We recently received a message from a Kadimah parent that stopped us in our tracks, a note of thanks that spoke to the care, calm, and dedication one of our OSCAR Team Leaders brings to their work each day.

Two groups of Year 6 students from Silverdale School recently visited our Y Shakespear Lodge for their annual school camps. From the moment they arrived, students got stuck straight in

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate two of our own, Ariel and Beatriz Kulaitis, who have been recognised on a national stage for their outstanding contribution to group fitness.

This programme offers an affordable, parent-supervised space where tamariki can explore at their own pace in a safe environment. This programme has recently returned for the first time since 2022 and has been running for the past few weeks, already proving to be a hit with families.

Across March and April, the team prepared to host a series of free EcoFest events, while also making steady progress on the relocation of the site’s native nursery, a project that will support the next stage of environmental restoration across the catchment.

For the third year running, our Raise Up Crews supported over 35,000 participants at Southern Cross Round the Bays event. The Crews manned five different water stations while encouraging athletes and bringing positive energy.

As we reach the end of 2025, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on a year shaped by connection, creativity and community. From moments that unexpectedly captured national attention to quieter wins that made a real difference day to day, this year reminded us that impact shows up in many forms at The Y North.

This year marked one of the most significant periods of progress for the Te Wairoa River Restoration Project. Launched in response to the devastating floods of 2023 at Camp Adair, the project was born from the need to restore a river system that had been under strain for decades and to reconnect people, place and learning along the way.

In November, we welcomed a group of Early Learning Centre leaders from The Y in Tokyo to Tāmaki Makaurau for a three-day cultural and professional field trip. Their visit focused on learning from our approach to early childhood education, with particular interest in te reo Māori, Te Whāriki in action (play based and child-led) and the values that shape our practice.

December wouldn’t feel complete at OSCAR without a little mischief, and for the third year running, Elf on the Shelf has returned to our Hamilton programmes, bringing plenty of excitement, anticipation and laughter along with it.

The Y Raise Up Whau Crew has continued to grow in confidence, connection, and impact throughout 2025. Made up of 25 rangatahi aged 13 to 18 from local schools, the crew has shown what’s possible when young people are trusted to lead, contribute, and shape the communities around them.

This Christmas, The Y Team at Ellerslie Leisure Centre once again supported the Foster Hope Christmas Gift Drive, helping ensure children in foster care across Tāmaki Makaurau received a gift to call their own.