Spark & Zeducation: Empowering Pasifika and Māori Futures in Tech

Aug 6
3 min read

Updated: Sep 7

A huge congratulations to the eight rangatahi who recently completed Spark Foundation’s five-week Turama Pathway internship programme!

Zeducation was proud to partner with the Spark Foundation to support this kaupapa — a powerful initiative designed to open doors for more rangatahi into the tech industry.

As part of our Voyage to Success programme, funded by the Ministry of Social Development, we delivered workshops and pastoral care focused on developing the soft skills essential for long-term success — confidence, assertiveness, resilience, and workplace readiness.

We had the privilege of working alongside Spark Foundation’s GM of Digital Equity and Skills, Martin La’a, and his dedicated team, who continue to lead the way in creating meaningful pathways for our young people. The impact speaks volumes: five of the eight participants have already secured employment.

We’re proud to share that five of the eight participants have already secured employment — a powerful reminder of what happens when the right support meets the right opportunity.

This is the kind of collaboration that shows what’s possible when purpose-driven organisations come together. At Zeducation, we believe it takes a village to uplift our communities — and this was one of those moments.

CASE STUDY OVERVIEW

Funded by the Ministry of Social Development

Programme: Voyage To Success - Work Ready and Employment Programme

Partners: Spark Foundation, Zeducation,

Timeframe: 2025

People Trained: 8 rangatahi (youth)

Locations: Auckland

Outcomes: 5 out of 8 rangatahi (youth) obtained employment in tech-related jobs

Duration: 5-week programme + 6 months of pastoral care

Delivery Mode: In-person (Auckland)

The Challenge:

Māori and Pasifika communities continue to be underrepresented in Aotearoa’s tech sector.

Māori make up 16.5% of the population, yet only 4.1% of the tech workforce

Pacific peoples represent 8.1% of the population, but only 2.8% of the tech workforce

(Source: Digital Industry Transformation Plan – Skills Workstream Report, 2023)

That’s why initiatives like this matter. They aren’t just internships—they are pathways to purpose and progress.

🔗 If your organisation is looking to grow Māori and Pasifika participation in the workforce, especially in tech, we’d love to kōrero.

Our Response:

As part of the Spark Foundation’s five-week internship programme, Zeducation delivered targeted soft skills training and pastoral care through our Voyage to Success initiative. Our programme helped rangatahi build confidence, resilience, and workplace readiness—ensuring they were not only prepared for tech opportunities but supported holistically on their journey into employment.

A huge congratulations to the eight rangatahi who recently completed Spark Foundation’s five-week internship programme! Zeducation was proud to support this kaupapa—focused not only on technical exposure but also the vital soft skills needed for long-term success in the workforce.

Through our Voyage to Success programme, funded by the Ministry of Social Development, Zeducation provided workshops and pastoral care to help build confidence, assertiveness, resilience, and readiness for the real world of work. The results speak for themselves: five of the eight participants have already secured employment—a powerful reminder of what happens when the right support meets real opportunity.

This initiative reflects what we believe at Zeducation: it takes a village to uplift our communities. We’re grateful to have worked alongside Spark and the Digital Equity team, combining strengths to drive change where it’s needed most.