WORD creates environments where young people can challenge themselves, develop skills, form friendships and experience belonging. Mountain biking brings together movement, problem solving, perseverance, independence, calculated risk and social connection - safely, positively and consistently.
Five teenage girls planned and completed a bikepacking mission over the Remutakas, around the Wild Coast Track and home to Wellington, carrying their own gear through wind, rain and sunshine.
“I made new friends and loved chatting to everyone. There are not many words you can use to describe the awesomeness of this trip. Just all of us being in it together, having our own adventure.”
Youth-centred means young people design the adventure they want to have.
In their words
WHAT RIDING WITH WORD CHANGED FOR THEM?
“A lot more girls riding, which I love”
Nic Johnson · Chief Executive
Chief Executive's report
Kia ora whānau
“WORD has always been about much more than riding bikes.”
If I were to summarise 2026 at WORD in two words, it would be Embracing Change. After 13 years, our founder and inaugural Chief Executive, Ash Peters, made the courageous decision to step away from the organisation she built from the grassroots up.
What has stood out to me this year is that WORD has always been about much more than riding bikes. Every week we see young people building confidence, making friends, eating snacks, taking on challenges and discovering what they’re capable of.
$282
per family, every year - funded by grants, donations and our partners
$190K
invested over two years by Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa
Nicola Johnson, Chief Executive
Abbie Bull · Chair
Chair report
Kia ora whānau
“Riding alongside young people has taught me a lot about courage, kindness and how to have a seriously fun time, on bikes and in life.”
Wellington is proudly the home of WORD. Our refreshed strategy invests in safety, world-class instructors, accessible programmes and stronger youth pathways.
2026 by the numbers
Every number here is a kid on a bike
From first rides to leadership pathways, this is the 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 year in motion.
0
young people rode with us
0+
hours of kids on bikes
0
term programmes
0
holiday camps
0
instructors on the crew
0
locations
0
events
0+
WORD families
0
kids new to WORD
0
teen participants
0
assistant instructors
0k+
social media reach
0
notifiable injuries
Where the money went
WORD programme staff0%
Instructors0%
Overheads0%
Insurance, safety, risk0%
Contractors0%
Who rode with us
7–9 yrs0%
10–12 yrs0%
13–17 yrs0%
Preschool0%
Riders & coaches
Female participation0%
Male participation0%
Female coaches0%
Male coaches0%
14
GSMBC Level 1 coaches — up from three
2
youth members now serving on the WORD Board
$27,000
raised by the August raffle
Our 2026 projects
Four things we set out to do
01 — done
Seriously fun. Seriously safe.
We retained our Adventure Activity Operator accreditation through external audit and became one of the first organisations in Aotearoa to adopt the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui Integrity Code.
How we're funded
Where the money came from
$28K
Government funding — Sport NZ
$74,959
Donations from partners & community
$8K
Grants
Community support helped subsidise every WORD family by an average of $0 this year, reducing fees by around 40% and helping remove financial barriers to participation.
Our 2027 focus
The year ahead
A refreshed strategy built on strong Wellington foundations: safe adventures, accessible programmes, stronger youth pathways and a community riding alongside us.
YOUTH PROJKT ON THE HILL - KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR WHAT THEY ARE UP TO NEXT...
01
Wellington is home
Focus where WORD has its greatest impact, here in Wellington.
02
Safety first
Keep investing in robust safety systems and world-class instructor capability.
03
Accessible programmes
Deliver experiences that keep young people engaged beyond age twelve.
04
Youth pathways
Strengthen progression from rider to assistant, coach and leader.
05
Community connection
Create more opportunities for young people and their whānau to ride together.
06
Financial resilience
Build the stability needed to keep creating impact for years to come.
Hamish Cameron •Lawn Family •Steve Barker •Dropping Inn Cohort •Johnson Family •Wellington MTB Club •Jenson Family •Andrew Viles and Advance Traders •Brendan Clarke - Best Build Construction •Peacy Family - NB Consulting •PNP Cycling •MetService •Yeti NZ - Raffle Bike •Vaile Family •Revolve Cycling Club •Good Grief Bakery •Macpac •Real Meals •Fraser MacMaster - Ride Republic •Iride •Ground Effect •Burkes •Muds Cycles •Get Lost Cycling •DVB •Hamish Cameron •Lawn Family •Steve Barker •Dropping Inn Cohort •Johnson Family •Wellington MTB Club •Jenson Family •Andrew Viles and Advance Traders •Brendan Clarke - Best Build Construction •Peacy Family - NB Consulting •PNP Cycling •MetService •Yeti NZ - Raffle Bike •Vaile Family •Revolve Cycling Club •Good Grief Bakery •Macpac •Real Meals •Fraser MacMaster - Ride Republic •Iride •Ground Effect •Burkes •Muds Cycles •Get Lost Cycling •DVB •
Thank you
THANK YOU for your continued support of our programmes
These organisations and families help keep programmes accessible and make WORD possible.
Nic Johnson · Chief Executive
Abbie Bull · Chair
01 — done
YOUTH PROJKT ON THE HILL - KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR WHAT THEY ARE UP TO NEXT...