Whakapiri Mahi: Connecting Rangatahi to Work, Training, and Education

Supporting rangatahi to explore real workplaces, learn from professionals, and build pathways into meaningful employment, further training, and education. This programme is run in partnership with Digital Natives Academy.

What is Whakapiri Mahi?  

Whakapiri Mahi is Native Tech’s employment, training, and education pathways programme run in partnership with Digital Natives Academy. It supports rangatahi to explore future options, build confidence, and take practical next steps toward further training, education and/or work in a safe and well-supported way.

Rangatahi join us in a small learning environment with a dedicated mentor where they strengthen their work-ready skills, confidence, and capability. They are supported to set SMART goals, plan pathways into career, training, and education, and develop the practical skills and confidence needed to transition into further education, training, or employment.

Our programme connects rangatahi with local businesses, organisations, training providers, and other opportunities in the community, helping them gain exposure to different pathways and understand what those next steps can look like in practice. We offer a range of opportunities, including:

  • Shadow Roles (1–5 days): Short placements where rangatahi observe professionals, ask questions, and gain first-hand insight into different workplaces, roles, and career pathways. These opportunities are focused on exposure, learning, and building confidence.

  • Work Experience & Intern Roles (1 day to several months): Practical, hands-on opportunities where rangatahi contribute to projects, develop workplace skills, and gain real experience in a supported environment. These may be unpaid or paid, depending on the nature and length of the placement. Placements longer than one month are paid at least the current New Zealand training wage.

  • Volunteer Opportunities: Supported opportunities for rangatahi to contribute in community, event, or organisational settings, helping them build confidence, reliability, practical skills, and experience that can support future employment or training pathways.
  • Training and Education Pathways Support for rangatahi to explore and transition into further training or education, including connection to providers, pathway planning, and practical guidance to help them take the next step.

For Employers

By opening your workplace, you’ll:

  • Share your industry knowledge and inspire the next generation.
  • Build relationships with emerging talent in your sector.
  • Showcase your organisation as a supportive place to work.
  • Connect with motivated young people who could become future employees.

You decide the role type, duration, and skills required. We’ll support you with pastoral care, simple paperwork, and ongoing communication.

For Rangatahi

This is your chance to step into the world of work and explore your future career.

Through our programme you will:

  • Gain real-world experience and insights into industries that interest you.
  • Learn directly from people already working in the field.
  • Build confidence, skills, and networks for your career journey.
  • Receive support from the DNA education and pastoral care team.

For Training Providers

By partnering with us, you’ll:

  • Connect with rangatahi who are exploring their next steps.
  • Share information about your courses, pathways, and support options.
  • Help young people better understand what further training or education can look like.
  • Build relationships with future learners in a supportive, community-led way.

We work alongside rangatahi to build confidence, readiness, and clear next steps. Your involvement helps make training and education pathways more visible, accessible, and achievable.

 

How it works

  • Sign up – Employers, training and education providers, and rangatahi complete a short online form.
  • Match – We connect rangatahi with the employers, providers, and opportunities that best align with their interests, strengths, and future goals.
  • Experience – Rangatahi take part in a shadow role, intern role, workplace visit, or training/provider engagement, with support from a mentor and our pastoral care team.
  • Feedback – We gather feedback from rangatahi, employers, and providers to keep improving the programme and strengthen future pathways.

Sign up now

EMPLOYER REGISTRATION
RANGATAHI SIGN-UP
PROVIDER SIGN-UP (COMING SOON)

Got a question or want to speak to someone? Email [email protected] and we will be in touch. Subject: Whakapiri Mahi.