Sports mentoring programme transforms lives of at-risk tamariki

A Christchurch-based sports mentoring programme is demonstrating that early intervention through sport can fundamentally alter life trajectories for some of New Zealand's most vulnerable children.

Hoa Motuhake Sports Trust, founded in February 2020, delivers a five-year sports mentoring programme working with children aged seven to 12 who are referred by social agencies, including Oranga Tamariki and Christchurch Methodist Mission.

"Our purpose is to transform the lives of young people through the power of sport and mentorship," says Founder and Trustee Sandy van Heyningen. "Our goal is to remove the multiple barriers that are preventing our young people from participating in community sport, using sport and mentorship to build confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging, and lastly to reduce youth offending and disrupt the care-to-custody pathway that affects many vulnerable children in Aotearoa.

"Sport and mentorship are both incredibly important for a young person, but putting those two together is very powerful.”

Hoa Motuhake reports that 97% of participants becoming fully engaged in community sport by the end of their first year. To date, the organisation has provided over 8,500 sports sessions for young people and recorded a 92% average increase in confidence among all participants.

In the first year, each young person is matched with a volunteer sports mentor who meets with them weekly, alternating between individual and group sports sessions. Once children build confidence and identify a sport they enjoy, mentors help them transition into community teams or classes. The programme then continues supporting them for four additional years through a scholarship model, covering registration fees, equipment, and transport assistance.

Group boxing sessions have become a particularly effective component of the programme. Boxing coach Garey Burgess says there is a noticeable transformation in children who attend the programme. "When the kids first enter the gym, they don't have confidence and are not necessarily engaged. But once they start getting into it and they see what they can achieve, you see their faces light up. There are so many principles in life that you get out of sport and especially out of boxing."

The programme's volunteer mentors, aged between 20 and 70-plus years, come from across Christchurch. Mentor Caitlin says: "Being a mentor involves being a person that the kids can talk to outside of their home, someone that can take them to their sports and give them a little bit of an escape and be there for them when they need it. My mentee Kaia was a bit quiet when I first met her, but now she's a bit more cheeky, which I love. Her confidence and her athletic ability have definitely built up over the course of the programme."

Kaia, who has been involved for a year, says: "My favourite part of it is definitely the boxing. I see myself either going into the WNBA or doing a boxing career. It's been quite a good outlet for me."

Tawhiri, another participant, says: "I've been involved with Hoa Motuhake for about a year now. My favourite part is being involved in the boxing. I really like my mentor because she cares about me a lot. I hope I can carry on boxing and get really good at it."

The programme's benefits extend beyond the participants to their whānau and wider community. A recent survey shows 75% of caregivers have observed significant increases in their children's school attendance and engagement. Many whānau members have also become more physically active and involved in their children's sporting activities.

Caregiver Stacey Campbell says she has seen a significant transformation in her nephew. "Tawhiri’s confidence has boosted through the roof. They've been a great support with getting him to his games, helping him to transition into the amazing boy that he is."

Ms van Heyningen identifies four key components that make the programme effective: the combination of sport and mentorship, early and long-term intervention over five years, building multiple positive community connections, and creating a true community partnership.

"For a young person to overcome trauma and adversity, they need those positive connections and community connections. That starts with our mentors, and then as each child moves into community sport, they're building those positive relationships with their sports coach, their teammates, teammates' families. This programme is really a great example of a true community partnership in action, creating lasting change for our young people, their whānau and the wider community. The mentor also provides a vital protective factor – consistent eyes on vulnerable young people who might otherwise slip through the cracks."

Rātā Foundation has supported the trust for over five years, providing both funding and capability-building assistance. Head of Community Investment Kate Sclater says: “Hoa Motuhake demonstrates exactly the kind of community-led innovation we're proud to support. Their five-year commitment model and proven outcomes show what's possible when we invest in early intervention and give programmes the time and resources to create genuine, lasting change for our most vulnerable tamariki."

Ms van Heyningen says this support has been transformative. "The funding support has been absolutely crucial for us as an organisation, allowing us to continue to grow and develop the programme. But I've also really appreciated their support in terms of strengthening our capability – helping to guide us on developing independent social impact reports, through to advising on developing fundraising strategies. It's not just the funding; it's all those other areas that have helped so much."

The organisation’s results have also attracted national attention, winning the Community Impact Award at the 2025 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards. But Ms van Heyningen says demand in Christchurch is still outstripping capacity, with more than 60 young people currently on the waiting list.

“Our immediate focus is sustainability so we can keep growing in Christchurch, because we know the need is significant. We also know the programme is working, so long-term we’d love to see it replicated in other regions across New Zealand so even more young people can benefit.”