Sailing into Possibility with Sailability Waikato

Sometimes the smallest moments leave the biggest impact. When Dr Michael Moloney from Sailability Waikato spoke to the Ōtorohanga District Council Grants Committee recently, he described one of those moments as an “odd little miracle.”

Through their programme, children and young people, including those with ability challenges who use wheelchairs or live with neurodevelopmental condition, are given the opportunity to sail. For many, it’s their very first time out on the water.

Ōtorohanga Community Grants funding of $2,901 has helped Sailability purchase new life jackets and carry out vital boat maintenance, ensuring even more tamariki can share in these experiences.

Dr Moloney became visibly emotional as he recalled the joy of watching an autistic student take to the water, overcoming barriers that once seemed impossible. “It was like watching a light turn on,” he said.

Over the past three years, Sailability Waikato has worked with four Ōtorohanga schools, Korokonui, Kio Kio, Ōtorohanga Primary, and St Mary’s, with others set to join soon. Across the wider Waikato, 14 schools now benefit from the programme.

For the students, the experience is more than just sailing. It’s about confidence, inclusion, and proving that no challenge should stand in the way of adventure. Ex-student of St Mary's, Kanohi-Marama Martin, pictured with Nicky Deeley(left) and Dr Moloney(right), said “I still remember the first time I went sailing, I was nervous, but it felt like flying on the water. Talking with Dr Moloney again reminded me how special that day was and how much it meant to all of us.”

Thanks to Ōtorohanga Community Grants Committee and Sailability Waikato, more young people are discovering not just the freedom of sailing, but the freedom of possibility.

See more about grants available here.