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About Us Ara Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa. We are connected to over 4,000 people who work with young people across Aotearoa every day. We are a Tiriti-based, membership organisation which resources and advocates for the youth development sector. Vision An empowered ecosystem of youth development, where rangatahi thrive Mission Ara Taiohi exists to champion youth development and young people, advocating for those who work with rangatahi, and nurturing their capacity and capability. Tūruapō He taiao whakapūmau whakawhanake taiohi, e pūāwai mai ai a rangatahi. Whakatakanga Ka noho a Ara Taiohi hei kawau mārō i te mahi whakawhanake taiohi, i te hunga taiohi hoki, hei waha kōrero mō rātou e taunaki nei i te rangatahi ā ka poipoia hoki ō rātou raukaha me ō rātou āheinga. Youth Work is the development of a relationship that honours the mana of a young person, where young people actively participate, discover their power, and choose to engage for as long as agreed; and that supports their holistic, positive development as young people that contribute to themselves, their whānau, community and world. Our Values Uphold Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship) As guardians of youth development, we nurture the sector with best practices and innovative solutions. Guided by kaitiakitanga, we are stewards of the futures of both our youth and our sector, caring for their wellbeing and development with respect and responsibility. We pledge to protect, preserve, and enhance the resources and potential of our rangatahi, ensuring a legacy of empowerment and growth for generations to come. Pursue Mana Taurite (Equity and Inclusivity) We envision a world where every voice is heard, every culture is celebrated, and every young person has an equal chance to shine. Ara Taiohi is dedicated to fostering equity, ensuring that every young person receives the opportunity and support to thrive. We champion fairness and actively work to resolve systemic issues, creating an inclusive environment where rangatahi potential is recognised and nurtured. Practise Manaakitanga (Care and Respect) Our approach is grounded in aroha, care, and respect for all. Whether collaborating with youth workers or advocating for change, we lead with kindness and generosity. Manaakitanga is our commitment to nurturing and uplifting the mana of everyone we interact with. It is about fostering an environment of respect, generosity, and support, ensuring that every interaction acknowledges and empowers the inherent dignity and potential within each person. Weave Kotahitanga (Unity) Like the intertwined threads of woven harakeke, we bring people together, uniting our strengths to support the collective wellbeing of our rangatahi. Ara Taiohi champions unity and collective action, weaving together diverse voices and strengths to create a harmonious and supportive environment. Our commitment to collaboration and shared purpose ensures that together, we build a stronger, more inclusive community. Our Whakapapa Since the 1960s we have had a rich history of large national youth organisations establishing umbrella organisations as a way to ‘provide a national voice on youth organisation interests’. Ara Taiohi grew out of a merger between the New Zealand Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development (NZAAHD) and the National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa (NYWNA), who come together to form a new national youth sector organisation. Ara Taiohi was launched at the INVOLVE national youth sector conference in November 2010 and became fully operational at the inaugural AGM in February 2011. Our Name Our name, Ara Taiohi was chosen in consultation by Māori members and our kaumatua, Tamati Cairns and Ruru Hona. ‘Ara’ means ‘pathway, lane, passageway to/from’ and ‘taiohi’ means ‘young person’ in Aotearoa. Therefore, Ara Taiohi is the pathway to and from young people. As a peak body we are committed to developing projects and sharing resources, tools and information to enhance practice. We bring together the power of our diverse sector to champion and advocate on issues that affects young people, and those who work with them. Together, we create a nationwide movement of people who work with young people. Our collective skills, knowledge and passion will help shape an Aotearoa where young people are valued, included and will thrive. We are the proud kaitiaki of

Korowai Tupu Whakapapa Our History Korowai Tupu was established after years of effort to recognize and promote the mana of Youth Work and youth workers. The Pathways to Professionalisation (P2P) Working Group was set up in 2012 to explore professionalizing youth work. Extensive engagement with over 600 youth workers led to the launch of Korowai Tupu. "It’s our love of young people that drew us all into this mahi. Being involved with people when they are young grows strong communities and strong citizens." Youth Work in Aotearoa Youth work in Aotearoa has a rich history, reaching beyond European settlement. Two documents that explore this context are The Ethical Practice in Traditions of Youth Development in Aotearoa, an article found on Page 10 f the Code of Ethics and Ara Taiohi’s History of Youth Work Professionalisation. The following pieces of work explored the best model for a professional association for Aotearoa and the state of the Youth Work sector in the nation: - The P2P Phase 1 Report researched existing local and international models to help define the best model for a professional association. - The P2P Youth Work Workforce Research Report summarised the size and make-up of the Youth Work sector (work experience, qualifications, paid/unpaid, full-time/part-time) - Stepping Stone is a report on the Youth Work cohort of its wider 2014 National Youth Sector Survey, which compared results against the 2006 NYWNA Real Work Report . The results of these reports, along with an extensive engagement process with youth workers across Aotearoa created the foundations for the establishment of Korowai Tupu. Naming of Korowai Tupu Our full name is Korowai Tupu o Ara Taiohi: Te Tōpūtanga o Ngā Kaimahi Whanaketanga . This translates to Korowai Tupu o Ara Taiohi: The Professional Association of Youth Workers in Aotearoa. The conceptual meaning behind our name is a cloak of growth. The key words translated here are: Korowai: Cloak (connects to Ara Taiohi whatu raranga or strategic framework) Tupu: (noun) growth, development, seedling; (verb) prosper, originate, increase; (modifier) real, genuine, ancestral Kaimahi: Worker Topūtanga: Association, collective, grouping, organisation Whanaketanga: Youth development Aotearoa: Used when working internationally Using Starfish focus groups and an online survey, we gathered thirty-six suggestions for the name and values that the name would need to embody. A subgroup of representatives from the Pathways to Professionalisation group and Ngā Kaihoe met to work through the list. Through this process, many of the suggestions were woven together into one. The suggested name then went through a process with our Kaihautu and our Māori founding members for their input. Our Process

Resources For Youth Workers This online library is full of helpful resources including programme planning and group activity ideas to guidance on capturing youth voice, and more. Resources are listed under each heading. Have a resource that has helped you as a youth worker but don't see it here? Get in touch - we would love to include it. Supervision and Support Healthy youth workers are those who are supported to navigate the diverse challenges of their role. Supervision is a great place to start. EXPLORE OUR SUPERVISOR DATABASE Programme Planning and Facilitation Planning a weekly youth programme or looking for new icebreakers to use at your next workshop? Here are some online resources we have found helpful. - Access 100s of icebreaker, team building, and group activity ideas on Playmeo One of the best things about Playmeo is that you can search by activity type and group size to make your life easier. (Note that there is a paid version but plenty of the activity descriptions are free) - St John Youth have compiled some fantastic icebreakers. - More icebreakers and team activities from Erin Walton Youth Voice and Engagement Whai Wāhitanga is one of our Mana Taiohi principles and but while authentic youth engagement is extremely important, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start. - The Ministry of Youth Development has extensive resources, tools, and reports on how to engage youth voices. - The USA- based ACT for Youth website has some great research and tools for meaningful youth engagement that can be relevant to New Zealand youth workers. Get Qualified There are different pathways to becoming a qualified youth worker here and developing your career in youth development here in Aotearoa. Check out these courses and certifications. Trainings Click here to find out about our upcoming Code of Ethics and Mana Taiohi trainings. Resources to awhina young people Click here to access helpful resources for your young people including crisis helplines. Shop Resources Click here to view our youth development resources including our publication and MOSAIC cards.

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. 2025 Whai Wāhitanga Take Our Place 2024 We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. Māwherangi a tama roto ka taka, kāpuia ake ka pūrangiaho. 2023 Leaders of (tomorrow?) today! Ehara ahau i te rangatira mō āpōpō, engari he rangatira ahau mō tēnei rā. 2022 Our voices matter. We deserve to be heard. Taringa whakarongo! ki te reo o ngā taiohi. 2021 We’re stronger together. He waka eke noa

Hononga Taiohi With young people we understand hononga, identify and strengthen connections. Hononga is about joining and connection.  Linked to whakapapa, it is about connection to people, land/whenua, resources, spirituality, the digital world and the environment. When we understand hononga we recognise all the connected relationships in a young person’s world (whānau, peers, school, the community), and the places and spaces that support these. Young people are supported to identify and strengthen these connections. Strengthening hononga also means recognising the connection between the wellbeing of young people and the wellbeing of their social and natural environment. Mana Taiohi with JJ and Arohanui Hononga: Identify and Strengthen Connections In this expert from Kaiparahuarahi (Vol.1, No.2), Fati Tagoai explores the concept of Hononga. Read Here Kōrero Cafe: Hononga Hononga and the Code of Ethics 8. Tūhonotanga | Connectedness 9. Mahitahi | Collaboration Explore Mana Taiohi Click on the images below to explore each principle and see relevant resources.

Atarau Hamilton he/ him I see Ara Taiohi as a vital force in advocating for the youth sector and strengthening the impact of Mana Taiohi in practice. My hope is to see a sector where all youth workers are well-supported, connected, and equipped to foster the wellbeing and potential of rangatahi. By embedding Mana Taiohi into every level of youth work, we can ensure that young people are at the center of decision-making, and that our sector continues to grow in strength, equity, and sustainability.

Information for Funders Why fund organisations committed to a positive youth development approach? Positive youth development is grounded in academic research and the experiences of grassroots organisations, and research suggests that it is more successful than approaches that focus solely on young people’s deficits. Although there is recognition that young people face challenges and that risks need to be mitigated, the emphasis in positive youth development is on young people’s strengths and capacities, with a focus on thriving. When a positive youth development approach is added to other youth interventions, it has been shown that young people’s engagement increases and positive results are more likely. Here's a snapshot of some of our key activities last year: Mahi Tūturu This landmark research brings together the voices of 560 youth workers and managers from across the motu, painting a powerful picture of the realities, challenges, and hopes shaping our sector today. Grounded in tikanga and driven by collaboration between Ara Taiohi and AUT, Mahi Tūturu offers fresh insights to guide the future of Youth Work — and celebrates the mana of those who make it happen every day. Dive in to see where we’ve come from, and where we’re heading next. Mahi Tūturu Report Partnering with Ara Taiohi As the peak body for youth development, Ara Taiohi leads the strategic, systemic work that furthers the practice and effectiveness of the youth sector. If you are a funder that has a focus on... systems change workforce development futures thinking capacity and capability advocacy then we'd love to chat to you about any potential partnerships or opportunities to work together. Youth Week Are you interested in partnering with us to grow youth-led funding through Youth Week - empowering young people to design, lead, and deliver initiatives that make a real difference in their communities? By investing in this kaupapa, you’re helping to amplify youth voices, strengthen local leadership, and create lasting opportunities for rangatahi to shape the future they want to see. Work with us First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

< 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.