Ngā Kaupapa
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Ngā Mihi to Our Village – Partner Breakfast at Lifeskills
At Lifeskills, we know it takes more than just classrooms to break cycles. It takes education, training, and true manaaki—but none of that is possible without the strength of our village standing alongside us.
On Wednesday morning, we were joined by our partners, funders, supporters, and whānau at our Partners Breakfast—a moment to connect, reflect, and celebrate the collective impact of our mahi.
Ngā mihi nui to every person who joined us. Your presence reaffirmed what we know to be true: When the village gathers, our rangatahi rise.
We were honoured to be joined by the Hon. Peeni Henare and Shanan Halbert from the New Zealand Labour Party, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board member Harry Fatu Toleafoa, and other central and local government members, Rebecca Soe from Life Community, and many of our long-standing partners—whose kōrero and tautoko inspired fresh thinking and reminded us why we do what we do.
Their messages echoed throughout the room: ·
- We don’t need to wait for policy—we can lead from the ground. ·
- Innovation and creativity belong in our approach to change. ·
- When we serve our people directly, we see the difference—because we’re in it with them.
- Together, we are stronger.
As Kirimangu Tautogia, Group GM of Lifeskills Support and Employment Services, said:
“In Tāmaki Makaurau, too many of our whānau are being pushed to the edges by housing pressures, the rising cost of living, poverty, and broken pathways. Real change for our Māori and Pasifika communities happens when we back the whole person - housing, hauora me ōna whānau, employment, education, and identity together. By standing together in kotahitanga, communities can move beyond survival, towards healing, growth, and step up as leaders in their hapori.”
It was also a time of rich networking, where partners shared their insights, celebrated wins, and explored ways we can collaborate more meaningfully across sectors. From education, whanaungatanga, employment and hauora. Our shared mission is clear: to create real pathways for our rangatahi and whānau to thrive.
Manu Palelei, GM of Growth, Funding and Partnerships, captured the power of our collective momentum:
“It was powerful to have Māori and Pacific leaders from our local ITPs, Te Pūkenga Work-Based Learning Subsidiaries, and PTEs gathered in the same room, each playing a vital role in vocational education. ‘Ikai ha to’a ‘e tu’u tokotaha’ — no warrior stands alone. When we unite with a shared purpose, we show the strength of a community-led approach that reflects our cultures and values, and creates real pathways to employment, wellbeing, and success.”
We’re proud to be part of a village that walks with us—and even prouder to know that our work is uplifted by such a passionate, aligned community.
Thank you for showing up. For standing with us. For walking the talk.
The seeds we plant together will grow into futures our next generation can be proud of.
Ngā mihi maioha,
The Lifeskills Team
