Creating second chances for rangatahi

Kaimahi working in Youth Engagement Services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa play a vital role in empowering rangatahi to discover who they are, build practical skills, and shape futures that feel right for them.

One of those kaimahi is Nita Koroheke, who recently stepped into the role of School Services Manager, supporting Alternative Education and Secondary Tertiary Programmes across parts of Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

For Nita, the mahi is more than professional, it’s personal, giving her the passion and drive to make a difference in the rangatahi space.

“I was also that kid, leaving school at 14. Years later I came to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to study as an adult, and ironically, I’ve ended up working with rangatahi who’ve been removed from school. That’s why this mahi means so much to me,” Nita says.

Starting out as a tauira, completing a Certificate in Bicultural Social Services and a Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work, Nita is now 7 years into her journey working at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Having worked as a pastoral kaiako, kaiako, and now school services manager, she draws on her lived experience to support rangatahi and the kaimahi she now leads.

“I didn’t do my degree to become a social worker. Growing up, there were always adults around me using language I didn’t understand and out of frustration I just kept making dumb choices. I studied so I could understand that jargon and translate it to help young people navigate the system a little easier than I did.”

Nita wants others to understand that the Alternative Education programme isn’t about punishment or catching up academically, but instead it’s an opportunity for them to grow in confidence, relationships, and basic life skills.

“I see Alternative Education as a speedbump. These kids have hit a wall and need time to figure out what’s next. This gives them the space to create a new narrative about themselves. It’s not about suddenly being better at maths; it’s about learning how to ask for help and feeling heard. Once a young person can sit comfortably in a classroom and say, ‘I’m struggling,’ their capacity to learn opens right up.”

Now, in her new role, Nita’s focus has shifted from supporting rangatahi directly to supporting the kaiako who do.

“My mahi now is helping kaiako find their jam. Everybody brings something different, and when they’re confident in how they deliver, our rangatahi benefit.”

Above all, Nita is clear about the importance of the support Te Wānanga o Aotearoa provides to rangatahi and the difference it can make in their lives.

“Once a young person is written off, they don’t always get the opportunity to correct that story. Here, they do, and that can change everything.”

Learn more about Youth Engagement Services.