He may not get a big wedding or even his driver's licence but Matthew Smith is on a mission to meet Thomas the Tank Engine.
The 20-year-old Whanganui man has high-need autism, a brain disorder that impairs his social skills and communication, and has dreamed of meeting Thomas nearly his whole life.
His mother, Stacey Williams, has started a Givealittle page to raise funds for Matthew to make the nearly 450km journey to Glenbrook station in Auckland for his 21st birthday to meet Thomas the Tank Engine.
Williams said she initially wanted to throw Matthew a big 21st party with his friends but when she asked Matthew he said all he wanted was to meet Thomas.
"Thomas the Tank Engine has always been the thing that has calmed Matthew. I think it has something to do with the faces, I read somewhere that the faces are easy for autistic children to read," she said.