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Organisational SROI Evaluations The following reports were created as part of a pilot phase of our mahi to better understand the impact of Youth Work delivered through community organisations and to establish a methodological foundation for a sector-wide social value project. Tararua Community Youth Services TCYS, a Dannevirke-based organisation focusing on the well-being of local taiohi, provided an example of youth work in a rural setting. The report assessed the value created for taiohi aged 15+ who engaged in TCYS in 2024/25. Flipbook Full Report

Professionalisation Consultation Youth Work is currently a voluntary, self-regulated profession. The voice of youth workers must inform any changes to the registration system, Background While youth workers remain accountable to their organisations, membership with Korowai Tupu provides professional accountability, a community of practice, and a way to champion high-quality Youth Work. Korowai Tupu is committed to the holistic safety of rangatahi across Aotearoa, and to setting strong, consistent standards for Youth Work across the motu. Our members’ practice is guided by our Code of Ethics, which provides guidance to ensure Youth Work is carried out in a safe, skilled, and ethical manner. Korowai Tupu is underpinned by 10 core competencies, reflecting the Mana Taiohi principles, commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi and how a youth development approach can whakamana rangatahi in Aotearoa. Korowai Tupu is engaging with youth workers across the country to build awareness and engagement on professional Youth Work, how our existing structures are working for youth workers and for young people. Current realities to navigate Prioritisation: Less than 10% of youth workers are members of Korowai Tupu. Dire funding environment: Managers and organisations identify limited resources as the key reason they are unable to cover professional costs, including membership of a professional association, training and supervision. Stretched and stressed sector: While youth workers are working with increasingly complex needs, the highest stressors for youth workers relate to funding and resource limitations (renumeration, time etc.). Pay: The majority of youth workers are paid below the NZ median wage. Our goal is to see every young person in Aotearoa have access to safe, caring Youth Work practice to support their positive youth development. Under the guidance of the Korowai Tupu advisers, the sector has started to review our position on professional accountability, including exploring the option of more formal registration. Recent Developments The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith Care contains recommendations relating to staff and care workers, including youth workers. This includes a recommendation that the government should consult on the scope and nature of the professional ‘registration’ system. This works sits with the Crown Response Unit and will be informed in part by the recommendations of Korowai Tupu. The CRU will prioritise this work throughout 2026. Next Steps Survey Tāhano Roadshow Professionalisation Policy Directive The purpose of this multifaceted consultation is to build on our existing understanding of professionalisation to inform policy direction leading into the next election that clearly articulates the best system and structure to ensure young people’s safety within youth work relationships A survey seeking members' views on the potential changes to the regulation of youth workers will be shared with members' shortly In the coming months, members of the Ara Taiohi team will travel the country meeting with members to discuss their views on registration and what Korowai Tupu should include in the Professionalisation Policy Directive that we will publish in advance of this year's election. More info coming soon. In the lead-up to the 2026 Election we will release a Professionalisation Policy Directive that articulates what is need to create a system that ensures young people's safety within Youth Work relationships.

Sharing the impact of Youth Work Every youth worker can tell you how their work has helped shape the lives of ngā rangatahi they work with; who was able to get their driver's license, who developed the confidence that helped them get a part-time job or who would have ended up in the youth justice system with their help. They know the courage and determination it takes each young person to confront their personal challenges. Too often, this impact goes unseen or isn’t recognised in the way it should be. Our 'Youth Work Impact Project' mahi with Hands for Impact is all about telling the story of Youth Work's collective impact in Aotearoa. Together, we are creating an SROI analysis and ratio that will demonstrate the impact of our sector, the 'social value' we are bringing to communities across the motu, and to support youth organisations to better tell their own story. This mahi builds on our recent Mahi Tūturu research report on the landscape of Youth Work in Aotearoa, expanding the evidence base for the amazing Youth Work happening in Aotearoa. Stages of the project Testing our approach in a Youth Work context In partnership with two youth organisations we created in-depth SROI forecasts. This allowed us to test our tools, refine our approach, and ground the project in the realities of youth work practice. Click image for more details. Published Q1 2026 Exploring the sector's experience A Working Group of frontline and leadership Youth Work practitioners are helping to map key outcomes and explore how change happens. A broader review network, including funders, government officials and researchers will reflect on the findings to ensure they are aligned with sector experience. Q1-Q3 2026 Publication our findings and learnings Publication of our sector wide impact measurements, telling the story of the impact of Youth Work in Aotearoa, and sharing practical recommendations for the sector. Together with our Mahi Tūturu mahi, this analysis will strengthen the sector's ability to measure, communicate, and grow their social impact. Expected Q3 2026

Mana Mana is the authority we inherit at birth, which can be affected by our choices and actions. It emphasises the rights of a young person to know about this and the decisions that impact them. Honouring the mana of young people involves celebrating their identities and acknowledging their realities. It supports them in finding their voice, working to their strengths, and stepping into leadership. Mana with Matt Mana Taiohi with Charmaine and Jane In this expert from Kaiparahuarahi (Vol.1, No.2), Charmaine Tuhaka and Jane Zintl explores how Mana Taiohi shapes the way we understand, engage with, and stand alongside rangatahi - highlighting its relevance in a rapidly changing social landscape and its potential to transform systems that impact young people. Read Kaiparahuarahi Kōrero Cafe: Mana, Mauri & Matekino Explore Mana Taiohi Click on the images below to explore each principle and see relevant resources.

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< Back Sarah Finlay-Robinson Mana Taiohi Facilitator Kia ora! I have over 20 years of experience in youth development in community, not-for-profit, health promotion, and local government contexts. I have spent five years teaching youth development in tertiary education. I am a creative and interactive trainer whose unique skill set translates theory and evidence to strengthen youth development practice and increase impact in your context. I am passionate about helping people working with young people to thrive in their mahi . incommonprojects@gmail.com

< Back Lloyd (Doc) Martin Code of Ethics Facilitator Now based in the Hawkes Bay, I provide supervision and facilitate workshops around the motu in ethics and youth development for youth workers, community educators, and anyone whose mahi impacts young people. My special interest is the intersection between youth development and education, how these are affected by trauma, and what it takes to re-engage youth. I have recently completed a doctorate which involved listening to young people’s experiences of AE and of the people who work with them in those settings. I use practical and interactive approaches in my teaching, and am comfortable working within te ao Māori contexts. More info at my website: https://www.newseason.nz Lloyd@newseason.nz

< Back Talei Bryant Mana Taiohi Facilitator I have been involved in youth development and youth work since 2018 since attending festival for the future Where I was inspired to start my own youth-led organisation called the Find Your Fish Movement. The aim of this movement is to help young people dive deep into ko wai au and find their passion and turn it into their profession. Over the years I have worked in numerous roles relating to rangatahi development. In 2023 I was the Campaign Lead for Youth Week and absolutely loved being able to work with Rangatahi across the motu and see all the amazing events that were happening. I currently work at Whakatane High School as the Attendance Coordinator Where my team and I cover the 20 schools in our regions. I have been facilitating Mana Taiohi workshops since 2020 and have loved meeting different people from different spaces who all want to support and uplift rangatahi. My facilitator style is full of energy, laughs and making sure everyone is engaged and understands the content. I like to do this wananga style and by doing activities that involve group work, skits and some really cool activities. I love that I get to share Mana Taiohi with the world! talei.bryant@whs.co.nz

< Back Te Maungarongo Maarie Mareikura-Ellery Mana Taiohi Facilitator Tēnā katoa koutou! He uri nō Te Awa Tupua, Hokianga, Te Āitanga a Mahaki me Cornwall hoki. Ko Maarie Mareikura-Ellery tōku ingoa. What's good e te iwi? I’m Maarie, a proud young Māori wāhine who has lots of aroha for rangatahi and hauora. I have been in the youth world since I was 19, started off in Alternative Education and have had the privilege to be a part of the Mana Taiohi journey. I’ve been facilitating Mana Taiohi since 2021 and have had experience facilitating to rangatahi, kaiako, boards, SLT’s, and community spaces! I take an inclusive, youthful, wānanga style approach to facilitation and love to add some fun in there and always bring my whakapapa into the places I get to be 😊 Mauri ora! Maarie.mareikuraellery4@gmail.com

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< Back Zara Maslin Zara's been a youth worker for over 15 years, and has been involved in training youth workers for nearly 10 of them. She has worked in Youth Work and youth ministry fields and teaches and trains in both Christian and secular settings. She has worked in several national roles, including managing Korowai Tupu (professional association for youth workers) and travelling Aotearoa top to toe, speaking in high schools with Attitude. Her experience in National NGO managerial roles offers unique insight into ethics, policies and team leadership. Therefore, Zara's Code of Ethics training is a perfect collision of her worlds and experience. She loves to bring theory into real-life scenarios and empower youth workers to do what they do best: build quality relationships with young people. Alongside being a Mum, Zara lectures at Laidlaw College as part of their Practical Theology team, primarily teaching youth ministry.