Young people with purpose – Careers Expo 2025

This year’s Careers Expo was full of rangatahi on a mission says Ruby Sei, Partners Porirua Communications and Projects Assistant.

This was the second year the Expo has run. It is led by Porirua City Council in partnership with its community-led project team including Partners Porirua.

“Second time round there was a lot more understanding and purpose from those attending. They weren’t there for a free day out of school and some freebies, they were there to make connections to support their future.”

“Young people came in wanting a pathway – some already knew who they wanted to talk to, others came wanting to find out who they needed to spend time with,” says Ruby.

The 90 stall holders included representatives from Education, Trades and Construction, Health and Government, Technology and Professional Services. Partners Porirua was part of the ‘Work Ready’ Space, there to show rangatahi how they can help with things like CVs, getting their driver licences, and finding work.

A record number of 3,300 people came through the doors. Ruby says the majority were college students, job seekers and some members of the public also attending.

Everyone was given a careers ‘passport’ designed to get them moving around the room and engaging with employers and educators of interest. Once they filled out their passport they could enter the draw for several $500 Prezzy Card prizes.

“The passport aimed to get them thinking about their next steps be that careers, study or training courses.”

Ruby says employers and stall holders were really impressed with how engaged the young people were and the quality of the questions they were asking about the different opportunities.

And despite tough economic times Ruby says a number of businesses actually had employment opportunities on offer.

“Businesses that had positions available displayed a ‘We Are Hiring’ sign which was a cool way of indicating who had jobs.”

As well as the usual Porirua/Wellington employers and educators this year more universities attended including from Auckland, Otago and Canterbury.

The Partners Porirua stand proved popular with the Corn Hole game creating a buzz, a learner licence quiz with the winner getting a Footlocker voucher and the uber-cool 2025 sunglasses.

“These were really all just conversation starters as a fun way to engage with young people and get them talking so we can let them know what support we provide. The Expo gave us a chance to talk to a whole lot of people that we wouldn’t normally see.”

Those partnering with Porirua City Council to run the Expo included Partners Porirua, Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Te Runanga O Toa Rangatira, NZCT, Pelorus Trust, Le Fale, Tech Step, Tranquil IT, New World-Porirua, Ministry of Education.