kiaora@standtall.nz
These are not abstract goals; they are the everyday skills and confidence young people need to take up opportunities and create their own futures.
But too often, the wider systems that should support them fall short. Young people are left disconnected from meaningful pathways, while businesses across Aotearoa continue to struggle to find the skills they need.
This challenge is laid bare in The Pipeline of Potential, a new report by Max Rashbrooke and the Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis (IDEA). The report shows that New Zealand invests only half of what other developed countries spend on training, tailored support, and work pathways. The result is a “blocked pipeline” — wasted potential, frustrated employers, and too many young people on the sidelines.
From practice to systems change
Every day, through programmes like ThriveX, Onramps, and YES we see the creativity, resilience, and determination of young people when given the chance. But we also see the gaps that limit their growth — fragmented services, short-term contracts, and a one-size-fits-all approach.
That’s why we don’t just focus on delivery. Stand Tall is also committed to systems change: connecting the dots between local practice and national conversations, and advocating for policies that make youth enterprise part of how New Zealand supports young people into work.
Suggesting directions
Max's report and recommendations align closely with what we see working on the ground:
- Circuit-Breaker Job Guarantees: practical placements that build skills, confidence, and a work record for rangatahi at risk of exclusion.
- Community-led commissioning: empowering iwi, NGOs, and councils to design services that reflect real lives and local strengths.
- Peer-to-peer “Launching Pads”: jobseekers supporting each other, building confidence, and even testing entrepreneurial ideas
For us, the message is clear: when systems fail, community-led initiatives like our flavour of youth enterprise are vital — but they also need to be backed by smarter policy and investment. Rangatahi deserve more than “basic” services; they need bespoke pathways that recognise their individuality, strengths, and aspirations.
That’s why we are hosting Max. He will present his research at the Unblocking the Pipeline of Potential event in Tauranga. This event brings together funders, youth service providers, employers, government, researchers, and elected members to ask:
- How do we ensure every rangatahi has a pathway into meaningful work?
- What role can communities play in unblocking the pipeline?
- And how do we connect practice and policy so that youth enterprise is not an add-on, but part of the system?
For Stand Tall, this is part of our wider journey: showing how local action can shape national systems, and how placing rangatahi at the centre creates better outcomes for everyone.
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Unblocking the Pipeline of Potential
October 7 2025
Tauranga
RSVP here
Contact
kiaora@standtall.nz
Stand Tall Community Trust
Creating the conditions for all youth to maximise their potential so that they can build the future they want to see.
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