Connecting neurodivergent children with support in
Te Tai Tokerau - Northland
Neuro Spicy Aotearoa is dedicated to helping parents of neurodivergent children find the support they need. Here, you'll discover a curated list of services available in the beautiful Te Tai Tokerau - Northland region, all focused on nurturing and assisting neurodivergent tamariki.
Incredible Years Autism
Autism Spectrum & Language Delays Parenting Program
Next Intake – July 2026
What is the Incredible Years Autism programme (for caregivers)?
The Incredible Years Autism is a 14 session, group-based programme for parents of children aged
2–5yrs on the autism spectrum or ADHD, FASD or Global Developmental Delay.
By supporting the skills and confidence of the key adults in the lives of children on the autism spectrum, it aims to promote children’s emotional regulation, positive social interactions, language development and relationships with others.
The programme covers:
- Child-directed narrated play promotes positive relationships
- Pre-academic (teaching our children their ABC’s and 123’s) and persistence coaching promotes language development and school readiness
- Social coaching promotes friendship skills
- Emotion coaching promotes emotional literacy
- Pretend play promotes empathy and social skills
- Promoting children’s self-regulation skills
- Using praise and rewards to motivate children
- Limit setting and behaviour management.
Parents and caregivers meet for 2.5 hours each week, over a period of 14 weeks, to explore parenting strategies. The programme is highly interactive, collaborative and self-directed, and driven by the child’s developmental abilities and goals.
Contact: Siobhon Wakeman at Barnardos Whangarei for more information:
Phone: 094382954 or 0272655291 or
Kind Hands Respite Care Cottage
Kind Hands is a purpose-built cottage, offering Early Childhood Education and Respite Care for children who are aged under 6 years, have a disability and/or are medically fragile and/or are technology dependent. Although the facility is located in Whangarei, it is intended to benefit all children in the above categories throughout Northland.