The Youth Council gathered in Wellington last week for their annual Hui. This Hui featured our usual connections with Tom, Vulcan, and Buddle Findlay, and included meetings with the Minister of Sport, Rob Townsend (Sport NZ Disability Lead), and Leonie from Outward Bound. Read on for more details about the Hui, as they advocate for inclusion in sports, youth, disability, and education for young people with physical disabilities across Aotearoa.
Our Youth Council Hui was based at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS). A big thank you to Jamie, Elodie and the wider NZCIS team for supporting us during the planning stages and whilst we were onsite.
Our Kaumatua, Ike, supported the opening of our Hui by guiding us through a whakatau process. He then shared insightful knowledge about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, linking it to Halberg’s values and highlighting how the Youth Council’s mahi can foster a broader bicultural impact and understanding, ultimately providing purposeful and courageous leadership.
Tuesday morning began with a tour of NZCIS, led by Jamie, the General Manager. Jamie discussed the values, cultural input, and legacy of the sports teams and individuals that contribute to the NZCIS story. The campus is still growing, and we look forward to returning someday to see its progress and enjoy more of the venue.
Vulcan continued the legacy theme. Following our February Hui, the Youth Council had homework to read ‘Legacy’ by James Kerr (a highly recommended read). Vulcan also provided the team with insights into CV and cover letter development, discussed leadership styles, and challenged the Youth Council to hold themselves accountable through personal development goals that will benefit their mahi as a group until our next Hui in February.

As always, the Youth Council appreciated Tom’s session, which provided a thorough update on Halberg, especially with key changes this year related to the brand and ongoing initiatives like Coachmate, the Halberg Games, and the Awards. “This session sparked a lot of ideas and made us think about practical changes we could implement to make a bigger impact. It was a valuable chance to contribute our perspectives and help shape the future of Halberg’s initiatives,” said Jaden.
Along with NZCIS, we were once again graciously hosted by Buddle Findlay in their city offices. During our time there, they also reintroduced the Careers Experience programme, scheduled for October, offering the Youth Council members a chance to gain valuable work experience within their firm, whether or not they are interested in a career in law.
To wrap up our week, Rob Townsend, Disability Lead at Sport NZ, joined our Hui via Zoom. The Youth Council gained insight into his new role and his ongoing studies in disability sport and coaching, which all connect to his deep passion for driving change in the sector. We received lots of positive feedback afterward, with Liv saying, “It was very engaging, and it felt like he was truly listening and taking our feedback on board,” and Dylan adding, “It was a fantastic way to finish the Hui.”
Amidst all the serious discussions, the Youth Council enjoyed some social time together in the NZCIS gym and had a fun night out for dinner and an Escape Room adventure that doubled as team bonding and problem-solving. In a spontaneous moment, they even found themselves at the top of Mount Victoria, marveling at the beauty of Wellington city at night!
It will be an exciting few months ahead, and with the Halberg Games South fast approaching for October the team will be engaged in as athletes and as leaders. Keep an eye out over the next few months!