A first-of-its-kind rehabilitation retreat for people living with spinal cord injuries has been hailed as a game changer for New Zealand.
The Unlimited SCI Athlete Retreat brought together people living with spinal cord injuries to take part in intensive rehabilitation at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt.
The retreat was founded by 20-year-old Anamia Rangihaeata, whose own rehabilitation journey in Australia inspired her to create the programme back home.
Nearly three years after suffering a serious spinal injury, Rangihaeata had achieved more than doctors thought possible, including taking her first unassisted step.
Her mother, Theresa Rongonui, said she was incredibly proud of her daughter's progress.
"Gosh, I'm just so proud of her, so proud of everything that she's achieved," she said.
But the journey to get to that point had not been easy.
Rangihaeata said the rehabilitation programmes she had tried in New Zealand had not been the right fit for her, and she had made significant progress while receiving treatment in Australia.
"I was trying things that I didn't get to try back home," she said.
"They were getting me up in a harness and they were moving my legs for me and walking for me; it was giving my body the chance to remember what it's actually like."
Wanting others to have access to similar opportunities, Rangihaeata brought the concept back home.
The two-week pilot retreat saw participants work alongside rehabilitation professionals from the Gold Coast's Making Strides Centre, pushing themselves to achieve new milestones.
Participant Tom Conway said he had achieved his first high kneel during the programme.
"They are really pushing us to push past our limits," he said.
Fellow athlete Clayton Hairs said the expertise of the rehabilitation team had helped participants challenge themselves safely.
"They know exactly where the margins are, so they can press towards the margins. And press you maybe a little over the margin confidently," he said.
Retreat ambassador Johnny Konings said the underwater treadmill at the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport had been particularly valuable.
"It's incredible because it takes the weight off mostly your body," he said.
"And with the movement that I do have coming back, I can swing my legs through, lock out and get a bit of a walking pattern going."
Grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, a Māori model of wellbeing, the programme also focused on the athletes' mental and spiritual wellbeing, with specialist coaches helping them rebuild confidence.
Wellbeing coach Charlotte Gordon said the impact extended beyond physical rehabilitation.
"It's the self-trust, like learning to trust their bodies again when they feel and look very different. It's the confidence. It's identity," she said.
But while it had been considered a success, the cost of delivering the programme meant securing future funding was now a key challenge.
Rongonui said organisers were looking for support from individuals, trusts and organisations who wanted to help the initiative continue.
"So, we're looking for like-minded individuals, trusts, organisations that might be keen on supporting a kaupapa like this," she said.
The hope was that the first retreat would not be a one-off, but the beginning of an ongoing opportunity for people living with spinal cord injuries in New Zealand.
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