The Otangarei Youth Sports and Recreation Trust has come a long way since its early days, but the core aims of the Trust remain the same – to lift the Mana and self-esteem of youth at risk.

The Otangarei Youth Sports and Recreation Trust was established in 1991 by Trust Founders Martin and Janine Kaipo, who were concerned about at-risk youth in their home patch of Otangarei, Whangarei.  They took advantage of the fact that many local youth wanted a place where they could work out, so they set up a gym in their garage and started informal youth work aimed at reducing offending and truancy.

But Martin and Janine realised from early on that it wasn’t just Otangarei’s youth who were struggling.  The entire community was facing issues such as high crime and domestic violence statistics and a poor health record.

The Trust initiated a series of public meetings to network and generate local support and to find local solutions to the problems.  A plan of action was developed and the Trust and its volunteers started the daunting task of putting the plan into action.

By 2001 the Otangarei Youth Sports and Recreation Trust offered a range of services including whanau support, mediation, youth justice supervision, advocacy, family budgeting, youth and holiday programmes, mentoring and support for the elderly.  It was for this work that the Trust was named Supreme Winner of the 2001 TrustPower National Community Awards.

It would be fair to say that after ten years of hard work, Martin and Janine had achieved their wish of turning Otangarei into a vibrant community mobilised by local resources.  But these community heroes didn’t stop there…

Since winning the TrustPower National Community Award Supreme Award the Trust has continued to develop strategies to support and assist grow the community.  Today, the Trust runs a residential facility for male youth facing youth Justice or care and protection issues.  They are also working with the Ministry of Social Development and other stakeholders to establish a residential facility for teenage girls along the same lines as the boy’s residence, including the vision of a residence or retreat for Youth dealing with drug and alcohol issues at a later date.

The Trust established Tear*Raw*Rize Studios in August 2004, a recording studio where young artists can develop their musical and technician skills.  Already Tear*Raw*Rize Studios has produced some outstanding work – including a jingle called “Slow Da Flow” which is currently being used by the Land Transport Safety Authority for an anti drive & drive campaign.  The “Slow Da Flow” slogan is also being used on local buses and Northland billboards.

The Trust also runs a number of Projects, through combined relationships with CYFS Youth Aid Services. The Supported Bail Programme and Youth Development Fund are aimed at working with youth and their families to reduce re-offending and support families with their young person & whanau.

Trust founder and Managing Director Martin Kaipo says today he feels honoured to be part of the Trust, which has expanded far further than he ever imagined.  But he says the real success stories are those of their clients.

“Some of the kids that we worked with a few years ago – the ones who could now be in jail – are our youth workers of today.  Families that we helped in the past are now giving something back to the community.  Seeing success like that is what gives me the greatest buzz,” says Martin.

Martin says taking home the Supreme Award at the 2001 TrustPower National Community Awards inspired the Trust and its volunteers to do more.

“It’s like going to the Olympics and being recognised for doing really well.  That was when we started asking ourselves if we could do any more!”

Despite the Trust’s success, Martin says they continue to face new challenges.  He says one of the Trust’s key future goals is to challenge their 18 staff to strive for qualifications, to benefit them both professionally and personally.  He says the Trust also encourages and assists its volunteers achieve their future employment goals.

“We all started as volunteers and it’s great if we can help today’s volunteers achieve their dreams,” says Martin.

The Otangarei Youth Sports and Recreation Trust is a true success story, through which a community’s dreams have been realised. 

“But despite what we’ve achieved my wife still rules the roost – she’s my biggest critic.  Most of the time she’s telling me we haven’t achieved what we set out to do yet!”

That is very hard to believe!

For more information on the Otangarei Youth Sports and Recreation Trust contact Martin Kaipo on (09) 4370809 or 0275 437 090.