07/10/2026
“Every child deserves a champion.” – Rita Pierson
Today we joined Ara Taiohi and our wider youth sector for the launch of the Youth Impact Report which was hosted at Government House. It put numbers to something many of us have known for a long time: every $1 invested in youth work creates $12.69 in social value.
Rangatahi today face challenges no generation before them has, but their core needs haven’t changed. They need to be seen, heard and valued. Youth workers are the champions who make that happen, and champions need to be equipped with the training and resources to keep up with an ever-changing world.
Youth work is mostly preventative, and its outcomes are human ones. That’s why they’ve been so hard to measure, and why this report matters.
To every youth worker, coach and champion: your mahi matters. We’re great at telling young people’s stories, but not always our own. It’s time to speak up about the difference we make, little by little. 💛
