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Qualifications Check out these youth work and youth development courses and institutions in Aotearoa. Praxis, WelTec and University of Canterbury are Korowai Tupu endorsed providers. Graduates with any of the following diplomas or degrees from these institutions automatically meet the Korowai Tupu Core Competency entry requirements. Providers To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Becoming a Korowai Tupu Member Interested in Joining? We’d love to kōrero! Please email the team at korowaitupu@arataiohi.org.nz who can connect with you by email, phone or online as required. Who can apply to Korowai Tupu? Korowai Tupu is for youth workers who are already working alongside young people and who view Youth Work as their professional identity. Korowai Tupu is not an education pathway, so it is not the avenue for starting a Youth Work career: individuals entering the field are encouraged to gain some experience or undergo a formal qualification before applying to Korowai Tupu. What do you need to apply to Korowai Tupu? To apply to Korowai Tupu, you need to be able to pass certain criteria and show evidence of your Youth Work understanding and practice. We encourage anyone with previous Youth Work experience or qualifications in youth development or Youth Work to apply. A complete application to Korowai Tupu includes: Undergoing a police vet*, including suppling two forms of ID Provision of references from a supervisor/ manager AND a young person you have worked with, who can speak to how you practice Youth Work An up-to-date CV Copies of any qualifications, professional development or training you have completed that is relevant to your Youth Work practice Responses to each of the Core Competencies for Youth Work which outline your understanding and application of Youth Work; these can be provided in writing or as video/ audio uploads. There are prompts and key questions to help you give comprehensive responses. Once your application has been confirmed as complete, it is assessed by the Korowai Tupu team to determine if you meet the standards of entry to the professional association. *Please note that outcomes of the check don’t necessarily determine eligibility. Where there are any concerns regarding the results of your police check we will contact you to discuss this and what options there are moving forward. If you are aware your police check will reveal convictions and would like to provide additional information about your police check and/or your journey since any conviction received please note it in your application. Who will assess my application? Decisions are made by a Korowai Tupu assessor, who are individuals with strong Youth Work experience and leadership in cultural competency particularly te ao Māori. Assessors are members of Korowai Tupu who work to ensure an inclusive, fair and efficient membership process for Korowai Tupu. Assessors cross-check their application decisions annually to ensure there is consistency in our decision-making. What about qualifications? If you can provide evidence that you have completed one of the following courses after 2018, then we can fast track your application! The Weltec-Whitireia Bachelor or Youth Development The Praxis Diploma of Youth Work Applying outside Aotearoa? No, as a New Zealand-based professional association, we can only accept applications from youth workers living in Aotearoa. If a person becomes a Korowai Tupu Member whilst living in Aotearoa but then moves overseas, they can choose whether to maintain their membership whilst living abroad. What are the fees? There is a one-off application fee of $90 (plus GST). This is charged at the beginning of your application process. If you do not complete your application and later wish to reapply, a new application fee will be charged. Korowai Tupu Members are charged an annual fee, based on their employment status: Full-time (30+ hours): $150 (plus GST) Part-time (less than 30 hours): $90 (plus GST) Volunteer or Student: $75 (plus GST) The annual renewal date is 1 July for membership fees. If you sign up during the year, you pay a percentage according to a pro-rated payment system until you are aligned with the renewal date. Who pays my fees? This is for you to determine alongside any organisations where you serve as a youth worker – whether paid or voluntarily. Currently, approximately half of active Korowai Tupu Members have their fees paid by their workplace, with the remaining half paying their fees directly. If your paid mahi is Youth Work (or closely aligned) we encourage you to chat with your employer to determine if they will cover the application and annual fees. If Korowai Tupu membership is an expectation of your employer, then it would be expected that the organisation cover these costs.

< Back Research Academic research that has informed our kaupapa The research shared here informs and strengthens our kaupapa - helping us understand what supports young people to thrive, what effective youth development looks like in practice, and how the youth sector can continue to grow its impact across Aotearoa. Download Resources Previous Next

Youth Week Aotearoa is a better place because of young people! Youth Week is a nationwide campaign that celebrates this! It brings us all together to recognise the value, awesomeness, and impact of rangatahi, and to champion a society that supports young people to thrive. Celebrating Rangatahi Youth Week is all about celebrating everything that young people contribute to Aotearoa - just by being themselves. Too often, the amazing things young people bring to our communities go unnoticed - Youth Week aims to change that! Youth Week is for everyone. It’s about noticing and valuing the ways young people shape our hapori and world around us. Joining in the celebration means honouring the mana and energy they bring to the world. This year, our focus is all about making sure youth voices are heard. ‘Our Voices Matter, We Deserve to Be Heard’ is a chance for rangatahi to share themselves in the ways that feel right to them - through kōrero, creativity, culture, leadership, and everyday actions. We cannot wait to see how you all interpret the theme! YOUTH - LED EVENTS Planning an amazing event Read More YOUTH WEEK, YOUR WAY Youth Week resources for Rangatahi View More STANDING WITH RANGATAHI Celebrate the young people in your life View More Why celebrate? One in six kiwis are aged between 12-24 - they are our emerging workforce, creators, innovators and leaders Our Youth Week Image This year's amazing image has been designed by Sao May Nguyen, a young multidisciplinary designer and content creator from Vietnam, now based in Auckland. For this year's image, she drew inspiration from a blend of modern design and pop art to reflect how young people express themselves in today’s world: bold, creative, and full of energy! More details The Whakapapa of Youth Week Youth Week began in 1995 with a handful of events scattered throughout Canada. Since then it has gathered momentum and is now celebrated each year in countries all around the world. Aotearoa New Zealand first marked Youth Week in the late 1990s, with NZAAHD weaving the first festivals and later entrusting it’s celebrations to Ara Taiohi in 2010. More details

Who We Are Ara Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa. We are a national membership based organisation connected to over 3,700 individuals and organisations who represent a diverse range of groups and practitioners that work with young people. Our Board Our Board provides strong leadership and strategic guidance, ensuring our work remains impactful and aligned with our mission to support young people. Meet the leaders who support and guide our mahi, ensuring we continue to make a lasting difference. Our Members Members are a core component of our peak body mahi, and help to shape the work Ara Taiohi does for the wider youth development community. Our Team Our team is a passionate group of individuals dedicated to empowering the youth sector and driving meaningful change. Meet the people behind our mahi—each bringing their unique skills, insights, and energy to our mission. Ngā Kaihoe Ngā Kaihoe is the national network of Māori kaimahi. We create space to connect and share youth sector insights and experiences from an indigenous perspective. Funders To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Whakapapa Taiohi With young people we understand and affirm their whakapapa, exploring how genealogies and heritage connect to their sense of identity and belonging. Whakapapa includes the genealogies and stories of descendants and their connection to whenua (land) for all cultures. It acknowledges our shared histories and the impact of colonisation in Aotearoa. Acknowledging the whakapapa of young people means, in their own way and in their own time, exploring how these histories influence their lives right now. Young people are supported to embrace the journey to find their tūrangawaewae, their place to stand. Mana Taiohi with JJ and Arohauni Whakapapa In this expert from Kaiparahuarahi (Vol.1, No.2), Nikki Hurst and Annabel Prescott explore the concept of whakapapa and how the whakapapa of young people impacts on youth work Read Kaiparahuarahi Kōrero Cafe: Whakapapa Whakapapa and the Code of Ethics 6. Ko Au, Ko Koe. Ko Tātou 7. Te Whakapapa o Aotearoa | Understanding Aotearoa Explore Mana Taiohi Click on the images below to explore each principle and see relevant resources.

< Back Mana Taiohi Resources Resources that share how Mana Taiohi informs a way to work with young people in Aotearoa. Learn more about how you can whakamana young people with these great resources Download Resources Previous Next

Keith Shaw he/ him I'm a proud South Islander and have been CEO of the Y Central South Island (formerly YMCA South and Mid Canterbury), based in Timaru, for the past 15 years. My wife and I have four adult children, but ultimately I became connected to youth work through my connection in leading the Y. Previously I was employed in the finance sector, working throughout New Zealand, Singapore and Melbourne, before returning with my family to South Canterbury. I love working alongside people, empowering them to reach their full potential. The whakataukī “Whakamana takata, whakamana taiohi | Through empowering the mana of people, we empower the mana of youth” resonating strongly with me. I was co-opted on to the Ara Taiohi Board in 2024 and am passionate about contributing to Aotearoa New Zealand’s peak body to do more. Whilst I bring a wealth of finance and governance experience to the organisation, I am most at home learning from others and from taiohi that I meet and engage with in my daily life.

Resources To Awhiana Young People A collection of helpful resources designed to support young people in navigating challenges, building skills, and finding opportunities. Mental Health and Crisis Youthline Website Free 24/7 call 0800 376 633 Free 24/7 text 234 Suicide Crisis Helpline Website Free 24/7 call 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865) Webchat is also available Depression Helpline Website Free 24/7 call 0800 111 757 or free 24/7 text 4202 The Lowdown Website 123-456-7890 Full list of New Zealand Helplines from the Mental Health Foundation Website 123-456-7890 What's Up Website Fee call 0800 942 8787 Mon-Sun 11am-11pm Rainbow Rainbow Youth Website Sexual Health Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa Website Healthline Speak to a nurse anytime for free at 0800 611 116 Housing Lifewise Website Youth Service Ratonga Taiohi Website Making Space Website Careers and Future Planning Te Tahi Employment Support Website Careers NZ Website Skills to Career Tool Website First Aid Course Red Cross Website First Aid Course St John's Ambulance Website Drivers' License NZTA Website Legal Support Free Legal Advice at Youth Law Website Free call 0800 UTHLAW(884529) Youth Employment Rights FAQ Website Free call 0800 UTHLAW(884529) Financial Assistance Work and Income Youth Payment Website StudyLink Website

Our Vision and Goals Our Vision An empowered ecosystem of youth development, where rangatahi thrive. Tūruapō He taiao whakapūmau whakawhanake taiohi, e pūāwai mai ai a rangatahi. Strategic Direction 2024-2030 Ara Taiohi weaves within our sector as a partner, an advocate and a resource for those who dedicate their lives to journeying with taiohi. 2024-2030 Full Strategy Our Goals The following goals outline our strategic direction for the coming years as we continue to uphold the mana of young people in Aotearoa, support those who work with rangatahi, and champion positive change in the sector. Connect The Sector by weaving networks of support, understanding and collaboration. Over the next 6 years, we aim to: > Provide opportunities for intentional engagement across the motu > Codesign equitable solutions for diverse communities within the sector > Paint a clearer picture of the sector at large > Build deeper relationships and connections with existing and developing networks/communities > Foster a sense of belonging where the sector all see themselves as part of Ara Taiohi Raise The Standards and accountability by embracing learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. Over the next 6 years, we aim to: > Continue to create and grow accessible and relevant trainings and resources in person and online > Curate evidence-based mātauranga that further informs policy and practice > Strengthen cohesive workforce development structures and improvement plans – quality > Affirm and advance the professional identity of Youth Work Champion Youth Development by advocating for the rights, needs and potential of rangatahi and our sector. Over the next 6 years, we aim to: > Build influence in order to speak on systemic issues affecting rangatahi, the youth development workforce and the youth sector > Shift the dial on the perception of young people in Aotearoa > Clarify and promote the value of youth development, Youth Work, and Mana Taiohi > Build understanding and implementation of Mana Taiohi systemically > Invest in the relationships and structures that build capacity for Whai Wāhitanga across society Promote Sustainability by nurturing environments for the sector to thrive. Over the next 6 years, we aim to: > Tell the story of the sector’s whakapapa and pūrakau to strengthen our turangawaewae > Embed a collective commitment to Te Tiriti for youth development, under the guidance of/ informed by Ngā Kaihoe > Continue to grow internal infrastructure for longevity > Advocate for the state of Youth Work, its impact and the need for appropriate investment > Promote care for te taiao within our communities

Anya Satyanand she/ her Anya has spent most of the last 3 decades working with young people, creating conditions for their full participation in our democracy, communities, and economy. Deeply committed to Mana Taiohi principles, she’s passionate about ensuring young voices are heard, valued, and at the forefront of positive change. Over the past decade, Anya has been kaimahi, member, and steadfast supporter of Ara Taiohi. A recovering teacher, her belief in a just, regenerative, and Te Tiriti-centred future has led her through diverse roles—from leadership development to systems innovation—yet she always returns to her purpose: standing with rangatahi and young people. Anya is Executive Director at Ember Innovations, catalysing change in the mental health system through research and innovation. She also serves as a director of ethical investment company Pathfinder. Anya brings a collaborative, inclusive approach to leadership, focused on amplifying youth potential. She’s mama to two amazing young people - Lola and Leilani - who inspire and ground her every day.

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