each location – the kids got stuck in!”

For Zoe, the highlight came in Milton, where she saw families connecting and kids playing freely together. “Some parents tolf me they don’t usually feel able to come down to the park and play – this event enabled them to do so,” she says. “My hope is that it sparked a love for play that continues in the days and weeks to come.”

COLLABORATION IN ACTION

Zoe says the events simply wouldn’t have been possible without her local partners. “Keely from Sport Clutha was an absolute legend, these ebents wouldn’t have happened wihtout her hard work,” she says. “I’m really lucky to sit in the Sport Otago office, which means so many opportunities for collaboration with awesome people like them.”

For Keely Hill from Sport Clutha, bringing Play Week to rural communities was especially rewarding. “The highlight for me was taking Play events to places where tamariki usually have to travel far to experience something like this. Seeing the joy and smiles on their faces as they explored and interacted with the equipment was really special,” she says.

The collaboration between Halberg, Sport Clutha, Sport Otago and Hungerball brought together new ideas, equipment and energy, making each event unique and engaging. Keely adds, “At first, some tamariki weren’t sure what they could or couldn’t play with, but once they realised there were no strict rules, their creativity took off! Event the parents started joining in.”

Georgia Clarke from Sport Otago agrees collaboration was key to access. “It made our reach wider – more schools, more community groups, more people hearing about it and coming along,” she says. “There aren’t currently a lot of opportunities for tamariki with disabilties, so it was awesome to promote inclusion in this way and give it exposure.”

THE POWER OF PLAY

Play-based events can be quite new for many families, Zoe explains. “At first, the kids cautiosly checked out the gear unsure what to do. By the end, they were creating games and making friends. It’s amazing to see kis learn about themselves when given the time and space to play freely.”

That’s what makes events like these so valuable – they help young people connect, explore and experience inclusion through movement. For Zoe, this is what Halberg’s mission is all about. “For out tamariki with disabilities, rates of engagement in play are lower than for non-disabled young people,” she says. “By being part of these play afternoons, we’re showing that play is for everyone.”

MOVING FORWARDS

Collaboration is at the heart of Zoe’s work. “Being the one advisor for Halberg down in Otago and Southland, it’s essential to work together with other organisations to make things happen,” she says. “If we lean on each other’s strengths and passions, we’ll go further in helping our community.”

And her biggest takeaway from Play Week? A simple but powerful reminder: “You are never too old to play! Get outside, kick a ball, find an opportunity to be creative.”

Whether it’s through sport, spontaneous games or laughter on a playground, Zoe’s message is clear – PLAY CONNECTS IS ALL!

A huge thank you to Sport Otago, Sport Clutha, and Hungerball for helping make it happen!