While the national headlines are dominated by the "attendance crisis," something remarkable is happening in classrooms across the Waikato and Canterbury.

At Ninja Valley, we’ve always believed that our purpose goes beyond building the 'ultimate playground'. We’re here to extend our positive impact into the community - and right now, our schools and tamariki need all the support they can get.

That’s why we launched ‘Show Up and Shine.’

What is ‘Show Up and Shine’?

The concept is simple: we turned school attendance into a team sport. We challenged Year 1–8 classes across Waikato and Canterbury to hit "Regular Attendance" targets (students attending more than 90% of the term). The class with the highest attendance from each participating school then earned a fully-funded "Ninja" trip to our Hamilton or Christchurch arenas.

We wanted to see if a community-led, incentive-based approach could move the needle. The Term 1 results are in, and frankly, they are through the roof.

The Data: Double-Digit Turnarounds

We aren't just seeing small nudges; we are seeing transformative shifts in student engagement. Across 80 reporting schools, we’ve seen a collective 12.2% average increase in regular attendance in Term 1 compared to the same time in 2025.

But in some of our most challenged areas, the results have been staggering:

• Ngāruawāhia Primary School: Recorded a massive 57% increase in attendance.

• TKKM o Tōku Māpihi Maurea: Saw a 48% lift.

• Tauwhare School: Jumped by 25%, more than doubling the regional average.

• Canterbury Region: Schools are averaging 80.8% attendance - hitting the Government’s national 2030 target four years early!

Why It Works: The Power of the Tribe

We are learning that attendance isn't just a "school problem" - it’s a community opportunity. When you give kids a collective goal they actually care about, peer accountability kicks in. Suddenly, it’s not just about an individual student - it’s about the whole class working together to earn a day of play, movement, and togetherness.

As our CEO, Grant Beuzeval, puts it:

"We’re thrilled to reward these kids for their consistency. It shows that when the journey to school feels like the first step toward a reward rather than a chore, everyone wins."

2,500 New Ninjas and Counting

Because of these incredible results, more than 2,500 children are set to enjoy free class trips to Ninja Valley over Terms 2 and 3. This morning, even RNZ picked up the story, highlighting how attendance in places like Ngāruawāhia is hitting record highs.

What’s Next?

We’re currently reviewing our data to explore how we can extend the ‘Show Up and Shine’ initiative into the coming terms. We are proud to play our part in making sure our tamariki are present, engaged, and - most importantly -having fun.

Is your school ready to Show Up and Shine? Stay tuned for more updates as we kick off our next round of Ninja motivation! If you have a query about Show Up & Shine, please contact lena@ninjavalley.co.nz