Rangatahi Pathways
Ngā Tipu a te Uru Roa
Ready to level up your future?
Not working or studying right now?
Ngā Tipu a te Uru Roa is a practical 26-week pathway for rangatahi aged 15–24 in South Auckland and Franklin. You will learn through real nursery and environmental work, with people around you to help build your skills, confidence and next step into employment, education or training.
We’ve got you. This is real work with real support, while making a difference for the whenua and your community.
Who it’s for
Ngā Tipu a te Uru Roa may be a good fit if you:
are aged 15–24
live in South Auckland or Franklin
are not currently in employment, education or training
want to learn through practical work
would value support to work out and take your next step.
You do not need horticulture experience or a clear career plan before you start. The first step is simply a kōrero with our team.
Eligibility can depend on your current situation and any similar funded support you are already receiving. If you are unsure, contact us and we will help you work it out.
Ngā Tipu a te Uru Roa is delivered through He Poutama Rangatahi, a Ministry of Social Development initiative supporting young people into sustainable employment, education or training.
What taking part looks like
This is practical, supported learning built around real work.
You will spend time in Te Whāngai’s native plant nurseries and, where appropriate, on environmental projects. The mahi can include propagating and potting native plants, nursery maintenance, preparing plants for customers and projects, planting, weed control and caring for restored areas.
You will work alongside staff, mentors and other participants. Like any workplace, we expect everyone to arrive ready, work safely, communicate, contribute to the team and see jobs through.
Alongside the practical work, you will receive coaching, workplace preparation and learning that supports your own goals. The programme runs for 26 weeks, with your weekly plan agreed with you and based on at least 15 hours of participation each week.
Support around you.
You do not have to work everything out alone.
When you join, we take time to understand your strengths, goals and any practical barriers getting in the way. Together, we develop a plan that reflects where you want to go.
Transport
If getting to the programme is a barrier, transport support can be arranged. Pickup points and other practical details are agreed with each participant.
Whānau involvement
Whānau can be involved where this is helpful and you are comfortable with it. This might include planning, progress conversations or support around a transition into work, education or training.
Mentoring and coaching
You will have people you can talk with about the work, your progress and your next step. Support includes regular one-to-one conversations as well as day-to-day guidance in the workplace.
Practical and pastoral support
We can help you work through practical barriers that could affect your participation or next step. Where specialist support is needed, we can help connect you with the right service rather than expecting you to navigate it alone.
Kai
Kai support is available during programme days so you can focus on taking part and contributing.
Learning and qualifications
Depending on your pathway and the learning available, you may have opportunities to work towards NZQA-aligned horticulture learning, driver-licensing progress or other industry-relevant training.
What you can build.
Everyone starts from a different place, so not every pathway looks the same. Through the programme, you can build:
Practical skills.
Hands-on experience in native plant production, horticulture and environmental work.
Teamwork and communication.
The ability to work alongside others, communicate clearly and contribute to a team.
Workplace capability.
Experience with health and safety, following instructions, completing tasks and meeting workplace expectations.
Confidence and reliability.
A stronger routine, evidence that you can follow through, and confidence in your abilities.
Work-readiness tools.
Help with your CV, interviews, and presenting yourself to an employer.
Training and connections.
Opportunities for relevant learning, employer exposure and evidence of your work experience, including a reference where appropriate.
Your pathway forward.
1. Join and have a kōrero
Tell us what you are interested in and what you want your next step to look like.
2. Build your plan
We identify your strengths, goals, support needs and practical next steps together.
3. Learn in a real nursery
Build experience through native plant nursery and environmental mahi.
4. Grow your capability
Develop practical skills, confidence, reliability, teamwork and workplace habits.
5. Connect with your next step
Prepare for and connect with employers, education providers or vocational training.
6. Move forward with support
When you move into employment, education or training through the programme, support continues to help you settle in and work through issues that could affect your placement.
What our programmes have achieved.
From 2023 to 2026, Ngā Tipu a te Uru Roa supported rangatahi across South Auckland, Franklin, North Waikato and Thames/Hauraki.
72 rangatahi enrolled
The programme met its amended enrolment target.
59 completed the programme
That was 82% of all 72 enrolments.
52 achieved employment, education or further-training outcomes:
30 employment outcomes
17 further-training outcomes
5 further-education outcomes.
The Ministry of Social Development confirmed that Te Whāngai met the amended enrolment target and exceeded the contracted programme-completion and outcome targets.
Results are from the final evaluation of the 2023–2026 programme, which ended on 30 June 2026. Percentages use all 72 programme enrolments as the denominator.
For whānau and referrers
Rangatahi can contact us directly. Referrals are also welcome from whānau, schools and alternative education providers, Youth Service, Work and Income, and other community or government services.
A referral is the beginning of a conversation, not a commitment to join.
Once we receive an enquiry, our team will make contact in the way requested. We will check that the rangatahi knows about the referral, arrange an initial kōrero and explain what the programme involves.
We will then confirm eligibility, talk about the rangatahi’s strengths and goals, and consider any practical support that may be needed. If the programme is a good fit, we agree the next steps together.
Please do not send detailed health, justice, family or other sensitive personal information through the website. Anything relevant can be discussed privately once contact has been made.
Frequently Asked Questions.
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Practical nursery and environmental training, work-readiness coaching, mentoring, PPE, kai support and transport support where needed. We also help with progression into employment, education or training.
Qualifications, driver-licensing support and other learning opportunities depend on your individual pathway and what is available.
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You can build horticulture and environmental-work skills, teamwork, communication, reliability, confidence and safe workplace habits. You can also receive help with your CV, interviews, budgeting and life skills, workplace expectations and planning your next step.
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The programme runs for 26 weeks. Participants take part for at least 15 hours each week, with the actual weekly plan and attendance arrangements agreed individually.
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The programme is delivered through Te Whāngai’s Pūkorokoro and Glenbrook native plant nurseries, with selected learning and work experience on environmental project sites.
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If transport is a barrier, talk to us. Transport support can be provided where it is needed, with pickup points and other arrangements agreed with each participant.
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No. You do not need previous horticulture or environmental-work experience. We will start with what you already know and help you build from there.
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Speak with your MSD Case Manager, or complete the “Join the programme” form on this page. You can also be referred by whānau, a school, Youth Service, Work and Income or another organisation supporting you.
We will contact you for an initial kōrero and explain the next steps.
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Yes.
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We stay connected. Where your placement forms part of your programme pathway, support continues for a further 26 weeks to help you settle in, work through early issues and keep moving forward.