From athlete to mentor: Jared Lutu helping the next generation find their place in sports

For years, Jared Lutu has represented his community on the athletics track.

This week, the South Auckland Special Olympics athlete has swapped competition for coaching, helping hundreds of young people discover the power of sports.

The 26-year-old, who is of Cook Islands and Sāmoan heritage, is one of the volunteers supporting a two-day Hauora Inclusion Day at Bruce Pulman Arena, bringing together neurodivergent and neurotypical students from schools across South Auckland.

“My role here is to empower and to help our young children, and to encourage them to join a sport,” he told PMN News. “And to help them promote their school or their club.”

The event, which ends on Thursday, is being delivered by organisations including Special Olympics New Zealand, the Halberg Foundation and Community Leisure Management (CLM) Sport.

It features nine modified sports designed to encourage participation, teamwork and inclusion. Nearly 300 students took part on the opening day.

South Auckland Special Olympics athlete Jared Lutu coaching participants at the 2026 Hauora Inclusion Day.

Lutu, who is autistic, spent much of the event supporting tamariki as they tried new sports and built confidence alongside their peers.

It is a role he says means a lot because opportunities like this were not available when he was growing up.

“Just being there for our tamariki and just to support them and encourage them on what they want and what they need.”

Jared Lutu (11) in action at the 2025 National Summer Games in Christchurch. Photo/Special Olympics New Zealand

Sport has played a major role in Lutu’s own journey.

A member of the Māngere Special Olympics club, he represented his region at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Christchurch in December 2025 and has been well known within the community for his positive attitude and willingness to support others.

Lutu says one of the people who has helped shape his sporting path is Andy Napier, Special Olympics regional sports coordinator.

“With Andy, he is a good inspiration and supporter to our club,” Lutu says. “He always makes us do what we can … to represent our Polynesian islands.”

Lutu believes that support has helped create opportunities for Pacific athletes to succeed while staying connected to their culture and community.

Although athletics is currently in its off-season and he is playing basketball, Lutu has his sights set on an even bigger goal.

“I’m just hoping that I get selected to go to the World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile, next year to represent Team New Zealand.”

If selected, Lutu would proudly represent not only New Zealand, but also South Auckland and his Pacific heritage on the world stage.

But for now, his focus remains on helping young people prepare for the Tier One athletics tournament in Howick Pakuranga on 7 November.