What we do

"Enabling Young People"

What’s Up is a free, national telephone counselling service for New Zealanders aged 5 to 18 years that has been available since 22nd September 2001. The service operates seven days a week from noon to midnight. Paid, trained and closely supervised professional counsellors answer the telephones.

Advanced technology is used to collect non-identifying information on calls, which is analysed and used to advocate for children’s needs.

What’s Up aims to provide early help to children and teach them skills that will help prevent the development of major problems later in their lives.

What’s Up is provided by The Kid’s Help Foundation Trust in association with Barnardos New Zealand. The Trust is a New Zealand registered charity sponsored by Telecom New Zealand.

What's Up received its 1 millionth call in July 2005.

The average age of callers is 12 years and 18 different ethnic groups have been represented.

Calls are received from all parts of New Zealand.

The most common problems presented are concerns about relationships with peers, bullying, concerns about relationships with family members, concerns about relationships with girlfriends/boyfriends, and pregnancy.