Young Enterprise Trust

07/08/2026

We launched the Young Enterprise Agenda at Parliament on Wednesday morning, calling on New Zealand to take four practical actions:

1) Build agency across the curriculum
2) Invest in national enterprise infrastructure
3) Expand equitable access through Young Enterprise for Communities
4) Create pathways beyond school

Read the full Young Enterprise Agenda here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eThnQ8Dk0Ury6Icw5TeJnbX9Zw0lqbM8/view

Thank you to YES alumni Elisa Harley, Toby Downs, Brooke Roberts and Ezekiel Raui, who shared the impact the Young Enterprise Scheme has had on their journeys and the role it has played in shaping where they are today.

06/08/2026

05/08/2026

Today, leaders from across New Zealand came together at Parliament to launch the Young Enterprise Agenda, united by a share belief: our future prosperity depends on the opportunities we create for the next generation.

Our young people are growing up in a world being reshaped by Al, changing career pathways and increasing uncertainty. Yet they are also the generation with the greatest potential to solve the challenges ahead, if we give them the confidence, capability and opportunities to do so.

The Young Enterprise Agenda calls on New Zealand to take four practical actions:

1. Build agency across the curriculum - Use Te Mataiaho redesign to make entrepreneurial thinking and Al fluency deliverable through every subject, not just Business studies. Preparing every young person who leaves school with the skills and mindset to build a business and solve problems, whatever pathway they take.

2. Invest in national enterprise infrastructure
- Create a multi-year, outcomes-based framework that funds the systems, partnerships and platforms required to build agency at scale.

3. Expand equitable access through Young Enterprise for Communities - Ensure every young person can access experiences that build confidence, capability and opportunity. regardless of geographic circumstance.

4. Create pathways beyond school - Support young people to continue developing ventures, leadership capability and innovation after programmes like YES.

This isn't a challenge for government alone.
It belongs to all of us.
Business. Education. Philanthropy. Iwi.
Community organisations.

Together, we can build an ecosystem that helps every young New Zealander realise their potential.
Thank you to everyone who joined us today and to those who helped shape the Young Enterprise Agenda, shared your insights, challenged our thinking and continue to champion the next generation. We are also incredibly grateful to the students, alumni, teachers, regional partners, funders and supporters who bring this vision to life every day.

Today marked the beginning of an important national conversation.

Now it's time to turn that conversation into action.

Read the Young Enterprise Agenda here:
http://drive.google.com/file/d/1eThnQ8Dk0Ury6Icw5TeJnbX9Zw0lqbM8/view

Special thanks to all of our amazing speakers today - Hon James Meager MP, Phil Muir, Elisa Harley, Toby Downs, Brooke Roberts, Peter Thompson, Ezekiel Raui 👏

10/06/2026

A very cool YES Effect story from YES Class of 2021 alumn, Alex Livingstone, sharing his latest venture with our YES South Island Teaching Mentor, Regan Powell 🙌

"In high school, I struggled with acne, which led me to explore natural solutions and eventually create Abalro Health - a barberry-based supplement designed to support skin and gut health. That journey started through the Young Enterprise Scheme, where I was lucky enough to meet Regan Powell, who mentored me through the process.

We went on to win Young Enterprise nationally in 2021, and were also lucky enough to represent New Zealand at the Dubai World Expo with NZTE as youth ambassadors.

Since then, I’ve continued building Abalro Health, and we’re now preparing to launch a small batch of barberry capsules. Along the way I studied marketing and management at the University of Otago, part of the first Bachelor of Entrepreneurship cohort, completing a degree in entrepreneurship. During that time I also had tremendous support from Startup Dunedin, and The King's Trust Aotearoa New Zealand.

Today, Regan and I have come back together to co-found BoostBlocks - functional ice blocks designed to support kids’ recovery and sleep in a way that fits seamlessly into family life.

We’re currently looking for parent feedback to help shape the product as we head toward launch. If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate you filling out our survey and sharing it with your network."

Fill out their survey here: https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fforms%2Fd%2Fe%2F1FAIpQLSeepO7bIpJH9DlhSvyi9VOvG7RTvMHqPCXPakD8X6hUqiRUBg%2Fviewform%3Fusp%3Dheader&data=05%7C02%7CJemima.Peck%40youngenterprise.org.nz%7C57b66183b7924921b76908dec6a6bc0a%7C53c34c01325a49f4aa00919086e2a6db%7C0%7C0%7C639166616621660315%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RxiYByYKjuKrDKVFEp643YGtKFY5jYPLpZfXEtSpugc%3D&reserved=0

02/06/2026

Welcome back to the story of New Zealand’s ultimate business legends. Founded in 1994 by Young Enterprise Trust, the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame has spent over 30 years celebrating the visionaries, disruptors, and pioneers who built our economic landscape. Follow our pages as we spend the next 8 weeks looking closely at the legacy of our 2026 inductees before we gather this winter at Cordis Auckland.

Event Details
Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 5:30pm – 10:30pm
Cordis Auckland, 83 Symonds Street, Auckland

Table bookings and individual tickets are available at businesshalloffame.co.nz/event/new-zealand-business-hall-of-fame-2026

Explore the legacy of our past inductees at businesshalloffame.co.nz/past-laureates

Auckland Business Chamber, Barfoot & Thompson, Forsyth Barr, Premier Supply Chains, No.1 Family Estate, Fistonich Family Vineyards

15/04/2026

Today, we are proud to announce the 2026 New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Laureates.

Young Enterprise Trust is delighted to honour an extraordinary group of individuals who have not only built successful businesses, but have reshaped what’s possible in Aotearoa.

We are honoured to celebrate the remarkable achievements of:
• Carmel Fisher
• Dame Rosanne Meo
• David Irving
• Sir Robert McLeod
• Sir Michael Daniell
• Tom Sturgess
• Naomi Ballantyne

Each of our 2026 Laureates represents a powerful story of vision, resilience, and impact shaping New Zealand’s economic and social fabric for generations to come.

They will be officially inducted at our annual black-tie gala dinner on 6 August 2026 at Cordis, Auckland. In a uniquely powerful moment, each Laureate will be introduced by a Young Enterprise student, symbolising the passing of the torch from those who have built our legacy to those who will shape our future.

🌟 Join us for an unforgettable evening of recognition, storytelling, and connection.
🎟️ Tickets and tables are now available: https://www.businesshalloffame.co.nz/

This is more than an event, it’s a rare opportunity to be in the room with the people who have shaped New Zealand’s business story, and those who will write its next chapter.

With thanks to our partners: Auckland Business Chamber, Forsyth Barr, Barfoot & Thompson, Premier Supply Chains, No1 Family Estate, Fistonich Family Vineyard, and Cordis Hotel.

Read more about each of our 2026 Laureates here: https://youngenterprise.org.nz/news-events/the-people-who-built-new-zealand-and-why-their-stories-matter-now-more-than-ever

01/04/2026

We love this story from YES Class of 2020 alumnus, Hamish Stayt, whose business, Ecobase, is still thriving on retail shelves around the country six years post Young Enterprise 🙌

"My Young Enterprise Scheme journey in 2020 turned out to be a career-defining experience, and one of the best decisions I made at school.

A group of boys from Timaru starting a lip balm brand wasn’t how we imagined our final year of high school. But after taking the leap of faith and navigating the challenges of building a business from scratch, we emerged with Ecobalm — a sustainable lip balm that has since grown from local markets to supermarkets, airports, and gift stores across Aotearoa.

The biggest impact YES had on me was the merging of academic studies and real world experiences. While studying at university, I was negotiating with retailers, managing inventory, and overseeing company finances — bringing everything I was learning in my commerce degree to life.

That foundation ultimately led me into corporate finance. Today, I work in Deloitte’s Transactions team in Auckland, advising businesses through deals and acquisitions. Building a business myself means I approach our work with a practical understanding of what owners face, both in scaling their companies and navigating a sale, giving me a strong head start as I build my career in the industry.

What started as a school project has shaped the path of my career, and it’s why I couldn’t recommend YES more to students willing to take that first step and build something of their own."

Keep an eye out as we share 45 YES Effect stories in celebration of our 45th year. Has YES impacted your journey? We'd love to hear about it: https://youngenterprise.fillout.com/t/1GpyvjGycAus

22/03/2026

We are proud to share that Young Enterprise has been selected as the official charity partner for the inaugural The Duke of Edinburgh Cup New Zealand Qualifier Tournament, to be held at Royal Wellington Golf Club on Friday 8 May 2026.

The Duke of Edinburgh Cup is one of the world’s most respected amateur charity golf tournaments, bringing together players, partners and supporters to raise funds for youth-focused initiatives in host countries. Founded in 2000 by the late HRH Prince Philip, the then Duke of Edinburgh, the tournament has a long-standing global legacy and supports local impact through funds raised at each event.

Winners of the New Zealand qualifier will be invited to attend The Duke of Edinburgh Cup World Finals in England in late September 2026, featuring competitive rounds at renowned courses and a Gala Prize Giving Dinner in Windsor Castle with a senior member of the Royal Family in attendance.

Find out more and register here: doecup.co.nz

13/03/2026

Our Hawke’s Bay Spark Tank brought together over 400 students, 17 schools and 127 mentors 🤯

A huge shout out to our Hawke’s Bay Regional Coordinator Alexis Overend and the team at the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce who pulled off this epic event with the support of TUMU.

Events like this simply wouldn’t happen without the generosity of our incredible mentors. A massive thank you to the 127 volunteers who joined us on Wednesday to listen, challenge and encourage your local YES students.

02/03/2026

As we celebrate 45 years of Young Enterprise we’re proud to share The YES Effect, a new series capturing the ripple effect of YES across Aotearoa.

From students who stepped into business for the first time (recently or not so recently 😅), to the educators, sponsors and supporters who helped shape their journey, we’re sharing the incredible stories that make YES what it is.

Our very first YES Effect story takes us back to 1990.

Tracey Holmes first experienced YES as a student at Taieri High School, now Taieri College, where her team went on to win the National Competition, earning an unforgettable prize trip to Singapore. Pictured here is Tracey and her winning team flying with Singapore Airlines, cooking alongside chefs at the Pan Pacific Hotel, visiting the Apple factory, and exploring the city, an experience she says left a lasting mark.

Decades later, that impact has come full circle. Tracey recently gave back to YES through her workplace Christmas charity donation, after years of staying connected as a judge, report marker and supporter.

This is the YES Effect.
Keep an eye out as we share 44 more stories throughout our 45th year.

Has YES impacted or influenced your journey? We’d love to hear about it: https://youngenterprise.fillout.com/t/1GpyvjGycAus