30 local raangatahi aged 14-18 who were disengaged from school have graduated from the Oho Mauri Transitions Programme
and are now armed with skills to confidently transition into further education, training and employment in 2021. This
collective was made up of 10 Huntly College girls, and 20 students from Ngaruawahia High School.
Leah Crawford, Oho Mauri Co-Founder says “Our raangatahi would have faced many challenges trying to gain the right
skills and qualifications to enter the workforce without having experienced the journey of the Oho Mauri Transition
Programme”.
“The reality for some of our raangatahi is that difficult life and family circumstances, poor choices, or addiction to
drugs and alcohol can put them out of step and in the wrong direction, where poor lifestyle choices are made. As a
result, feel negative self-worth and are more likely to be disengaged, unemployed, involved in crime and have poor
health outcomes,” says Leah.
The first programme was piloted with 11 students from Huntly College, now these students in the second intake have
produced some impactful outcomes for Huntly College and their whaanau.
“Pilot programme graduate Perry-Lee Aratangi, a true success story, has since taken up full time employment in an
Engineering firm in Napier. He also won the Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award which celebrates the
achievements of secondary students across Aotearoa enrolled in vocational programmes. Our 10-week Oho Mauri Transitions
programme has given our rangatahi the foundational skills to set them up beyond leaving school” says Lizana Tuake,
Co-Founder Oho Mauri.
Huntly College Principal Barbara Cavanagh says "Oho Mauri is a programme that is doing for students what schools to date
have not been able to do - that is get students work ready and into jobs. Oho Mauri has created valuable partnerships
that are supporting our students. I am full of admiration for the team and their ability to always ensure that our
students who are slipping through the cracks at school are given an opportunity that sets them up for life. I am adamant
that this is a programme that should be rolled out into every school in Aotearoa”.
Ngaruawahia High School Principal, Chris Jarnet says “It was pleasing to see the number of organisations who have
supported the programme speaking positively about the students' achievements and the work ready skills they have now
developed. Future pathways have been established and students are now ready to take the next step in their educational
journey”.
“Oho Mauri would like to acknowledge and thank our valued partners and sponsors, Ministry of Social Development,
Ministry Business Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Education, Schick Civil Construction and graduation sponsor
Trust Waikato, D.V. Bryant Trust and Rusty Garden Art for their ongoing commitment and support to our kaupapa. We look
forward to seeing what the future holds for our next cohort. Mauri ora ki a taatou” says Lizana.