Mahi Whakaara

Mahi Whakaara means “Inspire to work, work to inspire.”

The name was created in 2020 by six people brought together to develop a proposal for a Māori trades training programme. Those involved carried connections across the eight iwi of Te Tau Ihu, Waikato-Tainui and Tauiwi, helping shape a kaupapa grounded in a by-Māori, for-Māori approach.

Today, Mahi Whakaara is based in Wellington, where that original kaupapa continues to evolve in response to the needs of young adults in our communities.

We are developing a more sustainable model that supports young people to move from uncertainty into clearer pathways toward training, employment and long-term participation in the workforce. A particular focus is supporting NEET young people — those Not in Employment, Education or Training — alongside others who may be at risk of disengagement or who need greater preparation before successfully transitioning into work or further learning.

Our foundation delivery through BCITO-aligned building and construction training gives young learners the opportunity to learn by doing. Working hands-on in a practical environment allows them to build real skills, experience achievement and develop confidence in a way that conventional classroom learning does not always provide.

That practical environment is an important part of the Mahi Whakaara model. It creates an opportunity for young people to strengthen their work-readiness, understand workplace expectations and begin building a clearer connection between what they are learning now and where it can take them next.

Our focus is not simply on delivering trades training. It is on preparing young adults for a more positive and sustainable future — strengthening confidence, capability, direction and connections while creating practical pathways into further training, apprenticeships and long-term employment.

Mahi Whakaara continues to develop around the needs of the young people and communities we serve, while remaining grounded in the kaupapa that shaped its beginning: creating an environment where young people can recognise their potential, find direction and move forward with greater opportunity and confidence.