Poipoia te kakano kia puawai
He Kākano, our internship programme with Te Tumu Paeroa, Sharesies and Datacom is now in its third year and continues to gain momentum.
Last week, marked the next phase of the programme, with Conner Chadwick beginning his internship at Te Tumu Paeroa, followed by Ruka Feite stepping into his next leg with Sharesies. Ruka has now moved into the third and final part of his placement, while Conner has officially started his first.
We often talk about the importance of relationships, and He Kākano is a real example of that in action. We mihi to our partners who continue to show genuine commitment to seeing our rangatahi succeed and feel supported.
While these partnerships are key, we also acknowledge the confidence and commitment of our rangatahi. Their willingness to step forward for these opportunities and the way they carry themselves, plays a huge part in the programme’s success.
The partnership has also opened another door, with Tyara Kenny-Collins impressing interviewers during recruitment and being offered a role at Te Tumu Paeroa as well.
It was awesome to support Conner at his whakatau last week and see his cousins there alongside him, a reminder of how important whānau support is as our rangatahi step into new spaces.
While the internships sit within the tech sector, the focus is on building transferable skills and gaining real-world experience. Speaking to our rangatahi, Maria Dunlop (Kaiwhakahaere, AwaToa) said, “This may not be the career path you continue with, but take these learnings with you as you move forward, wherever life takes you.”
Maria also likened the journey to working in the wharekai, “everyone starts somewhere, maybe on dishes or prep, before moving into more complex tasks like the custard or cream pāua. Some choose to stay on dishes and become expert dishwashers. Either way, every role matters, and every step builds capability”.
We hope to share more about each of our rangatahi and their journeys in a couple of months once they all settle in.
Poipoia te kakano kia puawai!