Challenge 2000 is an agency committed to honouring the Treaty of Waitangi and working in a bicultural way. Our team and some of our young people are going to spend time together at 11am this Waitangi Day at the church of St Peter and Paul’s in Johnsonville. We will reflect on what the treaty calls us to be in our communities, families, schools, churches and organisations. Our focus will be on understanding the past and working in the present to make a more just and equitable country. We know that we are better off together. He waka eke noa.

Please join us.

Happy New Year from Challenge 2000! 2019 will be another big year for us and we are looking forward to all that it brings… hope, love, challenges, inspiration and change.

We have got lots of exciting things on the go, including our school holiday programmes which are in full swing with our young people having a ball!

Love works is a motto you will often hear at Challenge 2000. We believe in going the extra mile to support young people, families and communities who are struggling. Our people and financial resources have been stretched this year, as our team worked with people struggling because of financial difficulties and mental health distress. The increased number of youth suicides impacted particular communities in which we work. So as we reached Christmas we were feeling pretty exhausted. 

Then we were all overwhelmed by the tidal wave of support, love and generosity provided by Wellingtonians. THANK YOU… for the food, the meat, the vegetables, the essentials, the toys and the money that you generously donated. Thank you for those who helped with the wrapping, the messages and the drop offs to our families. You have lifted our spirits and perhaps unknowingly brought a sense of hope not only to our families, young people and children who needed it but also to us.

Particular heart shots for us – the pensioner who donated hams for our hampers, the little girl who shared her dummy with baby Jesus, the Wellington Police who came with presents and Police puppies to share and to entertain, the family who had saved pocket money to buy healthy juices, the Catholic Priest who dropped off a $1000 cheque, the companies who deposited to our bank account and to the families who sponsored less well off families. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You probably have no idea the impact you have had on both Challenge 2000 and those whom we serve. When the end of the year was a matter of survival, you helped us celebrate and relax. 

We wish you a very happy, safe and loving Christmas. Be careful on the roads, respect yourself and others and take a few moments to reflect on how love works.

Our Hurricanes balls are all pumped up and ready to go out in our Christmas hampers!! These guys are a bit past it to make it in the rugby world but our young ones aren’t! They will be working on their skills all summer ☀️ If you would like to sponsor a ball OR sponsor a family pass for the Hurricanes season so our young ones can make the games, make a donation to 01 0519 0057660 00 – reference Xmas rugby 

We are hugely grateful for all the donations we have already received this Christmas! Hams, cookies, yummy Christmas treats, clothes, money and presents for our young people. You really will be putting huge smiles on their faces come Christmas Day! We will be delivering Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th of December so there’s still a bit of time to donate if this weather kept you home today! Get in touch

On Sunday 23rd of December we will be delivering 120 hampers filled with fresh produce, meat, and gifts that our children and young people really need and will enjoy. If you would like to sponsor a young person or family and make a direct difference, then please donate by selecting an item off the tree. The trees represent the Christmas wish list for our families. ‘Tis the season of joy and giving. If you would like to donate for us to purchase on your behalf please reference “Xmas action” 01 – 0519 – 0057660 – 00 💜🎁✨Donations can be dropped off to our premises at 1 Wanaka Street Johnsonville or call Megan on 044776827 and we will come and collect them!

Come join us on Saturday 17 November!

HopeWalk Wellington 2018 suicide awareness and prevention walk is a free event hosted by Samaritans Wellington.

The aim of HopeWalk Wellington 2018 is to raise awareness of the devastating effect suicide has on families in our community and to raise awareness of suicide prevention support available. Last year 668 people in NZ died by suicide. It’s time to take a stand. No one person or group has the solution to suicide prevention, but we are #StrongerTogether.

This year, to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, join us at HopeWalk Wellington. The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year is “Let nature in – strengthen your well-being.” What better way to strengthen your well-being than by getting together with family and friends, wearing yellow (the colour of hope) and joining the HopeWalk march to raise awareness for suicide prevention in the beautiful natural setting of the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

Challenge 2000 is playing a part in the Government’s review of New Zealand’s criminal justice system.

Staff members Tina Wilkins, Damian Dempsey and Heath Hutton attended the Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata summit held 20^th-22^nd August in Wellington. Politicians, academics, activists, and dozens of frontline workers discussed various issues pertaining to the complex task of trying to make New Zealand a safer and more just society for all its citizens.

Recurring themes throughout the summit included:

• The challenges involved in ensuring the well-being of children e.g. domestic violence; drugs and alcohol
• The relative success of our youth justice system vs. the abject failure of our adult system
• The tragedy of health issues (e.g. mental health; addiction) becoming criminal issues
• The enduring legacy of colonialisation

It was heartening to hear an experienced District Court advocate for more community-based sentencing options, the likes of which we here at Challenge 2000 have been offering with pleasing results.

There was also a strong call for the development of a strategy by Māori, for Māori. Several speakers noted that devolution of resources to hapū and iwi is badly needed if we are to create a criminal justice system that is both fairer and more effective.

For those interested, there are a number of resources – mostly articles and published research – on the website www.safeandeffectivejustice.govt.nz.