Former All Black Dominic Bird – officially the tallest All Black to ever represent New Zealand – knows what it feels like to be without direction as a young person. Despite his towering stature, he was a quiet and reserved teenager, before the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s Project K programme helped shift his confidence and direction.
Bird is a supporter of the Graeme Dingle Foundation and its Move Mountains for Youth initiative, which aims to help more young people access programmes that build confidence, resilience and direction. He completed Project K as a teenager growing up on a farm in Waipukurau.
“Young people in Aotearoa are facing a lot right now,” says Bird. “There’s pressure, uncertainty and a lot of challenges that aren’t always visible from the outside. Having the right support around you at the right age can make a massive difference.”
Mental health is now the most important issue for young people in Aotearoa, alongside cost-of-living pressures, uncertainty about the future and social pressures.
The Graeme Dingle Foundation launched Move Mountains for Youth as a nationwide fundraising initiative to help more young people access programmes that build confidence, resilience, connection and direction.
For more than 30 years, the Foundation has supported over 400,000 tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa through programmes including Kiwi Can, Stars, Career Navigator and Project K. Independent research shows that for every $1 invested, the Foundation generates $10.50 of social value.
Bird completed the 14-month Project K programme in 2006. Designed for Year 10 students, the programme focuses on building confidence, resilience and life skills through mentoring, outdoor challenges and community connection.
“I’d say as a teenager I probably held back from speaking out, more worried about being judged for sticking my head up,” says Bird. “At school, I was the kid sitting at the back of the classroom who never really felt the need to contribute or lead. Project K pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped build my confidence at a really important stage of my life.”
“I was cruising through life and not putting a lot into schoolwork. The Graeme Dingle Foundation gave me the push I needed – it helped give me direction and belief in myself, and that carried through into the rest of my life.”
Just five years later, Bird was selected for the New Zealand Under-20 side that went on to win the 2011 World Championship.
Standing at 2.06 metres, Bird went on to represent Canterbury, the Crusaders, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Racing 92 in France and the All Blacks. He retired from professional rugby in 2023 and now works with young people as Director of Rugby at Scots College.
“For me now, a lot of fulfillment comes from seeing young people develop and flourish,” he says. “I think every young person deserves support, belief and the opportunity to find their own path. I’m still very passionate about the work the Graeme Dingle Foundation – and in particular Project K – delivers in the community.”
Sir Graeme Dingle says Bird’s story reflects exactly why youth development matters.
“Dom is an incredible example of what can happen when young people are given the right support at the right time,” he says. “Young people today are facing increasingly complex pressures and challenges, but we see every day that when young people are given opportunity and belief, they rise to the challenge. Not every young person needs to become an All Black – but they should be given the tools to reach their own potential.”
Self-described as a painfully shy child, Sir Graeme has long spoken about the role challenge and adventure played in shaping his own confidence and direction in life.
“Adventure teaches you what you’re capable of,” he says. “My greatest satisfaction has come from helping young people discover their own sense of adventure and possibility.”
New Zealanders are being encouraged to support Move Mountains for Youth through donations or by taking part in the Move Mountains Challenge.
Move Mountains for Youth by taking part or making a donation today!
