AWARDS FINALIST: Genesis – Ngā Ara | Transformational education, training, and employment pathways
IMAGE: Kauri Papanui-Enoka (centre) with scaffolding mentors Kereama Taaka-Te Kaute (left) and Tassie Maxwell.
Genesis Energy’s Ngā Ara programme focuses on attracting, nurturing, and engaging rangatahi (young people) in education, study, and career pathways.
Established in July 2020, it partners with secondary schools closest to Genesis power schemes, with initiatives including apprenticeships, internships, work experience, scholarships, and partnership programmes with community organisations such as Pūhoro STEMM Academy, POU Limited and Oho Mauri.
Over four years, the programme has reached more than 3400 rangatahi, providing substantial support and opportunities.
Figures for the past two years show eight apprenticeships, 18 internships, 31 work experience placements for Year 11 to Year 13 students, 142 scholarships valued at more than $108,000 and more than 500 students engaged by Genesis in Pūhoro programmes and wānanga.
Apprenticeships, interns
One of the programme's successes is the reintroduction of apprenticeships.
Currently, six apprentices are employed at Huntly and the Tongariro power scheme, including two though POU Limited, a Māori business based in Raahui Pookeka Huntly. Two of the first – Jasmine Lowe and Manukura Heta – became qualified electricians in April and have secured full-time employment. A further three are expected to qualify this year.
Additionally, several Ngā Ara interns have transitioned to permanent roles within Genesis. Current team members include Hinera Parker, community liaison coordinator; Adrienne Penewi, graduate generation communications engineer; Jaelyn Andersen and Rajiei Chopra, customer operations administrators; and Allan Liang, graduate mechanical engineer.
Pūhoro STEMM Academy
Genesis’ partnership with Pūhoro supported the launch of their Te Urunga Tū programme in four schools close to Genesis power schemes.
Pūhoro programmes help rangatahi see the connection between mātauranga Māori and science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). They also enhance academic achievement and provide pathways into high value careers.
Students in Te Urunga Tū receive weekly in-school sessions, tutoring, mentoring, and regional wānanga at tertiary campuses also attended by Genesis team members.
Oho Mauri
Another notable collaboration involves Oho Mauri, a community organisation that offers a 10-week work readiness programme.
In 2023, Genesis and POU Limited partnered with Oho Mauri to develop an entry-level scaffolding training programme – one goal being to fulfil scaffolding positions needed on-site at Huntly Power Station.
This initiative employed six rangatahi previously not in education, employment, or training for 13 weeks.
They received hands-on mentoring and achieved a Level 3 Pre-Trade Certificate in Construction. One of these students, Kauri Papanui-Enoka, has already secured a full-time scaffolding apprenticeship with POU Limited.
Outcomes
Ngā Ara has surpassed expectations, deepening community relationships and engagement. It has made energy sector career pathways more visible and accessible, empowering young people from local communities – Raahui Pookeka, Huntly; Waikaremoana, Te Wairoa; Tūrangi, Taumarunui, Ohakune, Taihape; Twizel and Takapō/Lake Tekapo – into long-term, meaningful careers.
The outcomes of Ngā Ara have been significant, with apprentices completing training and securing full-time employment, internships leading to graduate roles, and work experience students gaining valuable insights into potential career paths.
Ngā Ara is a long-term commitment with an intergenerational outlook. The programme has built trust and confidence for Genesis and the wider energy sector.
Most importantly, the company said, the initiatives align with local communities’ unique aspirations, and are empowering young people’s pathways to the future of work.
The Community Initiative of the Year Award is sponsored by Eagle Technology.