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Ara Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa. We are connected to 4,000 people who work with young people every day. Our sector is based on a positive youth development approach which focuses on nurturing young people’s strengths and abilities, fostering their healthy development, and promoting positive engagement with their communities. Ara Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa. We are connected to 4,000 people who work with young people every day. Our sector is based on a positive youth development approach which focuses on nurturing young people’s strengths and abilities, fostering their healthy development, and promoting positive engagement with their communities. Learn More about Youth Work in Aotearoa

How to plan an event This is an event guide created by taiohi, for taiohi. It brings together practical tips and questions to help you plan, organise and run an event in your community. You don’t have to get everything perfect. What matters most is creating something that feels real, inclusive and meaningful to you and your people. Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Your event matters. 01 Why are you doing this? Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site. 02 This is a title. Click here to edit and add your own text. Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site. 03 This is a title. Click here to edit and add your own text. Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site. 04 This is an extra long title. Click here to edit and add your own text. It's easy. Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.

Kaupapa Ara Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa. We are a national membership based organisation connected to over 3,700 individuals and organisations who represent a diverse range of groups and practitioners that work with young people. Youth Week Youth Week is a nationwide festival of events organised by young New Zealanders to celebrate the talents, passion and success of local young people. MOSAIC Our MOSAIC resources support youth workers to hold safe, meaningful kōrero with rangatahi about racism, discrimination, and values, and to navigate situations where young people express discriminatory views. INVOLVE INVOLVE is Aotearoa’s national youth development biennial conference — a vibrant gathering of youth workers, rangatahi, researchers, and sector leaders. Over two dynamic days, it’s a space to connect, learn, and be inspired through powerful kōrero, creative sessions, and shared experiences that celebrate and strengthen youth work across the motu. Our Partnerships

Youth Week Aotearoa is a better place because of young people! Youth Week is a nationwide campaign, running from 18th - 24th May 2026, that celebrates this! It brings us all together to recognise the value, awesomeness, and impact of rangatahi, and to champion a society that supports young people to thrive. Celebrating Rangatahi Youth Week is all about celebrating everything that young people contribute to Aotearoa - just by being themselves. Too often, the amazing things young people bring to our communities go unnoticed - Youth Week aims to change that! Youth Week is for everyone. It’s about noticing and valuing the ways young people shape our hapori and world around us. Joining in the celebration means honouring the mana and energy they bring to the world. This year, our focus is all about making sure youth voices are heard. ‘Our Voices Matter, We Deserve to Be Heard’ is a chance for rangatahi to share themselves in the ways that feel right to them - through kōrero, creativity, culture, leadership, and everyday actions. We cannot wait to see how you all interpret the theme! YOUTH - LED EVENTS All things events! Check out our events calendar! Read More YOUTH WEEK, YOUR WAY Youth Week resources for Rangatahi View More STANDING WITH RANGATAHI Celebrate the young people in your life View More Why celebrate? One in six kiwis are aged between 12-24 - they are our emerging workforce, creators, innovators and leaders Our Youth Week Image This year's amazing image has been designed by Sao May Nguyen, a young multidisciplinary designer and content creator from Vietnam, now based in Auckland. For this year's image, she drew inspiration from a blend of modern design and pop art to reflect how young people express themselves in today’s world: bold, creative, and full of energy! More details The Whakapapa of Youth Week Youth Week began in 1995 with a handful of events scattered throughout Canada. Since then it has gathered momentum and is now celebrated each year in countries all around the world. Aotearoa New Zealand first marked Youth Week in the late 1990s, with NZAAHD weaving the first festivals and later entrusting it’s celebrations to Ara Taiohi in 2010. More details

Youth Led Events Youth-led events are what make Youth Week come alive. Every year, rangatahi around Aotearoa dream up and run their own celebrations - stuff that reflects who they are and what they care about. We’ve seen everything from epic, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to chill hangouts and sharing kai with the community. Whatever it looks like, Youth Week hits different when it’s led by young people your young people, and that energy is what makes the festival of events so special. Want to build your leadership skills & be part of a team that plans a Youth Week event? Planning a Youth Week event starts with figuring out what you and your crew care about. Think about the kind of vibe you want - something creative, something active, something chill, something that brings people together, or something that uses your voice to spark change. So where do you start? Your idea: What’s the purpose? What do you want people to feel or experience? Your people: Who’s helping? Who’s coming along? Your place: Where will it happen? Your plan: What do you need to make it happen? Think about gear, support, funding, food, music, and transport? Your backup: Who’s there to support you? Is there a youth worker, school, community group, council, or local organisation that can help you with the logistics? Running a public event? Add your event to this year's events calendar to spread the word to rangatahi near you! Add Your Event to the Calendar Find an event near you Choose a date Filter by Region Select Region Filter by Event Type Select Event Type Play Your Way: Your Game, Your Rules Otago Health & Sport 19 May 2026 Learn More She Climbs Youth-Led Community Bouldering Day Auckland Health & Sport 23 May 2026 Learn More Free Community Sport with Cultural performance Auckland Cultural 22 May 2026 Learn More Ball 4 Hauora Bay of Plenty Health & Sport 20 May 2026 Learn More TYC Market & Busking Event *Tatinga Whakarongo* Waikato Youth Market 23 May 2026 Learn More Our Voices Matter! A Pop-up Community Art Space Southland Art 18 May 2026 Learn More Junction Slam Auckland Youth Voice 20 May 2026 Learn More Wairua day Wellington Other 23 May 2026 Learn More I.Lead Showcase Day Canterbury Youth Voice 21 May 2026 Learn More Create and Sip Wellington Art 21 May 2026 Learn More Rangatahi Sip & Paint Northland Other 20 May 2026 Learn More Ngā Tākaro Maia Canterbury Cultural 24 May 2026 Learn More Run 4 Life Northland Health & Sport 24 May 2026 Learn More Voices on Canvas Southland Art 19 May 2026 Learn More Rā Hākinakina Waikato Health & Sport 21 May 2026 Learn More Youth Week Wellness Yoga Drop In Auckland Health & Sport 20 May 2026 Learn More Te Mana o Kupu Northland Youth Voice 20 May 2026 Learn More Youth Talent Quest Bay of Plenty Youth Voice 18 May 2026 Learn More Podcasting and Pizza Waikato Youth Voice 19 May 2026 Learn More TASI Auckland Health & Sport 22 May 2026 Learn More Eid al-Adha Celebration Otago Other 23 May 2026 Learn More Hear Us Live! – Youth Open Mic & Creative Jam Night Waikato Music & Dance 23 May 2026 Learn More Mauri tu Mauri Ora Bay of Plenty Health & Sport 18 May 2026 Learn More

< Back Our Voices Matter! A Pop-up Community Art Space Art Number 10 Southland Youth One Stop Shop Target Age: 12-24 Address: 10 Deveron Street, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand When: 18 May 2026 9:00 am projectcoord@number10.org.nz Open 18th-24th May. Supplies available 9:00-4:30 daily. This is a Pop-up Community Art Installation on the front lawn of Number 10 Southland Youth One Stop Shop. Come in, get supplies from our reception desk and let your voice be heard! Or just come by and see what's been created. For rangatahi aged 10-24 with support person, whānau, or friends. Previous Next

< Back Play Your Way: Your Game, Your Rules Health & Sport Inclusive Activity Murihiku Target Age: 12-23 Address: 77 Tay Street, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand When: 19 May 2026 4:30 pm admin@inclusiveactivity.org.nz A fun, inclusive sports event where rangatahi can get active their way—choosing how they play, adapting the rules, and trying new games in a safe, supportive environment. Play Your Way: Your Game, Your Rules is all about freedom, creativity, and making sport accessible for everyone. Previous Next

< Back Eid al-Adha Celebration Other University of Otago - Muslim University Students' Association Target Age: 12-24 Address: 84 Albany Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand When: 23 May 2026 6:30 pm otago.musaofficial@gmail.com The Eid al-Adha Celebration, hosted by the Muslim University Students’ Association (MUSA) at the University of Otago, commemorates the "Festival of Sacrifice," emphasising compassion, charity and community. This event brings together Muslim students away from home while opening its doors to the wider student body to foster intercultural understanding. We aim to achieve three goals: first, to provide a joyous environment that combats isolation and strengthens belonging for Muslim students; second, to use this as a platform for cultural exchange, breaking down stereotypes; third, to share food and stories, creating a warm atmosphere that enriches campus life. Rangatahi (young people) are at the heart of this event - the entirely student-led MUSA executive committee has identified the need for this celebration, initiated planning and will lead from conception to delivery, demonstrating Whai Wāhitinga. Previous Next

< Back Youth Week Wellness Yoga Drop In Health & Sport The Kindness Institute Charitable Trust. Target Age: 12-18 Address: 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn, Auckland 0600, New Zealand When: 20 May 2026 5:00 pm adam@thekindnessinstitute.com Join us for a free Youth Week wellness yoga drop in at New Lynn Community Centre. This event will offer a welcoming space for young people to slow down, move their bodies, and support their wellbeing through guided yoga sessions led by two instructors. Healthy kai will be provided, and the event will be promoted through local schools and the community centre to encourage rangatahi to connect, recharge, and take part in Youth Week. Previous Next

< Back Run 4 Life Health & Sport Nepia Robyn Hepi Whanau Trust Target Age: 12-24 Address: 7569 State Highway 1, Ōhaeawai 0472, New Zealand When: 24 May 2026 6:00 am jasonhepi4@gmail.com Gathering the whanau and local rangatahi in Ohaeawai , and taking them on a Run, followed by boxing training. We finish it off with a guest speaker on health and Fitness, followed by a BBQ. Drinks, Giveaways, Speeches, Guest Speaker, Food Previous Next

< Back Create and Sip Art Evolve Wellington Youth Service Target Age: 12-24 Address: 65 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand When: 21 May 2026 4:30 pm https://www.evolveyouth.org.nz/groups-and-programmes lucy@evolveyouth.org.nz “Create and Sip” is an event we designed to uplift and project youth voice. Our event will provide spaces for young people to share their voice on topics that are important to them such as campaigns, their interests, raising awareness etc via canvas painting, poster making, and zine making; all to be shared on the walls at Evolve and through our social media. Our event is designed to encourage young people to share their voice in different and creative ways, in a space where they can connect with other young people. Alongside different creative stations, we will have a Mocktail creating station, delicious kai, a low-sensory room (for breaks and people with sensory needs) and a fun music playlist of local kiwi artists. We will invite and hope to have local MPs in attendance to connect with and hear young people's perspectives first hand. Our hope is that young people can come to this event and feel they have expressed their voice visually, and have been (or will be) heard. We want the event to project their voices to the wider community, as they see fit. Previous Next

< Back Junction Slam Youth Voice Shore Junction Target Age: 13-24 Address: 19 Northcote Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0620, New Zealand When: 20 May 2026 6:00 pm https://member.shorejunction.nz/public/event/69dc2aaa9bd6cef7fc8e4a4b/youth-week- info@shorejunction.nz Get ready to make some noise at Junction Slam, a poetry and spoken word event happening Wednesday, May 20, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. We’re taking over the upstairs space at Shore Junction in Takapuna for a night dedicated to creative expression and real talk. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or just have something on your mind, this is your stage to show the world that your voice matters. Designed by youth for youth, this event is all about keeping things safe, inclusive, and chill. If you’re not feeling the spotlight, you can still get involved by signing up for our anonymous reading option, where someone else will perform your work for you. We’re capping the crowd to keep the vibes right and providing free food to keep everyone fueled. If you're between 13 and 24, come through, grab a snack, and help us celebrate Youth Week 2026 by being heard. Previous Next