National Leaders unite in wonderful Wellington!

Last week, our amazing National Leaders gathered in Wellington for their Year 13 hui, which took place over three days.

Year 13 huis are always bittersweet. It's wonderful having everyone back in one place, but it’s also a bit sad because it’s often the last time everyone is together.

During the hui, the leaders focused on inducting the new Year 12 leaders who have just accepted their new roles (more on that soon!). To do this, the current leaders created content that will be shared at the Year 12 hui in October. Of course, it wouldn’t be a leadership hui without some team-building activities. The crew bonded over shared challenges, attempting to answer riddles, create road safety poems, songs, and movie trailers, and trying to earn SADD money to protect an egg for an egg drop.

Other highlights included a shared morning tea with community partners from Waka Kotahi, NZ Police, Fire & Emergency, the AA, and local council. Leaders discussed road safety issues from a youth perspective and heard from experts about their experiences in the sector.

Each National Leader works on a project of national importance during their time in the NLP, and this hui served as a platform for them to present their ideas and progress to their peers. The SADD team was blown away by the professionalism and in-depth knowledge demonstrated during these presentations.

Read on to see what each National Leader had to say about their experience at this event!

Maddi:

My highlight has to be the social time and the laughs we shared. The staff were incredibly lovely as per usual. I loved the sense of humour from Mark, Bobbi and Kerry. I am actually really bittersweet to say goodbye for now to the team and the other NLP because we are all so close. I am so very excited to see everyone again, hopefully very soon! Thank you SADD! So much love.

Georgie:

I Have thoroughly enjoyed both hui’s but the 2024 one has allowed me to grow as both an individual and a leader which I know will benefit me greatly in the future 🙂

Lara:

I had a fabulous time getting to see everyone. I loved playing mini golf and ate so much good food. The staff were amazing as always. 

Caleb:

What’s sizzling, sausages!! The NLP hui was a blast. I personally loved catching up with everyone and sharing our ideas with each other. Remember, SAFER September is coming up soon!!

NLP has done so much for me and I am so grateful for the Kaitiaki o Ara team!!

Aroha nui.

Harish:

Wellington is an interesting place! Over the event, my biggest highlight was just walking around the city and getting to know the community partners. The cold was my biggest challenge. Also, big appreciation to Dad for the three days: Mark ❤️ and all of the SADD staff who made this happen. 

Rachel:

I love the people! These people became my 2nd family. The laughs become a core memory. Good luck finding my waist after walking everywhere. Making connections with people in companies and organisations creates such a cool experience. 

Thea:

My highlight of the NLP hui was meeting up with the other National Leaders, who have become my friends. I’m so grateful to have had this experience with SADD NLP and the incredible, like minded people who are also a part of it. 

I found it challenging to put myself out there when we had the community partner morning tea. But, it was a really valuable networking experience and they are all so lovely and helpful. 

Thank you so much to the staff at SADD! The NLP programme has been an incredible opportunity that has set me up for the future. 

Chante:

A highlight from the NLP hui in Wellington for me was having the opportunity to hang out with awesome people, who are also adamant to make our roads safer in NZ.

Olivia:

This NLP hui has been nothing short of incredible. Getting together with some of my favourite people, bonding over our projects and supporting each other to do hard things whilst also creating an atmosphere of pure joy and fun. The opportunity to be part of this group, to have encouragement and help to make my passion for keeping my generation safe has been honestly one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. If you ever get the chance to help others & work towards a common goal for good grab it with both hands because you will find that not only does it help others but it grows and develops you as a person. I will forever be grateful to the team at SADD for their time, support, care and dedication to me as a national leader for 2023/24.

Check out the video below for a firsthand look at the hui!