The origins of Recreate NZ lie in Tāmaki Makaurau, launching over 20 years ago in 2002. Our Head Office and youth space is located at 630c Great South Road in Ellerslie.
Enjoy browsing our collection of programmes for your region below. Click on all the age categories you belong to on the left, with programmes displayed on the right.
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Friday 29th November – Sunday 1st December
Looking for an action-packed weekend? We are heading to Hamilton where we will do a bunch of fun activities, from Ninja Valley to Hamilton Gardens!
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Saturday 14th December
The Christmas countdown is on! Join us for a fun day celebrating everyone’s favourite holiday, Christmas. We will enjoy a delicious lunch, dancing, singing and crafts.
*Please bring a secret Santa gift valued at $10-$15 that could be enjoyed by anyone (please no food).
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Friday 8th – Sunday 10th November
Embark on the ultimate Paihia getaway! Discover stunning beaches, hike scenic trails, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this coastal paradise. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, Paihia promises an unforgettable escape from the everyday.
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Friday 15th – Sunday 17th November
Come and join us for a weekend in Ruakaka which is sure to have you coming back feeling reset. We will wonder, see what we can find and unwind, in and around this calming coastal region.
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Tuesday 21st January – Friday 24th January
It’s time to pack your bags, campers! We are lucky enough to be heading to Blue Mountain Adventure Centre in the beautiful Central North Island for 4 days of Youth Camp fun. Recreate Wellington will also be joining us, making this a week for new friendships! The legendary Camp Talent Show will be making a return so start getting your acts ready!
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Recreate NZ facilitates Moxie Employment placements with businesses that share our values. The aim is to carefully match Moxie trainees with suitable employers and facilitate a training period that results in permanent, part time employment.
Moxie Employment achieves success because trainees already participate in other Recreate NZ programmes, allowing facilitators to deeply understand individuals—including their strengths and challenges—and can confidently advocate to employers. In some instances, we may suggest you attend other programmes that will support learning in specific skill areas as well as giving us time to get to know you better.
We have seen great success in the past few years and are very keen to keep growing this exciting and dynamic employment stream. Moxie Employment placements are arranged with employers as opportunities arise. Employers are then matched with appropriate trainees based on interests, skill, location, and shift times. We will do our best to find work for all who are interested, but suggest you continue your own investigations too.
Please note, we cannot guarantee immediate work placements. Moxie Employment is arranged with employers as opportunities arise. Placements are then matched with appropriate trainees based on interests, skill, location, and shift times.
If you are registered with Recreate NZ and would like to express interest in employment opportunities, please get in touch with the Moxie team, moxie@recreate.org.nz.
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Tuesdays 9:00am-4:00pm,
22nd October – 3rd December (7 Weeks)
This programme focuses on engaging with the community to deepen our understanding of personal contribution and belonging. We'll participate in volunteer activities, connect with various industries, and explore avenues for entering the workforce. Emphasis will be placed on fostering self-awareness and wellbeing, teamwork and recognising personal strengths for professional settings (programme is each Tuesday over over 7 weeks).
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Tuesdays 9:00am-4:00pm,
22nd October – 3rd December (7 Weeks)
This team will be growing goodness in the Moxie garden as well as other maintenance jobs around the property! We will travel south to mow (push mower & ride-on), dig, sow, tend and harvest produce for the Our Harvest kitchen. There is a focus on health and safety awareness, working in a team, building resilience and focus, interpersonal skills, and other personal strengths for the workplace.
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Tuesdays 9:00am-4:00pm,
22nd October – 3rd December (7 Weeks)
*Please note the location for this programme is our Massey premise.
A self-directed fun day each week! As a group we will plan a term of awesome activities. We’ll be focusing on forming friendships, having fun, and learning how to organise our social lives. Come and discover some new fun with us!
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Wednesdays 9:00am-4:00pm
23rd October - 4th December (7 weeks)
A self-directed fun day each week! As a group we will plan a term of awesome activities. We’ll be focusing on forming friendships, having fun, and learning how to organise our social lives. Come and discover some new fun with us!
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Wednesdays 9:00am - 4:00pm
23rd October – 4th December (7 Weeks)
This group maintains the Moxie orchard, learning skills that can be used throughout life. We use specific equipment (push mower, ride-on, weed-eater etc.), pick fruit and maintain trees. There is a focus on health and safety awareness, working in a team, building resilience and focus, interpersonal skills and other personal strengths for the workplace.
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Wednesdays 9:00am - 4:00pm
23rd October – 4th December (7 Weeks)
*Please note the location for this programme is our Massey premise.
On the Move is all about living an active and healthy life! This Life Skills module focuses on learning healthy habits and having fun getting active. This may include martial arts, dancing, or trampolining. Each new activity will give our young people a chance to discover interests that lead them into a sustainable active lifestyle.
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Thursdays 9:00am-4:00pm,
24th October – 5th December (7 Weeks)
This team makes delicious products from the fruit and veg grown in the Moxie garden/orchard using the Gribblehirst Hub kitchen. Products are then sold as Our Harvest preserves, ‘growing goodness together’. We will develop kitchen skills, following instructions in sequence, kitchen safety, production skills and working collaboratively in a team.
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Thursdays 9:00am-4:00pm,
24th October – 5th December (7 Weeks)
On the Move is all about living an active and healthy life! This Life Skills module focuses on learning healthy habits and having fun getting active. This may include martial arts, dancing, or trampolining. Each new activity will give our young people a chance to discover interests that lead them into a sustainable active lifestyle.
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Thursdays 9:00am-4:00pm,
24th October – 5th December (7 Weeks)
*Please note the location for this programme is our Massey premise.
Our Creativity Club will focus on different pathways to creative expression. We will create some beautiful artwork, do some workshops and get out and about to some local galleries. It is aimed at all skill levels; all that is required is a willingness to get creative, be inspired and have some fun!
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Get ready to get extraterrestrial as we shoot off to outer space for this First Friday edition. We will play some games and do some crafts that are out of this world. We will then finish our evening watching a Sci-Fi classic together.
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We are calling out for participants, staff, volunteers and whanau within our Recreate community to join us and Run for Recreate!
This fundraising initiative for 2024 stretches across the motu, involving Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Christchurch regions, all in the month of November!
Entry costs vary, and entrants can pay for themselves as their 'contribution' to Recreate, or deduct their entry costs from their fundraising. Entrants then reach out to their networks and fundraise on behalf of Recreate NZ, so that we can keep providing ‘life changing experiences for youth with disabilities’.
For more information on how to register, please email info@recreate.org.nz.
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Friday 8th November – Sunday 10th November
Girls Trip! Join us for this wholesome weekend where we’ll head up North to Matakana to explore the markets, stroll nearby beaches, and paint some pottery!
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*Please note the location for this programme is our Massey premise.
It’s time to reach new heights and challenge ourselves! We will be heading to Tree Adventures to take on their high ropes course, followed by a visit to Parakai Pools to cool off and continue our fun!
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Friday 15th – Sunday 17th November
We are off on an exciting adventure to reconnect with nature. We will tramp to an authentic NZ hut and spend our night together enjoying the classic camping meals. We will tramp out the next day and have a well-earned night in an Airbnb
*This programme requires a good level of fitness and availability to leave mid-morning on Friday.
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Join us for an exciting day trip to visit Middle-Earth in real life! We will be venturing down to Hobbiton where we will be treated to a guided tour of the iconic movie set.
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Calling all Super Troupers, Chiquitita’s and Dancing Queens/Kings, we’re going to the ABBA Tribute concert! Join us for pre-concert activities and dinner at Recreate, then be prepared for a night of fun (higher price due to ticket cost).
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Friday 22nd November – Sunday 24th November
Come along for an awesome weekend away at Waihi Beach. We will visit the markets and museum and explore the amazing natural sights Waihi has to offer by spending time at the beach and chasing waterfalls!
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We have got a coach coming to teach us a wheelchair basketball session. Come and shoot some hoops and see if you’ve got the skills!
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Clip, climb and have a great time. Join us on this Friday night as we literally “hang out” together on the walls of clip and climb!
*This programme will require a good level of fitness and confidence with heights.
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Everyone knows Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, but do you know Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West? Join us for this Wicked Day at the cinemas and lunch at a café.
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Dive into a vibrant evening of creativity with our Painting and Mocktails extravaganza! Unleash your inner artist as you paint your masterpiece and sip on thrilling, refreshing mocktails. It’s an electrifying blend of art, fun, and flavour you won’t want to miss.
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Relax, pamper, and unwind at the Recreate spa!
We will be doing yoga, painting our nails, and some DIY self-care to ensure you leave feeling wonderful and rejuvenated.
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It’s that time of year again, join us for the annual Recreate Christmas Party! We will enjoy a fun evening of singing, dancing, reflection and of course a lovely meal.
*Please bring a secret Santa gift valued at $10-$15 that could be enjoyed by anyone (please no food).
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Friday 1st November – Sunday 3rd November
If you like beaches, bowling and barbeques, this is the trip for you! We will be heading up to Manly, Whangaparaoa for a relaxing weekend with friends. Get ready to make some awesome memories!
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We will be visiting the planetarium for a screening of the classic sci-fi film Mars Attacks! Come and watch earth being invaded against the backdrop of the night sky.
We love our vans, they help us make all our fun and engaging programmes happen!
Stevie features a boot cage, very handy for long trips. Stevie is named after our long-serving rental vehicle provider in Auckland.
Our youngest in our Auckland fleet, Lindsay is named after the very generous Lindsay Foundation.
Freckles is named after the Frecklington family, who helped in partially funding this van
Our longest serving van in Auckland, Sylvia is named after her silver colour. Generously funded by ASB Community Trust in 2013.
You must have joined Recreate NZ before making a booking request.Not a member yet? Join Recreate NZ.