STAND-UP TARANAKI is a purpose-driven community event dedicated to breaking the silence around mental health, building stronger communities, and inspiring meaningful conversations across Taranaki.

STAND-UP TARANAKI brings together community members, business leaders, and industry professionals to hear powerful stories of resilience, leadership, and hope. More than just an event, it is an opportunity to create lasting impact by supporting a cause that matters.

For 2026, the chosen charity is the I AM HOPE Foundation, with 100% of funds raised from the event being donated directly to support its mission of providing free mental health support and helping young people across Aotearoa feel confident to speak up and ask for help.

Mental health affects us all - our workplaces, our homes, our families, and our communities. STAND-UP TARANAKI exists to remind people that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that no one should have to struggle in silence.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and community as we stand up for mental health, stand up for leadership, and stand up for one another.

This year's event will feature keynote speaker Mike King and MC Richie Barnett, alongside guest speakers who will share their personal and professional journeys, offering valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and overcoming life's challenges.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, 30 October 2026
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Venue: The New Plymouth Club, New Plymouth
Podcast Interviewer: Raniera Rewiri from Planting Seeds Podcast
Keynote Speaker: Mike King
MC: Richie Barnett
Guest Speakers: Richie Barnett, Lee Hare, Natasya Jones
Inclusions: Dinner, Auction, Goodie Bags

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Our speakers bring more than expertise - they bring authenticity. Their journeys are a testament to the power of resilience, vulnerability, and hope. Together, they will inspire us to think differently, lead with compassion, and recognise that some of life's greatest breakthroughs begin when we have the courage to speak up.

Raniera Rewiri - Planting Seeds Podcast Interviewer
Founder and host of the Planting Seeds Podcast, one of Aotearoa's leading personal growth platforms. Since 2019, through powerful conversations on leadership, wellbeing, identity, and purpose, he has inspired thousands of people to embrace growth and live with intention.

Mike King - Keynote Speaker
Founder of the I AM HOPE Foundation and one of New Zealand's leading mental health advocates, Mike will share his powerful journey and his mission to transform the way we talk about mental health in Aotearoa.

Richie Barnett - MC
Former international rugby league player, author, and wellbeing advocate, Richie brings an authentic and engaging approach to conversations around resilience, leadership, and living with purpose.

Lee Hare - Guest Speaker
Founder of DK Roofing, LH Management, and STAND-UP TARANAKI.
Sometimes the life you're meant to live begins when the one you've built falls apart. Lee's journey of resilience, leadership, and purpose is a reminder that our darkest moments often reveal our greatest strength. Through her story, she hopes to inspire others to stand up, speak up, and discover the power they never knew they had.

Natasya Jones - Guest Speaker
Co-founder & MD of DivergenThinking, Natasya shares her powerful story of neurodiversity, mental wellbeing, and resilience. Drawing on her experiences as both a parent and a late-diagnosed ADHDer, she advocates for a world where we better understand our brains, embrace our differences, and create safer, more supportive environments for everyone to thrive.

THANK-YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

DK Roofing, LH Management, Strategy Collective, Mad Media, The New Plymouth Club, Novotel New Plymouth, Graphix Explosion, McDonalds, Toi Foundation, Todd Energy, Snap Fitness New Plymouth, DivergenThinking, Dimond Roofing, Colorcote, Tree Machine Services, NZ Safety Blackwoods, Vertical Horizons, Hope Walk.

Contact the host of Stand-Up Taranaki