Ari Higgison using the Trexo Robotic Walker, currently based at the Centre of Movement's Rotorua clinic. Photo / Supplied
Less than a year ago, Whangārei parents Lucy and Dane Higgison did not think their 3-year-old son would be able to walk. After doing intensive therapy in the Gold Coast and Rotorua, Ari has taken ‘massive’ steps towards walking independently.
Lucy and Dane Higgison first thought something was wrong when newborn Ari had trouble breastfeeding and was “uncoordinated” when using a bottle.
By age 6 months, Ari had not reached the age-appropriate development milestones such as sitting independently, Lucy said.
Ari was diagnosed with GNA-01, a “very rare” neurodevelopment disorder, when he was 2, Lucy said.
Now aged 4, Ari was non-verbal and had difficulty swallowing, as the condition affected his muscles.
“Intellectually, he’s totally there, it’s just the messages find it hard to get through ...”
If he wanted to grab something, Lucy said it would “take his brain a long time to make that movement happen”.
The Higgisons learned of Centre of Movement – an Australia paediatric allied health clinic.
Centre of Movement held intensive therapy pop-up clinics in Rotorua in 2023 and 2024 before opening its first permanent New Zealand location in Rotorua in July 2025.
In March 2025, Lucy took Ari to the Gold Coast for a three-week intensive programme, where Ari first used a Trexo Robotic Walker.
Beforehand, Ari would take about six steps between Lucy and Dane, “but there was no control”.
“He‘d just throw himself at us at the end and we’d just catch him.
“What they did is slow him right down, got him to really step and balance and co-ordinate all his movements.”
After the programme, Ari could walk about 15 steps and stop himself.
He also used the Trexo in Rotorua and could now walk without the help of his parents.
Lucy said it had made “a massive difference” and was “so exciting”.
During his third one-week programme in Rotorua, Ari was learning to transition between sitting and standing.
The family intended to do a one-week programme every three months.
Lucy said having a Rotorua clinic made it “much more achievable” financially.
“My dream would be that one day, New Zealand puts their resources into this kind of thing.”
Lucy said Ari had a physiotherapist at the hospital, “but it’s not enough”.
She said a one-week intensive programme in Rotorua cost $3200.
“This should be free or accessible for others like it is for the Australian kids ... ”
Centre of Movement co-director Emily Pennisi previously said the Australian government funded 250 hours of therapy annually for children with a disability or developmental delay.
“We really need that, because this is the time where their brains are learning when they’re young ...” Lucy said.
The more independent children could be, “the less of a burden they’re going to be later” on the health system.
Lucy said they had been supported by family, friends and their local community.
“Without this financial support ... this would be out of reach for us.”
Centre of Movement clinic lead Nicole Adamson said the Trexo guided each leg through “precise, repeatable patterns” that retrained the brain and muscles to work together.
“The technology adapts to the child’s pace, encouraging proper alignment, step length, and weight shift, all of which are essential for building strength, endurance and confidence with every session.”
A clinic statement said the Trexo would remain in Rotorua until May before being transferred to its Christchurch clinic.
It would return to Rotorua next year as part of a planned rotation.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora allied health, scientific and technical national chief Dr Jacqui Lunday said it knew the importance of physical therapy for children with disabilities, such as GNA-01.
The agency provided child development services focused on multi-disciplinary community-based services to support families to enable their child to reach their potential, she said.
Lunday said it was contracted to provide this service by the Ministry of Education – the lead agency responsible for funding decisions.
Experts included physiotherapists and occupational therapists, while support included fine motor skill development, developing day-to-day life skills, and providing sensory processing education, Lunday said.
There were also private and community providers.
Ministry of Education operations and integration hautū (leader) Helen Hurst said physiotherapy for children 5 and younger was usually funded and provided by Health NZ through their child development teams in hospital or at home.
A small number of children went to ministry-contracted early intervention specialist providers. Those providers arranged physiotherapy directly from Health NZ therapists.
Ministry of Social Development commissioning and funding general manager Catherine Poutasi said it agreed early intervention was important to help children with disabilities or developmental delays thrive.
It funded some child development services, providing support to work towards milestones and goals which would set them up for the future.
Poutasi encouraged parents to get in touch with their local needs assessment and co-ordination provider for an assessment.
She said the agency’s Disability Support Services (DSS) would continue commissioning existing services while assessing additional models to better support disabled people’s needs.
DSS received a small increase in funding for child development services from Budget 2025.
Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.