TRANSITION EXPO – WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER – 9 AM-2 PM

Transition Expo will be held on Wednesday 9th of September 2026 at the Auckland Netball Centre, 7 Allison Ferguson Drive, St. Johns.

Children aged 12+ and their parents, family and whanau are encouraged to come and find out what is possible when leaving school. Disability supports in tertiary education, employer conversations, libraries, transport, sports, arts, banking, day activities, social enterprises and libraries, transport, sports, arts, banking, day activities, social enterprises and services will be present.

When:  Wednesday 9th September 2026

Venue: Auckland Netball Centre, 7 Allison Ferguson Drive, St Johns

Time: 9am-2pm

New to Transition Expo?

Transition Expo can feel overwhelming!

On arrival, you will be given a Goodie Bag, which has a full list of the stallholders. There will also be a large map at the entrance, and around the walls of the building.  Take a minute to have a look at who you want to visit.

Stallholders are grouped in categories, see figure to the left.  The rows will have signage featuring the category letter, e.g. if you wish to visit education providers pop along to Row E.

If you want to see it all – then we suggest you start at Row A, and talk to the Transition Co-ordinators.

The Disability Connect Team (your hosts) will be at the entrance and have a stall in Row B. You can stop and chat to us about what we do, or you can ask any of our team or volunteers wearing blue vests or hoodies for help.

To prepare ahead of time: Click here for a list of 2026 registered Stall Holders.

    • New Stall Holders – Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, DeweCare, ProCare, Ministry of Education, Blind Low Vision NZ, Volition, WanderSearch Auckland Charitable Trust, Our Girl Limited, My Home Chef, and Adaptive Arts,
    • Opportunities and advice from Transition Co-ordinators, Vocational Providers and Funding Hosts.
    • Tertiary Options – Tertiary Education Commission, University of Auckland, Manukau Institute of Technology, Unitec and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, SPARX
    • Information from Service Providers e.g., Advocacy, Banking, Education, Health, and Kaikaranga (previously known as Taikura Trust).
    • Government – Work and Income, Ministry of Education,
    • Information on Sport, Recreation, Art, Dance and social opportunities.
    • Small Business Enterprises – including the Disability Business Network
    • Separate Chill Zone Upstairs – quiet sensory space
    • Auckland Libraries, Clipboard, the D*List – For some interactive fun and a youth/rangitahi friendly vibe!
    • Conversations with Employers – This was very popular last year, filling a demand, and we are working with Disability Employers Network again to invite employers to have conversations with disabled people and their families to get an understanding of what employment will look like and to hear first-hand what employers are looking. Our Community Innovation Partner, Mercury, are preparing to have these conversations too.  Employers this year include Air New Zealand, Westpac and Whaikaha.
    • Upstairs this year – Autism New Zealand, Transition Expo Seminar, and watch Sasanka’s Journey to Employment – upstairs by the Cafe

Guidebook of Stallholders from 2025

Send your questions to: admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz

Additional Information:

Transition Expo is supported by the Ministry of Social Development and sponsored by Clipboard, our Imagination partner and Mercury our Community Innovation partner.

For more information or if you would like to have a stall:

Email: admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz
Phone: 09 636 0351
Website: disabilityconnect.org.nz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DisabilityConnectNZ

You can see previous media coverage from the event here:

Disabled students transition from school to work made harder by Covid-19

Govt Launching first NZ sign language led consultation to amend law

We would really appreciate it if you were able to share this invitation as widely as possible.

Starting a Social Enterprise

Learn about “Starting a Social Enterprise” by watching 2 of our video series here!

Watch the full 5 episodes (22 minutes) here.