Youth employment — getting young people (15–24) into meaningful work — is a major priority in New Zealand. The NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate, youth wages, and first-job barriers are key policy concerns. Grants fund employment pathways, trade training, apprenticeships, and work experience. This guide covers the key funding sources.
MSD funds youth employment:
- Youth Service: Support for 15–19 year olds not in education or work
- Youth Employment Fund: Employer subsidies for youth employment
- Flexi-wage: Wage subsidies for employers hiring unemployed young people
- Youth Connections: Connecting at-risk youth to employment
TEC funds vocational training:
- Apprenticeships: Industry training apprenticeships
- Vocational Pathways: Secondary to tertiary employment pathways
- Industry Training: Employer-based training programmes
- MITO, BCITO, and other ITOs: Industry training organisations
MoE funds school-to-work transitions:
- Gateway programme: Work experience in schools
- Trades academies: Secondary school trade training
- School leavers pathway: Support for school leavers into work
Te Puni Kōkiri funds Māori youth employment:
- Māori youth employment: Kaupapa Māori employment programmes
- Industry connections: Māori business and employment networks
- Te Ara Whakamana: Empowering Māori rangatahi
MPP funds Pacific youth employment:
- Pasifika youth employment: Pacific community employment pathways
- Pacific business: Pacific enterprise and employment development
Gaming trusts fund youth employment programmes:
- Four Winds Foundation: Youth community development including employment
- Grassroots Trust: Youth employment and training
- Pub Charity: Community youth programmes
- Lion Foundation: Youth community development
Gaming trust youth employment applications:
- Employment skills training
- Work experience placement costs
- Trade tools for apprentices
- Youth employment navigation support
Employment through social enterprise:
- Ākina Foundation: Social enterprise employment
- Community-owned business: Youth employment in community enterprise
- Apprenticeships: Trade training employment pathways
Youth employment equity:
- Māori rangatahi: Higher NEET rates for Māori youth
- Pacific youth: Higher youth unemployment in Pacific communities
- Cultural employers: Employers who value Māori and Pacific staff
Youth employment in specific sectors:
- Construction: BCITO apprenticeships
- Horticulture: Seasonal and skill shortage employment
- Tourism: Youth employment in hospitality and tourism
- Technology: Digital skills for youth employment in tech
Strong applications demonstrate:
- NEET reduction: Young people moved from NEET to employment or training
- Employment outcomes: Jobs secured, wages, hours worked
- Equity: Māori, Pacific, and disadvantaged youth
- Sustainability: Long-term employment rather than short placements
- Employer partnerships: Employer commitment to youth employment
- Trade training: Vocational pathways to skilled trades
- Mentoring: Mentoring and support alongside employment
- Retention: Youth staying in employment beyond initial placement
Tahua's grants management platform helps youth employment organisations manage grant applications across MSD, TEC, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking employment, training, and NEET outcomes for young New Zealanders.