Auckland Day Camp 2025: A special day for children living with arthritis

Auckland Zoo was filled with sunshine, excitement, and plenty of friendly faces on Saturday, 6 December, as whānau gathered for our first Auckland Day Camp for tamariki living with arthritis. The day created a relaxed, supportive space where children with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions could explore, play, and meet others who understand their journey.

Families were welcomed into a flexible programme designed so no one felt rushed or pressured to stay for the whole day. Children attending live with a wide range of conditions, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, and lupus. This unstructured format allowed everyone to move at their own pace, something one parent valued deeply, saying they “loved being able to do this as a family,” especially since their daughter could meet other children with arthritis and “know that she was not alone.”

Midday brought everyone together for name games and Human Bingo, which quickly became favourites. The laughter and friendly competition helped break the ice, creating an atmosphere where tamariki could relax and connect. One family told us, “We enjoyed catching up with Jasmine, Jacob and Georgie. Appreciate the effort!” Their excitement set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, and soon parents were chatting too, finding comfort in realising their stories were shared.

During the shared lunch provided by Auckland Zoo, whānau enjoyed a chance to rest and build connection. One parent reflected that a highlight was “meeting other parents and hearing the story of their journey with arthritis.” 

We welcomed several families attending their first Arthritis NZ event. Watching them find confidence, settle in, and begin building relationships with others who have been part of our community for years was a beautiful part of the day. Long-time participants shared their joy too: “Our highlight was getting to see some families again after attending Families Camps with them as well as meeting new families who we will hopefully see again at other events in the future!”

A huge thank you to our youth leaders Jasmine and Jacob, whose warmth and support helped tamariki feel included throughout the day. We are also grateful to photographer Volt Domingo, who volunteered his time to capture the moments that made the event so special. Arthritis NZ kaimahi (staff) Georgie-Anne and Joanne supported planning and activities, helping ensure the day ran smoothly for all.

Events like this remind us of the importance of creating spaces where children with arthritis can simply be themselves, spaces where rest breaks are normal, support is understood, and friendships can grow with ease.

We are deeply grateful to the Potter Masonic Trust for supporting this camp, along with the Sutherland Self Help Trust, whose contributions helped make this day possible for our community.

Ngā mihi to every whānau who joined us and made this Auckland Day Camp such a warm, meaningful experience for our tamariki.

We asked families to share their highlights from the day:

“We enjoyed catching up with Jasmine, Jacob and Georgie. Appreciate the effort!”

“We loved being able to do this as a family. Our daughter was happy to meet other children who have arthritis and know that she was not alone.”

“This was our first ever experience with this organisation. It was great for all of us and started our conversation with new families.”

“Meeting other parents and hearing the stories of their journey with arthritis.”

“Our highlight was getting to see some families again after attending Families Camps with them, as well as meeting new families who we will hopefully see again at future events.”