Aotearoa Youth Employability Conference 2022 Uniting for Change is offering attendees the opportunity to join us at one of our 14 regional participation hubs across Aotearoa. 

Calling all passionate providers, personal disruptors, tough minded optimists and eager experimenters who want to shape change together – come and attend this thought-provoking conference at one of our regional hubs and be part of the live discussion and a day of stimulating debate as our speakers pose the tough questions we all face.

Our whanau around the country look forward to hosting you at one of 14 Regional Hub. This experience offers the opportunity to korero with real people, kanohi ki te kanohi have some fun, partake in regional networking, enjoy some kai together, watch and participate in the discussion and be hosted by well-known leaders from within the community who have years of experience working with rangatahi. 

To find your closest hub, please choose the region below and select your nearest location to find out more about our local hosts. 

When booking your ticket via our registration site please select the hub location that best suits you.

We look forward to welcoming you on the 26th of May for Uniting for Change

Auckland & Northland

Youthtown is a nationally operated, not-for-profit organisation focused on empowering the young people of Aotearoa to be the best they can be. We’ve been working with young people for ninety years, starting in 1932. We focus on working collaboratively with 5-18 year olds with programmes that promote the learning of life skills, building resilience and understanding, and unlocking potential.

 Our aim is seeing empowered rangatahi, engaged in their communities. Throughout our history, we have stayed relevant to young people by ensuring our programmes reflect what they are interested in and what drives them. Today our programmes incorporate science and technology, outdoors and environment, creative arts, sport, wellbeing and life skills and are delivered before, during and after school as well the holidays. Our formal involvement with Youth Employability started in 2021, as a natural progression to the programmes we already deliver to meet the needs of our rangatahi.

Sonitani and his team will be hosting you at the Auckland Hub, a Youth Worker, first generation New Zealand born Tongan, a wide-eyed dreamer and a brown kid hailing from the sunny hills of the 720. Sonitani is extremely passionate about the mahi he does and looks forward to welcoming you into the space and having some great discussions.

Tuhiata Mahiora Trust is a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving the capacity of taitamariki and their whānau to build stronger, healthier communities in the Far North and look forward to hosting you for Uniting for Change.

We understand the challenges that are unique to our taitamariki and their whānau.  Our vision is to have a community that is resilient, thriving, and socially connected. We are aware of the importance of working differently to meet the ever-changing environment to support taitamariki to reach their full potential, therefore we use a tikanga Māori approach that incorporates clinical models of practice to ensure that the way we work values the capabilities, skills and knowledge in each individual.

Bay of Plenty & Waikato

Taupō Pathways is a partnership between local representatives for employers, Iwi, youth services, schools and training providers who recognise the importance of young people having a plan and direction for the future. 

The purpose of Taupō Pathways is to undertake, facilitate, and promote initiatives and programmes that advance education, training, employment, and positive activities for young people under the age of 25 in the Taupō District. The Trust helps to connect and support young people to transition into employment, education and training in a way that links to the workforce requirements of local businesses, and enables them to reach their full potential.

Joel and Dee from Number Twelve will offer a very warm welcome to people in the wider Te Kuiti area to join them at their hub for the Uniting for Change Conference. Manaakitanga is the middle name of Number Twelve, so know you will be well looked after.

Number Twelve is a youth organisation providing a wrap-around service of support, information and direction catered to the wants and needs of their rangatahi, their whānau and their community. Their services include driver licencing, youth support, vocational training, employment support and more. Although young people are their priority, they understand that helping the whole whānau has a direct impact on their young people. Trying to help everyone that walks through our doors is a priority for the team at Number Twelve.

Haere Mai, Welcome to Eastbay REAP!

Eastbay REAP helps connect the community to lifelong learning through educational programmes, courses, resources and events for educators, parents, whānau (family), groups and individuals. They believe there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to learning, so their programmes are tailored to meet the diverse needs of their wider community.

Ryan and the Eastbay REAP whanau are stoked to be able to host a conference hub in their whare. They welcome their community to come share the day with them and engage in some feisty fun learning with some great kai.

Lower North Island

Talent RISE is the not-for-profit foundation of Talent, born out of a desire to facilitate real world solutions to the youth unemployment crisis. Our Aotearoa (New Zealand) team was launched in 2018 in response to the staggering number of rangatahi (young people) who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).

Talent RISE isn’t about providing charity in the sense of welfare – it’s about providing opportunities to young people who are hungry to show what they can do.

Check out our latest RISE Aotearoa video here. 

We know all young people have great potential and our kaupapa is empowering our rangatahi.  The Youth Inspire team are committed to changing lives through our Youth Employability Programme and our Road Ready Rangatahi Driving School. 

We create opportunities through teaching the skills needed for work and life, mentoring, social networks, volunteering, training certificates, as well as work experience and direct employment opportunities.  We guide our youth to learn their capabilities and to develop the confidence to know that they can succeed.

We are excited to be a hub for the Aotearoa Youth Employability Conference 2022 and look forward to welcoming you.

Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to the Youth2Work and Ngā Pūmanawa Tūpuna. With the support of REAP Wairarapa, Jenny and her team work collaboratively with young people, whānau, educators and youth-friendly businesses to ensure ALL young people aged 16 – 24 years in the Wairarapa have opportunities to successfully pathway into education, training, or employment. We integrate strong Kaupapa Māori values into our mahi and we work hard on building strong connections with the education sector and our business community. 

Jenny and her team will be hosting you at their hub in central Masterton. They welcome all people interested in being part of creating solutions for the challenges faced by young people on their journeys to work. 

The Palmerston North City Council’s (PNCC) Youth Space, is a youth development hub for young people aged 13 – 19. They opened their doors in 2011 in partnership with young people of the city and the Palmerston North Youth Council. 

The PNCC Youth Services Team is made up of five youth workers, who are excited about co-creating opportunities for young people to reach their aspirations. They connect with young people and the youth sector through events and programming, facilitating various youth leadership groups and community bookings.

Tararua REAP aims to make a real difference in the community by delivering and supporting all sectors of education including early childhood, schools, youth, tertiary and adult education. Tararua REAP’s programmes, resources and services are based on filling gaps in education provision through innovation and the use of an extensive and comprehensive needs analysis process.  Under its Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) Te Ara Mahi Programme, REAP is collaborating with Tararua Community Youth Services (TCYS), Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MFTJ), Tararua District Council and Tararua Iwi to help local rangitahi transition from education into employment and upskill our workforce of the future. 

Remy from the PNCC Youth Services Team is partnering with Jaron from REAP (also a part of the YEA stewardship group) to host you at our Manawatū Hub for the 2022 Uniting for Change Conference.

East Coast

Jobs in Central Hawke’s Bay facilitates our local Skills, Training & Employment Network, and together with the  Youth Development Network is building strong collaborative working relationships with local providers throughout the district. This enables us to best reach out and connect with rangatahi across the community, providing connections and support to help them thrive!

Come and join us at the Central Hawke’s Bay Knowledge and Learning Hub and be inspired at Te Huinga Wai – proudly supported by Central Hawke’s Bay District Council.

Youthtown is a nationally operated, not-for-profit organisation focused on empowering the young people of Aotearoa to be the best they can be. We’ve been working with young people for ninety years, starting in 1932. We focus on working collaboratively with 5-18 year olds with programmes that promote the learning of life skills, building resilience and understanding, and unlocking potential. Our aim is seeing empowered rangatahi, engaged in their communities.

Youthtown is pleased to host Tairāwhiti’s regional hub for the Uniting for Change Conference. Gill Higgins (Youth Employability Programme Lead – Te Tairāwhiti) looks forward to welcoming you for a day of discussion, sharing learnings, connecting with others and further strengthening relationships.

South Island

Marlborough Youth Trust connects youth aged 12-24 through events and projects, we encourage youth through programmes, building confidence and giving youth opportunities to contribute back into community. 

Myspace youth centre is nearly 3 years old, an amazing space for youth workers to mentor youth with art projects, playing basketball, music, dance, climbing the rock wall, making coffee, eating noodles, playing table tennis or pool, event planning or just chat. Marlborough Youth Trust staff deliver and facilitate programmes like the Marlborough Youth Advisory Group, CACTUS, Youth in Emergency Services programme, Youth Employability Programme and youth events. We see good foot traffic of youth after school at Myspace and other youth providers utilise the space for their programmes, such as Pacifica Trust, Dance on Groove, Matala, Youth Theatre Group, St Johns. We are proudly supported by the Marlborough Community, Marlborough District Council, Rata Foundation, Lotteries, Marlborough Lines, REAP & MPI and are excited to host the regional hub for Uniting for Change

Mary-Rose, (Manager of Buller REAP) and her team will offer a very warm welcome for people in the wider Kawatiri area to join them at their hub for the Uniting for Change Conference. 

Buller REAP is a community organisation which supports whanau from birth through to the maturing generations. We have a strong focus on providing a wrap-around service our rangatahi, their whānau and community. Our youth services include driver licencing, youth support, vocational training, employment support and more. With the range of services we offer we can support not only the rangatahi but also their whānau which has a direct impact on our communities wellbeing. Buller REAP’s priority is to support and awhiawhia everyone who walks through our door.

Youthtown is a nationally operated, not-for-profit organisation focused on empowering the young people of Aotearoa to be the best they can be. We’ve been working with young people for ninety years, starting in 1932. We focus on working collaboratively with 5-18 year olds with programmes that promote the learning of life skills, building resilience and understanding, and unlocking potential.

Our aim is seeing empowered rangatahi, engaged in their communities. Throughout our history, we have stayed relevant to young people by ensuring our programmes reflect what they are interested in and what drives them. Today our programmes incorporate science and technology, outdoors and environment, creative arts, sport, wellbeing and life skills and are delivered before, during and after school as well the holidays. Our formal involvement with Youth Employability started in 2021, as a natural progression to the programmes we already deliver to meet the needs of our rangatahi.

Richard is Youthtown’s South Island Manager – Programme Delivery and Community. He is an accredited member of Korowai Tupu (The Professional Association of Youth Workers in Aotearoa) and is passionate about connecting to the community. Previously a school principal and then working in the disability/health sector for several years, Richard understands the barriers young people face in entering the world of work. He is growing the Youth Employability conversation in the Canterbury region and leads the region by living out the values of Youthtown, especially belonging, inclusion and the power of youth voice. Youthtown look forward to welcoming you to their space in Stanmore Road.

Youth Employment Success works collaboratively with communities to engage and support youth into good jobs and great futures. Our goal: reducing New Zealand’s shocking youth unemployment statistics. Launched in Dunedin in 2016, YES was designed to make a difference to the lives of Youth and to recognise Employers that were already doing great things, and connecting them. We have a solid, secure and modern platform that enables digital connection, job board advertising and celebration of both youth and employers.

Your host Jay is of Ngāti Porou descent. She loves all things creative, youth, culture, and community as our National Programme Manager for Youth Employment Success; and she combines these superpowers to deliver the YES programme throughout the regions. She is in charge of connection, engagement, and implementation. A passionate advocate for youth, her skills lie in the areas of project management, event planning, relationship building, and content creation.

https://youthemployer.nz/