Sexual health & wellbeing education for rangatahi — and the people who support them.
Aoturoa Academy Charitable Trust (CC58012) is an Auckland-based charitable trust founded by Shailesh Bagwe. We work to improve sexual health knowledge, confidence and wellbeing across Aotearoa — both through direct education for rangatahi, and through professional workshops for the educators, organisations and services who support them.
Building knowledge, confidence and wellbeing — across every part of the network around rangatahi.
Our mission is to strengthen sexual health and wellbeing outcomes for young people in Aotearoa by providing evidence-informed education that works on two levels: directly with rangatahi, and with the educators, professionals and organisations who walk alongside them.
We align our work with the New Zealand Health & Hauora curriculum and the wellbeing priorities set by Te Whatu Ora. Aoturoa Academy provides education, workshops and professional development — we are not a clinical healthcare provider. Where clinical support is needed, we help connect rangatahi and whānau to appropriate services.
A future where every rangatahi in Aotearoa has the knowledge, language, and support to thrive — and every professional supporting them has the confidence to help.
Why this initiative was created.
Young people in Aotearoa are growing up in a world that talks loudly about sex and relationships — but rarely with honesty, inclusivity, or cultural understanding. Existing sexual health education can feel clinical, fragmented, or out of touch with the diverse lives of rangatahi today.
This initiative was created to help fill that gap: a community-grounded, youth-focused, culturally responsive approach that treats sexual health as part of overall wellbeing — and treats every young person with the respect they deserve.
What we are developing.
Consent education
Building everyday language and confidence around consent, boundaries and respect.
Sexual health literacy
Plain, accurate information about bodies, relationships, and choices.
STI awareness
Reducing stigma and improving understanding of prevention, testing and care.
Equitable access
Reaching rangatahi who are often missed by mainstream services.
What we stand for.
Manaakitanga
We honour each rangatahi with care, respect, and dignity.
Whanaungatanga
We build trust through real, lasting relationships.
Evidence-informed
Our work is grounded in current research and Hauora best practice.
Equity
We work to close gaps in access for those most often left behind.
Auckland today. Aotearoa tomorrow.
We are an Auckland-based initiative with future national aspirations — growing carefully, in step with community.