OFFICIAL STATEMENT New Zealand Government News

Creating rural career opportunities for at-risk youth

What happened
Based on New Zealand Government News · Aug 05, 2026

The New Zealand Government has allocated $100,000 to support a rural careers pilot programme for at-risk youth, with the NZ Rural Games Trust matching the funding to double participation opportunities.

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Creating rural career opportunities for at-risk youth
New Zealand Government News — New Zealand Government
Key points
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A unique Government and community funding initiative will support dozens of at-risk young people to experience the rural work environment through access to hands-on learning within the primary industries, Youth Minister James Meager has details.
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The NZ Rural Games Trust has received $100,000 from the Youth Development Partnership and Innovation Fund, to deliver a minimum ten-week ‘Agri Futures Pathways’ pilot programme for those aged 12 to 24 years in the lower North Island, over 13 months.
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Mr Meager says The Trust is matching that investment for a total of $200,000, providing twice the opportunity for young people to benefit, at no additional taxpayer cost.
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It supports them to engage with industry professionals who can provide real-world insights into the many qualifications and career options that can be pursued in the food and fibre sector.
Key numbers
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The Youth Development Partnership and Innovation Fund will provide $100,000 to the NZ Rural Games Trust for the ‘Agri Futures Pathways’ pilot programme, targeting 50 at-risk youth aged 12 to 24 in the lower North Island.
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The initiative runs over 13 months, offering a minimum ten-week hands-on learning experience in primary industries.
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The Trust is contributing an additional $100,000, bringing total funding to $200,000 without increasing taxpayer costs.

The Youth Development Partnership and Innovation Fund will provide $100,000 to the NZ Rural Games Trust for the ‘Agri Futures Pathways’ pilot programme, targeting 50 at-risk youth aged 12 to 24 in the lower North Island. The initiative runs over 13 months, offering a minimum ten-week hands-on learning experience in primary industries. The Trust is contributing an additional $100,000, bringing total funding to $200,000 without increasing taxpayer costs.

Participants will engage in practical workshops covering sheep shearing, quadbike safety, fencing, arboriculture, forestry, agriculture, horticulture, stock handling, and pasture management. The programme also includes support for youth to compete in Clash of the Colleges, a national secondary school competition focused on primary industry skills.

Youth Minister James Meager stated the initiative aims to equip at-risk youth with skills for rural employment while connecting them with industry professionals. The programme targets those at risk of disengaging from education, providing pathways into qualifications and careers in the food and fibre sector.

The investment aligns with the Ministry of Youth Development’s new funding direction, which prioritises programmes demonstrating measurable outcomes aligned with government targets. The Government expects the initiative to improve educational engagement and introduce youth to career opportunities in the primary sector, a key economic driver.

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