This is the promise everyone at camp makes to each other. It is for tamariki coming to camp, and for their parents and caregivers. Camp staff and volunteers follow it too, along with extra rules of their own.
Why this code exists
Camp is where tamariki aged 10 to 17 with a cleft come together, make friends, share what they have been through, and have fun. It should feel safe. Everyone there should feel seen, and feel they matter.
The 2024 camp evaluation showed how much this counts. For many tamariki, camp was the first place they met others like them, and for some it changed how they feel about their cleft, about themselves, and about their place in the world.
For that to happen, everyone at camp has to behave in a way that protects it. That is what this code is for.
Our values
Manaakitanga. Care, hospitality, generosity. We look after each other.
Whanaungatanga. Connection, kinship, belonging. Camp is a community while we are here.
Aroha. Compassion, kindness. We treat each other gently.
Mana. Every person has dignity. We protect each other's mana.
Honesty. We tell the truth, especially when something does not feel right.
Safety first. When safety, programme and cost pull against each other, safety wins.
What we expect from everyone
These apply to tamariki, staff and volunteers, parents and caregivers, and visitors. They are not negotiable.
Treat everyone with respect and kindness, and include people. No exceptions, ever.
No bullying, harassment, or discrimination. That includes any teasing or comment about a person's cleft, voice, body, face, name, identity, family, culture, language, faith, gender, sexuality, ability, or anything else. Camp is where this stops, not where it happens.
Use people's names and pronouns. Use the name and pronouns each person gives you. If you do not know, ask. If you get it wrong, fix it and move on.
Listen the first time. When someone says "no", "stop", "I don't want to", or "not okay", that is the answer.
Body autonomy. Nobody touches anyone else without being invited. That includes hugs, a hand on a shoulder, touching hair, help with clothing or equipment, photos, and any other contact.
Privacy. Do not share other people's stories, photos, or anything they told you in confidence. What people share at camp stays at camp, unless they choose to share it.
No alcohol, illegal drugs, vapes, smoking, or other banned substances, anywhere on camp grounds, in camp transport, at off-site activities, or anywhere a tamariki could see. Prescribed medication is handled through the medical needs file.
No weapons, and nothing else that could hurt people. If you are not sure, ask.
In any safety situation, follow camp staff instructions. That is not up for debate on the day. If you disagree with a call, raise it afterwards through the proper channel.
Speak up if something does not feel right.
This Code beats any instruction that conflicts with it. If an adult at camp tells you to do something that goes against this Code, the Code wins. You can point them to it, or to the on-site lead, and you do not owe them an apology for it.
For tamariki coming to camp
Hi. This part of the code is for you. Read it with a parent or caregiver if you like. Some of it will feel obvious. We have written it down anyway, so we all know we agree.
You will hear the value words above used in te reo Māori at camp: manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, aroha, mana. They are not new ideas. They are what every good camp tries to be.
The basics
Be kind. To everyone. Not just your friends.
Be yourself. You do not have to be anyone you are not.
No teasing or putting people down about their cleft, voice, looks, family, where they are from, gender, anything. Camp is the place that stops, not where it happens.
Use people's right names and pronouns. If you do not know, ask. If you forget, say sorry and move on.
Listen when someone says "no" or "stop". That is the answer, the first time.
Do not touch other people without asking. That includes hugs.
What people share at camp stays at camp, unless they tell you it is okay to share.
If you see someone being treated badly, you do not have to fix it on your own. Find a leader. Telling a leader is the strong thing to do.
Photos and online
Do not take photos of other people without asking them. Do not film anyone without asking. Even funny stuff.
Do not post photos or videos of other people from camp, not on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or anywhere else.
It is okay to post photos of just yourself, or to write about your own time at camp. But if your post mentions other people, even a first name, a description, or being at Cleft Camp with friends, that is about them too, so ask them first.
Phone use at camp will be limited at certain times. Your stream lead will explain.
Telling us things
Tell a leader if:
You do not feel safe.
Someone hurts you, even if you are not sure they meant to.
You see someone else being hurt or treated badly.
You feel really sad, really worried, or just need someone.
Something from home, or from before camp, is still bothering you.
You do not understand what is going on.
Any adult at camp counts as a leader you can tell. Your stream lead, your cabin leader, the on-site lead, the pastoral lead for your stream, even the kitchen staff or a driver if they are who you trust. They will all know what to do.
If saying it out loud feels too hard, write it down and hand it to any leader. We will find a quiet way to talk about it. If you would rather not tell anyone at camp, you can ring the helpline number in your confirmation pack. In an emergency, find any leader straight away.
You will not be in trouble for telling.
Activities
You can opt out of any activity. If something does not feel right, say so. We will find another option for you. You do not have to give a reason.
Listen to leaders during safety briefings. Climbing, water, anything where you could get hurt, this is when you really listen.
Stay with the group. Do not go off on your own. If you need a break, tell a leader and we will work it out.
Help other people. Camp works because everyone pitches in. If someone is struggling, check in.
The serious stuff
No alcohol, no drugs, no vapes, no smoking.
No leaving the camp area without a leader.
Do not bring anything that could hurt people.
No bullying, online or off. That includes screenshots and group chats about other tamariki.
If you break a rule
It depends what it is. For most things, a leader will talk to you about it and we will move on. For serious things, hurting someone, breaking a safety rule that put someone in danger, repeated bullying, a leader and the camp lead will talk with you about what happens next. In rare cases, your parent or caregiver may be asked to come and collect you.
If something happens that you wish had not, you can tell us and we will help. That goes for things you did and things that happened to you.
For parents and caregivers
This applies from when registration closes until six weeks after camp ends. For anything after that, use the standard Cleft NZ contact pathway.
Trust the team
Camp staff are trained, vetted, and clear on their role. When you hand your tamariki over, you are trusting that team, and we take that seriously.
Do not visit camp during operating hours unless we have arranged it. This protects everyone's experience and the security of the site.
Communication
Use your named family contact for any question, message, or concern during camp.
We aim to reply within 1 working day before camp, and within 4 hours during camp.
If you have an emergency at your end, illness in the family or an urgent need to reach your tamariki, call the family contact directly. The number is in your confirmation pack.
Do not message individual volunteers. Everything goes through the family contact, for safeguarding and consistency.
Drop-off and pick-up
Follow the steps in your confirmation pack exactly.
We will only release your tamariki to someone named on the consent form. If your plans change, tell the family contact in advance.
Be on time for pick-up. If you are running late, call ahead.
Privacy of others
Do not photograph other people's children at drop-off, pick-up, or any camp event.
Do not share things you learn about other families through your tamariki.
After camp
We will send a feedback request within 2 weeks. Please reply. It is how camp gets better.
For any concern or follow-up, use the family contact, or escalate if you need to.
Raising a concern
Every kind of concern has a clear route. No concern is too small. No one is in trouble for raising one in good faith.
If you are a tamariki at camp
Tell any leader you trust. They will help.
Ask for the pastoral lead for your stream by name. You will meet them on the first day.
Ring the off-camp helpline number in your confirmation pack if you would rather talk to someone outside camp.
In an emergency, find the on-site lead straight away.
If you are a parent or caregiver
Contact your named family contact.
If the concern is about the family contact, contact the Project Manager.
If the concern is about the Project Manager, contact the Cleft New Zealand Inc Board.
Outside camp, any time
111 — NZ Police, if a child is in immediate danger or a crime is happening.
0508 326 459 — Oranga Tamariki, for safeguarding concerns about a child or young person. 24 hours.
0800 611 116 — Healthline, for medical advice.
1737 — Free call or text, for mental health support, for anyone.
What happens after you tell us
We log the concern within 24 hours.
The on-site Safeguarding lead works out how urgent it is.
We take immediate safety actions if they are needed.
We notify external authorities where the law requires it.
We update the person who raised it on what is being done, within the limits of confidentiality and any statutory process.
A debrief and review follow camp, and we change how we work if we need to.
Some things we have to report
There are situations where we must refer a matter to Oranga Tamariki or the NZ Police. We cannot keep those confidential, and we will not promise to. We would tell you we were doing it, unless telling you would put a child at more risk.
We must refer if there is a disclosure of, or reasonable belief in, any of the following:
A child or young person at camp has been physically, sexually or emotionally abused, or seriously neglected, whether the person responsible is at camp or elsewhere.
A child or young person at camp is an immediate safety risk to themselves, for example credible suicidal intent, or active self-harm beyond first aid.
A child or young person at camp is an immediate safety risk to another child.
An incident on site needs police, ambulance, or hospital involvement.
Family violence, sexual violence, or coercive control affecting a tamariki at camp.
A safeguarding concern about a staff member or volunteer that meets the threshold to notify the NZ Police Vetting Service or another body.
Anything that, if we did not refer it, would be a failure of our duty of care under the Children's Act 2014 and the Oranga Tamariki Act.
We keep your whānau's confidentiality in every other respect.
If a rule is broken
Any leader can pause a behaviour in the moment. Only the on-site lead and above can decide how serious it is, or apply anything beyond a quiet word.
Ongoing behaviour
For behaviour that keeps happening but is not itself a safeguarding concern, camp uses a four-step ladder. Every step is written down the same day.
First — a verbal warning. Discussed with the tamariki and a record kept.
Second — time out. As above, and they will sit out part of the programme.
Third — a phone call home to the parent or caregiver, to talk it through.
Fourth — sent home. The parent or caregiver is phoned and asked to collect their tamariki, at their own expense.
Any single behaviour that puts a tamariki or anyone else in danger is treated as a serious breach straight away. It does not go through the ladder.
Being sent home
Sending a tamariki home is a last resort. We only do it when behaviour puts others or the tamariki themselves in danger and other supports have not worked.
The on-site lead decides, with the Safeguarding lead and the named pastoral lead.
The family contact tells the parent or caregiver and arranges collection.
It is not automatically a permanent ban. Future attendance is decided case by case, after a debrief.
Acknowledging this code
The registration form asks you to confirm you have read this code and shared the tamariki section with your tamariki.
The signed acknowledgement comes later. Your welcome pack contains the tamariki section to read together, and a page for you both to sign and send back to us before camp.