Huia Award 2026 recipient
When Margaret Dando first took up Tai Chi as a young mother and teacher in New Plymouth, she was simply looking for a way to relax and cope with life’s pressures. She could never have imagined that years later, her passion would help inspire programmes that now encourage more than 6,500 older New Zealanders each week to improve their strength, balance, confidence, and social connections.
Today, Age Concern Otago, where Margaret has been employed since 2002, runs three fall prevention programmes for older residents; Steady As You Go®, Aligned to Go, and Tai Chi.
Margaret joins residents in Alexandra at their Steady As You Go® class.
Steady As You Go® is an Age Concern community-based strength and balance programme that helps participants stay active, independent, and engaged in their communities. Its success has resulted in its expansion to other Age Concerns and there are now 326 classes running across both the South and North islands.
When asked what she thought about people in other towns now participating in the classes she founded, Margaret replied “I didn’t know how many people were doing it around the country. It’s a great thing. I’m really happy about it. It is a little bit surreal and hard to mentally and emotionally grasp.”
It is this passion for bringing people together, creating joy, and supporting physical strength to prevent falls that makes Margaret a recipient of the Age Concern New Zealand Huia Awards 2026.
Each year, around one in three people aged over 65 will experience a fall in New Zealand. Through Steady As You Go®, Margaret has helped thousands of older New Zealanders improve their strength, balance, and confidence, while fostering meaningful social connections. The Age Concern New Zealand Huia Award recognises the remarkable and enduring impact of her work.
“Margaret’s achievement is a testament to the power of listening to communities, and responding with innovation, and creating solutions that improve lives,” says Karen Billings-Jensen.
Margaret’s influence extends far beyond the classes she has helped build. A respected educator and mentor, she generously shares her knowledge with Age Concern Coordinators, Peer Leaders, researchers, and health professionals. Margaret joins at least one class a day, and often two, to support the Peer Leaders in the 52 Steady As You Go® classes in Dunedin and the 27 rural classes, and she also fits in two Tai Chi classes each week, as a certified trained instructor.
Each two years Margaret has training under Dr Paul Lam’s NZ Master Trainer to be a certified Tai Chi trainer to support people living with arthritis. The Age Concern Otago Tai Chi programme has twenty-five classes per week and uses a modified version based on Sun Stye Tai Chi. Margaret believes that alongside her teaching experience, her Tai Chi training was a big part of the reason that Susan Davison, then Executive Officer of Age Concern Otago employed her 24 years ago.
Other people who have been instrumental in the expansion of the programme have been Honorary Prof. Debra Waters, Professor and Director of Gerontology Research at University of Otago, who with her research team, undertook the first research evaluation of Steady As You Go® published in 2009. This research provided the evidence-based demonstration of the value of the pre-recorded exercise programme. The carefully designed range of exercises is intended to engage regular participants while remaining achievable for newcomers.
“Steady as You Go® can be accessed by everyone. Some people support themselves with walking sticks, walking frames, some are recovering from an illness or stroke – it works for everyone” says Margaret. “One lady who returned after surgery said her surgeons were amazed at the tone of her muscles!”
Margaret’s job is often physical, and it not only keeps her healthy, but she also enjoys the emotional benefits, getting satisfaction from supporting Peer Leaders, supporting their classes, and seeing new people improve. “I love going to the classes and seeing the joy they have together. That’s my kick!”
The peer-led model was inspired by Andy Redfearn, then ACC adviser, when Steady As You Go® received funding from ACC. He suggested the idea to reach more people – and it certainly has. Today, it remains an ACC approved strength and balance programme and is listed on their Live Stronger for Longer website and Age Concern New Zealand is looking for national funding to meet the growing demand. As a passionate advocate for the peer-led model, Margaret has long championed the idea that older people are not simply recipients of support, but active contributors with valuable skills, knowledge, and experience to offer.
More than two decades after first introducing strength and balance classes to older people in Otago, Margaret is still thrilled by the impact they are having across New Zealand. The Age Concern New Zealand Huia Award 2026 recognises her vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to helping older people live stronger, safer, and more connected lives.
Margaret’s advice to others – “keep moving and keep enjoying your life!”
