Kokiri Marae Youth Guarantee Programmes: growing “amazing human beings ready for work and settled.”

Ka haere tonu nga Akoranga o rātou ma, mo ake tonu āke. The teachings of those that have gone on, will go on forever.

Kokiri Marae provides a comprehensive health and social service programme, a kohanga reo – and continues the tradition of providing education and training for Māori who are failing to flourish in the mainstream system. It is funded by the TEC as a PTE and the programme includes literacy in te reo, numeracy, life skills, budgeting, computer skills and health and safety awareness in the workplace.

Learners come to the programme either through word of mouth, or because they have been referred from secondary schools. Local schools are keen to refer rangatahi to Kokiri Marae because they know they will stay. Most are boys. The few girls that come are usually just shy and lacking in confidence – often because of bullying. Some have high levels of anxiety and can be helped with that.

The programme is run as a whānau and everyone delivering the programme is known as auntie (or uncle). Many rangatahi come from difficult home lives and have had poor attendance at school so they need support. Health services, social workers, counsellors, anger management stop smoking… everything they need is available.

When they start the programme learners are picked up each morning and dropped home. Some sessions are classroom-based, others involve informal learning – working as a team, cooking, how to care for visitors. They are encouraged to take what they learn into their homes such as manaaki– looking after each other, supporting wellbeing.

All learners are encouraged to complete three programmes. About 70 percent do. The goal is to go onto quality work, and a proper career pathway. Most of the boys go to Weltec and into a trade while the girls often pursue nursing at Whitireia. The alumni page on Facebook reveals many remarkable successes. Many past learners, often want to come back and help out. The philosophy of tuakana, or those with more experience, helping teina, the younger and less experienced, is evident.

The management and governance of Kokiri Marae is, like all marae, based on collective responsibility and decision-making by the marae whānau. Whakawhanaungatanga is its central characteristic. It allows people to share knowledge, values, and ideas. Everyone works to maximise group benefits while allowing different sections to retain their autonomy. The views of kaumātua and kuia are recognised and valued. With its long record of responding to the education and training needs of Māori, it is an important part of ACE history.

This award recognises an adult learning programme for Māori learners that has achieved outstanding learning outcomes through innovative programme development, creative implementation and sound evaluation.

Click here to see the full list of 2022 ACE Annual Award recipients.