Unplugged

Watch video – Unplugged morning beach vibes.

It’s a crisp, early start to Tuesdays for a group of Tikipunga High School Dreamers who’ve swapped snooze buttons for sunrises. Led by Year 10 I Have a Dream Navigator Rose Welsh, this term’s Unplugged programme invites rangatahi to step outside the classroom and into nature before school.

Whaea Rose picks up the Dreamers from home around 6am and takes them to calm, beautiful, outdoor locations within a 15–20-minute distance from school. The session begins with the chance to explore before the group gathers for a moment of solitude to pause, breathe, listen, and be present.

Then they get cooking and share a hot breakfast before diving into some thoughtful kōrero. Each week there’s a new theme to discuss, such as the connection between hauora and resilience, or discovering what it means to be truly present.

The session gives Dreamers the chance and time to reflect on their week and share any challenges or emotions they have faced, and explore how fatigue, stress, or other physical factors can shape their resilience. 

Unplugged builds on the kaupapa of Term 1’s Chasing Real Dopamine, also led by Whaea Rose, a concept that encourages young people to seek joy and motivation from meaningful, lasting sources. Instead of turning to quick fixes like scrolling on social media or consuming sugary food and drinks. Here, Dreamers learned to find satisfaction in connection, creativity, experiences, movement, and purpose.

Whaea Rose said she only planned to run this programme in term 1, however on the first day of term 2, students asked when they were starting again. “That led into term 3 and now we are about to head into term 4! We have experienced some magical mornings that have clearly added something of value to get a teenager out of bed early enough for a 6am start!”

Through this weekly kōrero, Dreamers are also learning that resilience isn’t just about ‘toughing it out.’ It’s about knowing your limits, naming your feelings, and leaning on your support network. Students also learn to recognise that wellbeing is dynamic and that it’s okay to have low points, as long as we know how to recharge in a healthy way and rise again.

At its heart, Unplugged is about togetherness. It’s about showing up for yourself and your peers. It’s about learning that joy doesn’t have to be loud or flashy; instead, it can be found in quiet moments, shared meals, and sunrise walks.​

It’s about starting the day grounded, supported, and ready to take on whatever comes next. Something everyone could benefit from.