Paengaroa School pupils enjoyed a Fun Day prize this month to wrap up their involvement in 2025’s five-week Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure.

The national wellbeing programme, which uses fun, interactive technology to help tamariki build healthy habits, had 20,000 students participate nationwide this year.

The Bay of Plenty was the third-largest participating region for 2025, with 3180 students from 28 schools involved, including Paengaroa School’s roll of about 210 kids.

With seven classes participating in the programme this year, Paengaroa won the national Fun Day prize, which offered interactive activities, movement challenges and wellbeing-focused games last Friday, November 14, at the rural school.

The school’s Year 1-6 pupils enjoyed the day, which was full of laughter, learning, and plenty of healthy fun.

Paengaroa School won the national Fun Day prize, which offered interactive activities, movement challenges and wellbeing-focused games last Friday.

Deputy principal Mark Boyle said the day used a tuakana-teina model, of pairing older and younger students to enjoy activities together.

“Tamariki took part in an impressive range of experiences, including Hungerball, Circability, skateboarding, face painting, funny photos, taonga tākaro games, bouncy castles, chalk art, and smoothie bikes.

“The grounds buzzed with excitement as students explored, supported one another, and embraced new challenges.”

‘Take 5’ initiative

Pupils taking part in Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure this year built a simple new habit that could transform their day.

The “Take 5″ initiative encouraged classrooms to use breaks for good, and pause for at least one five-minute wellbeing break during the school day to boost focus, mood and readiness to learn.

Young and Healthy Trust founder Kim Harvey said the initiative was about empowering tamariki to make small, sustainable changes.

“These ‘Take 5’ moments may begin the day with movement, help reset after transitions, or reconnect students with nature and mindfulness before key learning blocks.

“It’s about slowing down and taking moments to do less, which enable students to do more down the track.”

Wellbeing journeys

For six years, the Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure had inspired tamariki to embark on wellbeing journeys in the virtual world with real-world outcomes, Harvey said.

Students create online avatars and earn points for making healthy choices in the real world, such as moving regularly, drinking water, eating fruit and vegetables, and reducing screen time.

Points are entered online, and the more students earn, the more they move through the adventure – visiting global destinations alongside their sporting heroes ASICS ambassadors Ardie Savea, Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Kane Williamson.

With the new Take 5 element, Harvey said schools now had an extra wellbeing tool designed to stick well beyond the programme. “Sometimes it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference.”

Wider purpose

Zespri head of global affairs Michael Fox said supporting the programme – which ran for five weeks in Term 4 – reflected Zespri’s wider purpose.

“Helping communities to thrive is at the heart of Zespri’s purpose, and it’s fantastic to see so many schools and communities across New Zealand getting behind this.”

Boyle said Paengaroa School extended its heartfelt thanks to Harvey, Zespri and all activity providers for supporting such an outstanding programme, and for helping to create a memorable, joy-filled day. “Our tamariki loved every moment.”