A free, sensory-friendly festival connecting neurodivergent children, young people and their families with support services is coming to Tauranga next month.

Spectrum Connections Charitable Trust is preparing for NeuroFest 2026, which will bring together more than 25 organisations and services.

The event is set to be held at Merivale Community Centre on September 5, and will run across two 90-minute sessions, with organisers saying demand has been strong.

Operations manager and co-founder Rachel Crump said NeuroFest has grown well beyond the small gathering the organisation originally envisaged.

The two sessions have been limited to 110 people each to help maintain the environment.

The afternoon session is full but a limited number of tickets remain for the morning session.

“We thought, let’s do a smaller event, invite a couple of services and some local families,” Crump said.

“It ended up growing into something a bit bigger, so we just rolled with it.”

The event is designed for families to meet professionals and organisations, ask questions and learn about available support in an environment tailored to neurodivergent people.

Spectrum Connections works with families raising children with autism and ADHD, offering peer support, workshops, respite opportunities, family activities and help navigating support services.

Crump said some families can find themselves falling between the gaps of existing disability and education support systems.

“There are significant challenges in life, and it’s more often than not that this area of the disability community can sometimes fall through the cracks.”

Spectrum Connections Charitable Trust general manager Mary-Jane Du Toit (left) and operations manager/co-founder Rachel Crump (right).

The organisation was founded by Crump and general manager Mary-Jane Du Toit, who both have children with autism and ADHD.

That experience has helped shape the trust’s work, which recently received the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the 2026 Western Bay Community Awards.

Spectrum Connections is also welcoming Tauranga doctor, lawyer and wellbeing advocate Dr Adam Harrison as its new chairman.

Crump said Harrison’s experience in health, leadership and wellbeing will add valuable knowledge as Spectrum Connections continues to develop.

The trust is seeking volunteers to help with NeuroFest and other events.

More information about NeuroFest and Spectrum Connections is available at Spectrum Connections’ website: spectrumconnections.weebly.com.

Volunteers can also find opportunities through Volunteering Services Western Bay of Plenty.