Flying Kites

24/04/2026

Navigating life after school in Puketāpapa? Let’s talk. 🤝

The transition from school to "what’s next" can be overwhelming, especially when the usual pathways don’t feel right.

Flying Kites is excited to offer Soaring Beyond School specifically for disabled and neurodivergent rangatahi in Puketāpapa.

Why join us?

No Pressure: There are no assessments or "right" answers.

Your Pace: Relaxed, individual conversations focused on your goals.

Your Way: We help you identify pathways that feel good to you, not just what everyone else is doing.

Whether you're still at school or have already left, we’re here to help turn uncertainty into a plan you feel good about.

📍 Location: Puketāpapa, Auckland
✨ Cost: Fully funded (Free)

Would you like to know more? Visit our website: https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/articles/soaring-beyond-school-free-support-for-disabled-school-leavers

P.S. We also have funded projects within th, Ōtara–Papatoetoe, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga and Waikato regions. If you’re outside these areas, we’re still happy to help. Flying Kites can offer Soaring Beyond School-style support on a fee-for-service basis.

If you’d like to talk about what this could look like, please get in touch.

20/04/2026

Kāinga Kōrero: Next Steps to a Flat – Practical Tips for Renting and Choosing a Flatmate

Join Disability Connect for an informative Kāinga Kōrero for disabled people, their families, whānau and support networks.

Get the lowdown on flatting from our very own Ainsley: what your tenancy rights are, how to keep a healthy home, and simple ways to find a flatmate who’s safe, supportive, and a good fit for you and your whānau.

Date: Thursday 30 April 2026

Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Format: Online via Zoom and In Person

Location: Disability Connect, 3b Olive Road, Penrose

Presenters:

Ainsley Darvell – Founder & CEO, Flying Kites
Tessa Rasmussen – Healthy Homes Team Lead, Habitat for Humanity

Registrations are essential to receive the Zoom link.

To book please email: admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz

14/04/2026

If you feel like you’re hitting a wall when it comes to life after school, you aren’t alone. Many whānau tell us that while leaving school is a huge milestone, the guidance available often feels... well, small.

At Flying Kites, we believe the options are there, they just aren't always easy to find.

Our Soaring Beyond School project is here to change that. We don't just point at a map; we walk alongside you and your young person to:

Uncover the "Hidden" Pathways: From non-traditional study to creative community connections.

Navigate the Systems: Making sense of disability supports and Individualised Funding so they work for you.

Build a Clearer Future: Turning that "big step" into a series of manageable, exciting ones.

Whether you are in Tāmaki Makaurau, the Bay of Plenty, or the Waikato, our funded one-on-one sessions are designed to show you what’s truly possible.

🪁 There is help out there. Let’s explore the options together like we did with Erin and her girl:

"We weren’t aware of these options for our girl until you introduced us to them all, we are very grateful. To us as parents it is such a big step to leave school and yet there is very little help and assistance out there".

09/04/2026

🏠✨ Thinking About Flatmates? We’ve Got You. ✨🏠

Flatmates are a hot topic at Flying Kites right now — and for good reason! Finding the right people to live with can make all the difference when planning your next living situation.

Here’s how we can help:

📍 In Auckland
Enrol in our Flatmate Matching Service and connect with people who align with your lifestyle, accessibility needs, and support preferences. We’d love to help you find the right fit to make your home life work.

🌏 Nationwide
Check out Chapter 2 – Finding your flatmate(s) on our Moving Out website.
This page explores:
✔️ Flatmate compatibility
✔️ Boarders
✔️ Flatmates who help
✔️ Where to start

If the idea of living with others feels overwhelming, this resource helps you slow it down, think through the details, and make confident next steps.

🔗 Explore the Finding your Flatmates page here:
https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/resources/moving-out/chapters/finding-your-flatmates

The right flatmate can change everything 💛

07/04/2026

The disability system is really confusing, it’s really overwhelming and it’s really easy to get stuck when you don’t know which path to take, or how to get the information you need.

Here at Flying Kites, we are offering one-on-one sessions to Aucklanders. You book a Zoom session with one of our team, you bring your questions and we will go through them and help you get the answers that you need. So you can take action and get unstuck.

Thanks for supporting our project
Learn more here: https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/articles/free-1-1-support-navigation-sessions

07/04/2026

As we learn more and more about the changes happening within the disability system, some new resources are coming to light. Perhaps this resource about the new needs assessment process will be helpful.

If you are booked to have a needs assessment or reassessment conversation, this page has information to help you prepare.

05/04/2026

School holidays are often a time of reflection. When the school routine pauses, it can become much clearer that having the right person in your team could make a world of difference for the term ahead and for life in general.

At Flying Kites, we don’t just find "a worker." We help you find your person.

How we help with recruitment:
🪁 Identify the Fit: We help you look at the hobbies, skills, and personality traits that will match you or your family best.

🪁 Tailored Planning: We create a recruitment plan that is unique to your needs.

🪁Walking Alongside You: We can support you through the whole process, advertising, interviewing, and appointing your new staff member.

Whether you need someone to help build community connections or share a specific hobby, we’re here to help you turn "we need help" into a great new hire.

✨ Take the stress out of hiring. If you’ve realised this holiday break that you need another set of hands, let’s chat about how we can help you find the ideal match.

01/04/2026

💙 World Autism Awareness Day 💙

Today we recognise World Autism Awareness Day, a time to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of autistic people in our communities.

Autism is part of human diversity, and every autistic person experiences the world in their own unique way.

Today is about listening to autistic voices, challenging stereotypes, and creating environments where autistic people are supported to thrive at school, at work, and in everyday life.

27/03/2026

“Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to look forward and undertake some planning for my very high needs son. From residential through to supported living and options living at home. I really appreciated the support.” – Dani 💛

Hearing how our support has helped whānau plan with confidence means so much to us.

At Flying Kites, we walk alongside families as they explore living options, from residential care to supported living and living at home, helping you understand what’s possible and plan the next steps.

We’re here to:
✨ Explore future living options
🧭 Navigate the disability support system
🤝 Plan with clarity and confidence
💬 Work alongside whānau every step of the way

No eligibility criteria. Individualised Funding welcome.

If you’re starting to think about what’s next, let’s kōrero. 🪁

25/03/2026

🏡✨ Moving Out – A Guide to Greater Independence ✨🏡

Changing your living situation is a big step, especially when it’s about building more independence. That’s why Moving Out was created.

This in-depth guide supports people with disabilities and their support teams to thoughtfully navigate the journey toward a new home and a new chapter.

💛 Grounded in individualised planning
💛 Built around your values, needs, and priorities
💛 Designed to help you create a living situation that truly reflects who you are and the life you want

The website is broken into manageable sections, so you can move at the pace that feels right for you. Each topic includes:
✔️ Clear, practical information
✔️ A worksheet to connect the ideas to your own life
✔️ Planning tools to help you pull everything together and set meaningful next steps

We know change like this can feel overwhelming. Moving Out was developed with input from a wide range of individuals to help you gain traction on goals that matter deeply for your future.

You don’t have to figure it all out at once, just start where you are 🌱

🔗 Explore the resource here:
https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/resources/moving-out

22/03/2026

⚠️ Registrations close 25 March for our next Shared Living Connections cohort.

🏡 Looking for the right flatmate? It’s not always easy.

When support needs, routines, and personalities need to align, finding someone compatible can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we created Shared Living Connections, a free service helping disabled adults find compatible flatmates and build shared homes that work.

This might be for you if you are:
✨ A disabled adult interested in shared living
✨ Finding it difficult to locate compatible flatmates
✨ Wanting support exploring shared housing options
✨ Looking for a home environment that truly works for you

Currently focused in Auckland

Our service provides thoughtful, supported matching to help people create shared homes where everyone feels comfortable and understood.

⚠️ Our first cohort closes 25 March.

👉 Register now: https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/articles/shared-living-connections

20/03/2026

💙💛 World Down Syndrome Day 💛💙

Today we celebrate people with Down syndrome, their strengths, individuality, and the important contributions they make to our communities. World Down Syndrome Day is a time to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and challenge barriers so people with Down syndrome are supported to live full, meaningful lives.

It’s also a reminder to listen to lived experience, champion equal opportunities, and build communities where everyone belongs.