BigFunNZ

24/09/2025

Please support this if you can

12/09/2025

Another Social Even held by Team Social.

Dance your socks off at our Neon Disco. Food and soft drinks are included in the ticket price. Team Social is run by parent volunteers.

01/09/2025

Boosted is Aotearoa New Zealand’s only arts crowdfunding platform. We’re here to bring creatives and supporters together to grow creativity. With our mentored approach to crowdfunding, we have one of the world's highest crowdfunding success rates and have helped creatives raise millions since 20...

12/08/2025

I thought people might like this poem

A powerful Description of being autistic by This beautiful little Girl

Congratulations to 12-year-old secondary school student Ava who has won a national poetry competition with her entry about living with autism 📝

You can read her winning ‘Power of Poetry’ entry below:

“Take a seat and sit with me

I want to talk about ASD

If you don't mind I'd like to explain

A little thing called autism and how it affects my brain

It can make me anxious, angry and afraid

But this stays in my head, on my face it's not displayed

I may seem heartless and question your meanings

But it takes me a little longer to process the feelings

Take a seat and sit with me I want to show you ASD

A girl sitting quietly is all you see

But inside my mind I am far from free

My thoughts collide, my senses take over

I become overwhelmed by the smallest sound

Clicking pens, ticking clocks

That boy's chair and the way it rocks

All different smells attacking me

The perfumes, the coffee, the teacher's tea

Take a seat and sit with me

But not too close, I have ASD

I try to be social, I try to fit in

I come across rude, I can never win

I am very literal and straight to the point

If you want the truth I won't disappoint

When my brain is overloaded I sometimes lash out

My control fades, I scream and shout

I get confused and it all spills out

Intense emotions all trapped inside

Finally have nowhere to hide

Take a seat and sit with me I want to tell you about ASD

Please understand I am not to blame I've just got an atypical brain

But it's not all doom and gloom

I'm often the sportiest girl in the room

I'm quirky, unique, kind and caring

I'm loyal, protective and always sharing

I'm obsessed with frogs and all things green

I'm the youngest trendsetter you've ever seen

Take a seat and sit with me

I am Ava, I am me

I'm not just my label of ASD.”

21/06/2025

Ph: 0273808470 email: bigfun@hotmail.co.nz
HI ALL,

Time is flying and we have reached the shortest day. So roll on summer. But noting that we still have a fair amount of winter to get through, remember it can be very cold in the gym during the winter months. Load up on the socks and the extra layer. Especially if you are sitting and watching.
We welcomed a new coach, Isabella, who is working on Monday's and Wednesday's (while Sven is away) and will do alternate Saturdays from next term.
Everyone has had fun with the blow up but it will take a rest next term.

End of the Term
The last day for term 2 will be Saturday June 28th

Holiday Sessions:
Week 1 Monday 30th June to Thursday the 3rd July
Week 2 Tuesday 8th July to Friday 11th July

REMEMBER TO BOOK IN FOR HOLIDAY SESSIONS
Either email or text
IF I DON'T KNOW YOU ARE COMING I MIGHT NOT BE HERE

Term 2 Start
Term 2 will start on Monday July 14th

Session Times
If you would like to change your session time or day please let me know and I will see what I can do.

General Reminder
You will be charged for the full term at the beginning of the term unless you have made other arrangements with me

Have a nice holiday break. Enjoy the snow if you get to play in it.
Otherwise keep warm and see you in Term 3 for more fun.
Michelle Leathart, Sven Balvan, Ella Jackson and Isabella Winder
The Big Fun NZ Crew

Ph: 0273808470 email: bigfun@hotmail.co.nz
HI ALL,

Time is flying are we have reached the longest day. So roll on summer. But noting that we still have a fair amount of winter to get through, remember it can be very cold in the gym during the winter months. Load up on the socks and the extra layer. Especially if you are sitting and watching.
We welcomed a new coach, Isabella, who is working on Monday's and Wednesday's (while Sven is away) and will do alternate Sarurdays from next term.
Everyone has had fun with the blow up but it will take a rest next term.

End of the Term
The last day for term 2 will be Saturday June 28th

Holiday Sessions:
Week 1 Monday 30th June to Thursday the 3rd July
Week 2 Tuesday 8th July to Friday 11th July

REMEMBER TO BOOK IN FOR HOLIDAY SESSIONS
Either email or text
IF I DON'T KNOW YOU ARE COMING I MIGHT NOT BE HERE

Term 2 Start
Term 2 will start on Monday July 14th

Session Times
If you would like to change your session time or day please let me know and I will see what I can do.

General Reminder
You will be charged for the full term at the beginning of the term unless you have made other arrangements with me

Have a nice holiday break. Enjoy the snow if you get to play in it.
Otherwise keep warm and see you in Term 3 for more fun.
Michelle Leathart, Sven Balvan, Ella Jackson and Isabella Winder
The Big Fun NZ Crew

30/05/2025

Here is an article about a programme that some of the people at Big Fun NZ attend. I Love going to the shows. They are always interesting and have a bit of humour. It is also awesome to see some of the people that have left Big Fun NZ.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepress.co.nz%2Fculture%2F360684245%2Fperformance-academy-goes-viral-while-re-writing-disability-narratives&h=AT10JgHSeZMYIL1JboO67EdCy_Sf4BQvM1a5pOafhCKAiKIQlqk_DP1ImK8DPwYR40FXgcEWGZwKRt0Exh2Lh3sRh3ilj4YZEysy6z1oDwCWorn3ijhEViOR3gOtavaNJ1h9zrtjwox081gd&s=1

Christchurch’s Inclusive Performance Academy is writing and directing shows by - not about - people with disabilities.

04/05/2025

Hi Everyone, I am wondering if anyone has jars with metal lids that they don't want. I am making more relishes and need jars to put them in. So if you have any empty jars could you please bring them to gym with you Thanks.

27/04/2025

I look forward to seeing everyone back at The Base this week.
Come and see what the changes are this term.
The bar circuit will be different as I have rearranged a couple of things.
I hope you have had a good break. The last few days have been lovley.
Michelle and the Big Fun NZ Crew

10/02/2025

Hi Guys,
With a lot of hard work and sweat my partner and I managed to get the new trampoline mat on. It is looking great.

30/01/2025

Send a message to learn more

29/01/2025

Hi ALL,

Welcome to 2025.
I hope everyone has had a nice holiday period.
I certainly have. I enjoyed my time at my annual Folk music festival over New Years, especially zooming around on a mobility scooter. Pity the weather was not the best.

My leg is doing good with the latest x-ray showing that the healing has gone well.
There is still some healing to be done around the damage to my meniscus but it is not too bad.
All-in-all the recovery has gone better than my physio anticipated. Perhaps because I followed all the instructions and did my exercises. I will still wear my knee brace at the gym for a while to help with all those funny mat textures and to remind me to still be a bit careful. I also won't be jumping on the trampoline for another 6-8weeks.
On that note, many people will have seen that the old tramp mat had developed a hole. The new mat will be a black mat so it will be more like the ones you have at home and won't be quite so bouncy.

So, I have a back to work programme that has me working slightly less hours than normal until 17th February.
I am still starting the year on Monday February the 3rd, for all those that want to start then, but if you want to wait until the week of the 17th that is also not a problem.
So please let me know when I can expect to see your smiling faces back at Big Fun.

See you all soon

Michelle Leathart
Big Fun NZ