From School to Spark: Avi’s First Tech Role

“My name is Avi Reihana. I’m 18 years old and I currently work at the airport with Spark.”

Avi is one of eight rangatahi who completed the Spark Foundation’s five-week Turama Pathway internship in Auckland (2025). The internship was delivered in partnership with Zeducation and supported through Voyage to Success (funded by the Ministry of Social Development).

Zeducation’s role focused on the soft skills that help young people land and keep work—confidence, assertiveness, resilience, communication, and workplace readiness.

Avi’s first day was “really nerve-wracking.” He says he doubted himself, especially stepping straight out of college into a professional environment. What shifted quickly was learning assertive communication—moving from uncertainty to clear, helpful language with customers and teammates.

“Zeducation showed me a lot with my communication style. Just by being assertive—saying things like, ‘We can help you with that’ and ‘We’ll get this fixed for you’—I started to feel ready for the job.”

Avi also points to the support behind the scenes. “I didn’t get here by myself,” he says. “My auntie gave me advice and paved a pathway for me. And my younger siblings—I want to be a role model for them.” That mix of family backing and structured coaching helped him “break the ice” and push forward into work soon after college.

The programme’s focus was practical: short workshops, real scenarios, and pastoral care to keep momentum going after the internship. Across the cohort of eight, five participants have already secured employment in tech-related roles. That outcome matters in a sector where Māori and Pacific peoples are under-represented; this pathway ensured rangatahi could enter the workforce with job-ready habits and language, not just exposure to technology.

Avi recommends the programme to others finishing school and wanting a clear start: “It prepared us for jobs and helped us get ready to work in the tech industry.”

He also offers thanks to the partners who backed his journey: Zeducation, the Turama Pathway team at Spark New Zealand, and Mauwai.

Need help supporting youth into further education or employment? Contact us to book a chat to discuss more. https://www.zeducation.co.nz/contact-us