When the Active As student leadership team at Haeata Community Campus told kaiako they wanted to install a giant electronic digital wall and a wheelchair accessible swing set to get more students active, kaiako were sceptical at first.  

“We were hesitant about bringing more screens and technology into our kura and did not see how this would get our ākonga active,” Deputy Principal Adam Hird (Year 11-13) says.  

Now kaiako are glad they listened to the students’ ideas. Since the two new pieces of equipment were installed earlier in the year, they have noticed improved behaviour in the classroom and more students engaged in PE – particularly those who were usually less active. The new equipment has also provided new ways to engage the school’s satellite unit in play and has led to more opportunities for them to connect with the mainstream students. 

The immediate success of the facilities reiterates the importance of Whai Wahitanga: ensuring young people have the space to participate, assume agency and take responsibility for decisions about them and for them.  Whai Wahitanga is one of eight youth development principles at the heart of Active As, the new project between regional agencies and Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa. Across the motu, 50 secondary schools and wharekura are being supported to design and implement their own physical activity initiatives through to December 2026.   

Adam says the swings have been a hit with all year levels, and ākonga often stay after school to play on them. But their impact goes beyond rangatahi being active for fun – some neurodivergent ākonga have been using the swings to regulate emotions, and kaiako have also been using them to provide brain breaks for their junior classes.  

“Even on a wet day ākonga are active on the new swing set,” Adam says. 

“The swings have worked because they are universal. All ākonga can use them no matter their ability.”  

Speaking to this, the swings are also encouraging ākonga from the Ferndale Satellite unit to get outside – particularly those who are sometimes reluctant to.  

Ferndale School kaiako, Sophie Roberts, says the swings have been an incredible addition. They are providing opportunities for her students to build new connections with mainstream students who they are sharing them with. 

Similarly, the digital wall, which projects interactive games onto a wall in the gym, is another inclusive addition to the school which has been a big hit with rangatahi.  

“[It] works well for our low vision and sensory seeking ākonga and seems to motivate our students to participate in physical activity,” Sophie says. 

She references one student who has limited movement having a go with the digital wall.  

“He was engaged and enjoying the interactive nature of the wall and was raising his head more than we have ever seen,” Sophie says.  

Adam agrees the digital wall is helping the gym feel less intimidating for some students.  

“Kaimahi are seeing ākonga who are reluctant to be active in the gym during Junior PE become more active and want to participate in the wall,” he says.  

“Typically, we would have at least two or three ākonga sitting out, but now all ākonga are up and moving.”