Head Start Programme

HEADSTART PROGRAMME

Head Start is our way of standing beside the people who are too often left behind. Every week, we walk alongside rangatahi who are struggling, individuals living with disabilities, and community members facing hardship, giving them paid environmental work, steady mentoring and a place where they feel valued. Out on the dunes, along the harbour and in our nursery, participants gain confidence, skills and a genuine sense of belonging while helping restore the coastline they call home. For many, this is the first time someone has backed them, believed in them and given them a pathway forward. Head Start isn’t just about employment or training, it’s about lifting people up, reconnecting them with purpose and creating a future where both our communities and our environment can thrive together.

Recreate Nz

Every Tuesday, Recreate NZ participants join us for a 10-week conservation programme that helps build confidence, routine and pathways into employment or further education. From 10.00am to 2.30pm, participants take part in gentle, hands-on mahi such as litter removal, plant care, dune support and other simple restoration tasks along Tauranga Moana.

Each person works at their own pace in a safe, steady environment where they feel supported and not judged. At the end of the day, participants receive a $100 koha payment card to thank them for their amazing efforts. Over the 10 weeks, we help them grow their skills, feel part of a team and explore the next steps that are right for them.

Here To help U

Every Wednesday, Outflow Trust is open to referrals from Here to Help U. We offer a short day of work experience from 10.00am to 2.30pm, where participants join us on conservation projects along the Tauranga coastline and inner harbour. This includes hands-on tasks such as litter removal, dune care, invasive-weed clearing, and supporting our environmental restoration sites.

To acknowledge your contribution and help with immediate needs, we provide a $100 koha payment card at the end of the day.

At this stage, each person can take up this opportunity once. This allows us to keep the service fair and make space for others who also need support, as our Wednesday spots are limited.

Live For More

Every Thursday, rangatahi referred through Live for More take part in our 10-week paid conservation programme, running from 10.00am to 2.30pm. Each session includes practical mahi such as dune restoration, invasive-weed clearing, planting support and coastal clean-ups across Tauranga Moana.

Throughout the programme, participants receive steady mentoring, helping them build confidence, structure and work habits that prepare them for long-term success. A $100 koha payment card is provided at the end of each day to thank them for their amazing efforts. By the end of the 10 weeks, our aim is to support each young person into full employment, training or education with guidance from Live for More and the wider Head Start pathway.

Our approach is simple, We listen, we support and we don’t judge. You’ll be welcomed into a safe, down-to-earth environment where you can take part in meaningful mahi at your own pace. While you’re with us, we’ll also talk with you about your goals and what you might want moving forward. If you’re interested, we can help guide you toward full-time employment, training, or education pathways through our community partners and the wider Head Start programme.

This service is about giving people a genuine break, a chance to reset, feel valued, and take part in something positive. At the same time, your mahi helps restore the environment and protect our moana, so the impact is shared both ways.

If you have questions or want to know more about our programmes and how our referals work, please reach out to us or click the links below.

LEARN | AKO

A gentle introduction into conservation mahi. We guide participants through orientation, safety and simple hands-on skills in a space that feels safe and judgment-free.

EARN | WHIWHI PŪTEA
Paid mahi gives people a solid start. Participants earn while learning, easing pressure at home and gaining the dignity and confidence that comes with meaningful work.

GROW | WHANAKE UMANGA

Support shaped around each person’s goals. We help people build confidence, reconnect with community and move toward real pathways into work or study.

Volunteer With Us

RESTORE | WHAKAORA TAIAO
Participants care for our coastline through practical mahi, debris removal, dune restoration, planting and monitoring stormwater areas. Their efforts create cleaner beaches and stronger dunes for everyone.

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