We’re opening doors to Tech.

Sometimes the best way to understand where a career could take you is to get inside the workplace and have a go.

Over the past few months, Tū Ātea has been piloting Gateway and school holiday work experience opportunities for rangatahi still at secondary school.

The idea is simple: give young people meaningful, hands-on exposure to technology before they have to make decisions about study, training or work.

Across the programme, rangatahi have spent time with different businesses across the Tū Ātea Group, met our kaimahi, explored different areas of technology and had the chance to see what working in the industry actually looks like.

We recently wrapped up this year’s programme with two rangatahi from Ōtāhuhu College and Sacred Heart College.

Their challenge was a practical one: take old dirt-bike parts and turn them into an electric bike.

Along the way they worked through everything from motors and circuitry to welding, troubleshooting and workshop safety – learning not just how the technology works, but what it takes to turn an idea into something real.

That hands-on experience is an important part of what we’re trying to create through Gateway.

Technology is a huge industry, but it can be difficult to picture yourself in it if you’ve never had the opportunity to step inside.

By opening our doors earlier, we can help rangatahi explore what they enjoy, understand the range of pathways available and start building confidence in where their skills could take them.

It’s been great having rangatahi come through Tū Ātea this year – asking questions, trying new things and getting their first taste of what a future in technology could look like.

And for us, this is just the beginning.