Kaiwhakatere

Leadership. Generosity. Connection.

Welcome to Kaiwhakatere – your place to make life-long friends, discover your strengths as a leader, gain volunteer experience, and get connected into heaps of fun things happening in Ōtautahi Christchurch!

No matter where you are on your leadership journey, there is a place for you within the Kaiwhakatere programme. As a part of the programme, you can

→ discover and develop your leadership strengths and skills

→ get connected with volunteering and work experience opportunities

→ be a part of exciting things happening for young people in our city like our Youth Markets and creative workshops

→ make new friends and be a part of a supportive and fun group of young people

→ explore your passions and interests while gaining awesome experience to add to your CV!

Other opportunities - 4C Centre Upcoming events

Our Programmes

Across each of our programmes we will have an overarching focus on looking after the hauora of all our young people. We acknowledge that true whai wāhitanga (participation) can only occur when young people have a strong foundation for their hauora, and feel a sense of connection and belonging within their group. We aim to have every young person involved in the Kaiwhakatere programme create a personal plan that shows their personal guiding values and strengths, and includes some goals for them to work on during their time with the programme.

Kaiwhakatere Leadership

Weekly leadership skills development, activities, and youth-led planning for our community activities.

Mondays 4pm – 6pm, Raupō Room, Papa Hou

Whakawhanaungatanga

Leadership skills

Employment and volunteering skills

Event creation and management

Papa Hou – find us here

Kaiwhakatere Connection

Weekly social drop-in space with creative workshops, study sessions, games, food, and good vibes.

Tuesdays 3.30pm – 5.30pm, 4C Centre

Drop in sessions

Utilise our technology centre

Workshops – photography, zine making, weaving etc

Connection activities – games, cooking, climbing etc

4C Centre – find us here

Kaiwhakatere Generosity

Weekly volunteering opportunities to help out in your community with a focus on climate action and sustainability.

Make sure you follow our socials to hear about other volunteer opportunities and events during the term.

Wednesdays 4pm – 5.30pm

Volunteering opportunities

Work experience opportunities

Community outreach

Focus on sustainability

Join us!

Facebook Instagram Youth Makete/Business Insta

Most importantly, if you’re interested in Kaiwhakatere, then we want to meet you! Please fill out an online application (it should only take about 3-5 mins). We will then follow up and invite you to come and visit the programme in person and we can chat about how you can get involved.

We have lots of activities happening after school during the terms plus extra leadership and event opportunities on the weekends and during the school holidays. The best way to stay up-to-date with our activities and events is through social media.

Online Application

Meet the Team

Jaz Rule

I enjoy connecting with young people from a strengths-based perspective and supporting them through their journey, the good times and the bad. It is my greatest joy in life watching young people reach their full potential!
I love all things nature; day hikes are my favourite, and I am also a qualified florist and run a micro flower farm. I grow, dry and arrange flowers to sell at markets or to friends and family. When I am not doing flowers, you will find me at pottery classes, spending time with friends or hanging out with my cat Socks.
My goal in this space is to make everyone feel heard, appreciated and valued. I am also super passionate about wellbeing, so come to me for any self-care tips!
Kaitlyn Bunz

I have a Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership and have been working for the past 4 years leading group programmes, mentoring one-on-one, event planning and advocating.
I love being outside in nature, engaging in some good retail therapy (especially thrifting), dancing and most of all spending time with people I love! I have a strong passion for anti-human trafficking and modern slavery.
One of my goals this year is to start being more creative and trying upcycling!
I absolutely love my job as a youth worker and supporting young people to grow and develop into who they are! I am so excited to form connections with rangatahi and being there in the ups and downs of life.
Jolie Sarginson

Ko Tapuae O Uenuku te maunga.
Ko Wairau te awa.
Ko Kurahaupō te waka.
Ko Huataki rāua ko Hāpairangi ōku tīpuna.
Ko Rangitāne, Ko Ngāti Apa, Ko Ngāti Kuia, Ko Ngāi Tahu, Ko Ngāti Raukawa ōku iwi.
Ko Macdonald Sarginson ngā ingoa whānau.
Ko Jolie tōku ingoa.
My passions are Te Ao Māori, Te Taiao and youth voice! Growing up as a proud wāhine Māori, these things have been naturally entwined into my life. My love for the environment comes from being out in nature whether it be through hiking, snorkelling, fishing or surfing, and I have a Bachelor of Social Environmental Sustainability. In my free-time I love a good card night and BBQ with whānau and friends. My goal is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of rangatahi.
Micah Foronda

I have been working with young people for the last 7 years and am currently working towards my diploma in Youth Work. As a passionate and creative youth worker, I’m dedicated to empowering young people to discover their strengths and reach their potential. Creating safe and inclusive spaces where youth can explore, create and develop their skills is a primary focus of mine. I’ve found that when hands are busy, our mind finds peace – an approach I integrate into my work to help young people engage and express themselves. Some of my favourite hobbies are knitting, doing puzzles and creating miniature houses. I’m always looking for new ways to be creative and find it incredibly fulfilling to share these experiences with the young people I work with.