White-water rafting, karaoke nights, cooking classes and bach getaways.

These are some of the opportunities young people with intellectual disabilities are receiving thanks to the charitable organisation Recreate NZ.

The organisation helps young people with intellectual disabilities such as autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, ADHD, Down syndrome and developmental delays gain independence and confidence.

Recreate NZ was formed in Auckland in 2002 and has since grown to support more than 500 young people by offering more than 5500 opportunities each year across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.

Recreate NZ spokesman Matt Alpe, who spoke to Sunlive as part of NZME’s On The Up campaign highlighting stories of success, inspiration and positivity, has been working with the organisation for more than 10 years.

“I started as a volunteer when I was a student during my studies,” said Alpe said.

He became a facilitator and ran Recreate’s four programmes – adventure, recreation, social and education.

Adventure programmes involve camps in school holidays with outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, tramping, mountain biking and snow caving.

Recreation programmes involve fun activities around the city, bach getaways and road trips.

Social programmes include going to the movies and dinner, or doing karaoke.

Education programmes involve learning key life skills like how to take public transport, how to use money, how to cook for yourself and how to use tech.

Recreate NZ Tauranga branch members Alice Sampson, Earl Fisher, programme coordinator Lou Swan and Tapae Kururangi. Photo / Brydie Thompson

“We have quite a wide range of programmes because we want our young people in our community to just pick and choose what appeals to them.”

These programmes help them to gain independence and confidence.

Recreate Tauranga's programme co-ordinator Lou Swan with Tapae Kururangi. Photo / Brydie Thompson

“I’ve been on plenty of programmes. We’ve done sea kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds in double sea kayaks, and we had to paddle across the Queen Charlotte Sounds to get to our bach and then we spent three days on the water.”

Alpe said Recreate NZ had helped more than 1000 people over the 23 years it had been running, and the numbers were growing each year.

Former Recreate NZ youth board member Jaimee Henshaw started attending the Auckland programmes in 2017 at age 21.

Former Recreate NZ youth board member Jaimee Henshaw, 29

She found out about Recreate NZ when it promoted its programmes at a school assembly.

“I love all of them,” Henshaw said, when asked which of the four programmes she preferred.

“I love the getaways and I do love education. I like getting involved in the social club and making new friends.”

Henshaw said her favourite experience so far was when she went on an overseas programme to the Gold Coast.

“We got to experience the Gold Coast and got to check out Movie World and Sea World and Wet and Wild, it was fun. That would be my favourite memory.”

Henshaw has become a key member of the organisation and often does public speeches to promote it. She also helps organise stalls at Recreate NZ’s Illuminate Night Market at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, Auckland. The market includes stalls, food, live entertainment, and interactive workshops.

Recreate NZ also has a programme called Moxie for young people wanting work experience. The Moxie programme allows them to create a business where they can sell their products at the night market.

Recreate NZ members Jaimee Henshaw and Imogen Dobbs at their stall at the Illuminate Night Market. 

Tauranga’s Alice Sampson joined Recreate NZ in 2018 when she was 13.

The now 20-year-old said she had made many new friends over the years.

“We learn different things, stick outside our comfort zone and support each other.”

Tauranga programme co-ordinator Lou Swan, 26, started at Recreate in November 2023 and said she loved her job and found it fulfilling.

“I think Recreate is a really wholesome community that has cool experiences for our youth to make new friends.”