Event Pathways Programme 2024
The Event Pathways Programme (EPP) 2024 was a milestone iteration of our rangatahi internship initiative in the live events sector. What began a few years ago as the Music in Parks Internship Programme - a small pilot focused on giving youth hands-on experience in event production - has now evolved into a cornerstone YANZ programme opening doors for diverse young people, particularly tangata moana. This year’s programme built on three successful prior iterations and took EPP to new heights in terms of scale and scope. We were very lucky to receive a total of 46 applications, for only 10 spots (up from 6 spots in 2023) . The community is clearly very hungry for an opportunity like this.
Funded by the Pasifika Success team of Auckland Council, with assistance from The Rock Factory and Gavin Downie, EPP 2024 was a highly impactful programme equipping participants with knowledge and practical skills to work in the Live Events Industry. Consisting of 90% hands-on learning, 10 rangatahi built a stage from the ground up, delivered a mock music event, and learned from industry professionals, technicians, and guest speakers.
The workshop weekend
The workshop weekend began on Thursday 14th November, with an Introductory dinner. This evening included the sharing of kai, as well as whakawhanaungatanga activities, thoughtfully facilitated by TK White from Te Karanga Trust. One of the loveliest moments was when the participants introduced their names with an adjective that starts with the same letter, for example, “Tall TK” or “Cool Chloe”. Jumping forward slightly, two of our participants ended up writing and performing an original spoken word poem at our gig, inspired by and including the adjectives we had all chosen for our names. This was such a wholesome moment, and showed the meaningful impact of our activities, right from the get go.
The intensive learning ran from Friday 16th at 9am until late afternoon on Saturday. The expert team from The Rock Factory kicked off our morning with an industry standard health and safety briefing ahead of unloading all the gear from the truck, and our participants were guided every step of the way. Details were shared on the best way to lift panels, and how to use parts of the stage legs to tighten screws - all great tips that left our rangatahi feeling like they had been given special insider knowledge to the industry. This amazing learning environment continued throughout the whole weekend. We are extremely grateful for Michelle, Mark, Amelia, Seb, and Michael, who came to the kaupapa with eagerness to pass on their knowledge to the rangatahi. They were kind, empowering, and always knew when to lead, and when to let the participants take the wheel.
As well as these hands-on workshops, an important part of the weekend was the downtime and breaks where the rangatahi could bond with each other. A lot of the participants had backgrounds in other creative kaupapa such as Te Karanga Trust’s Navigators programme, or high school spoken word competitions, and it was wonderful to see them coming together in the same way with the EPP rōpū. One of our participants said these breaks and time to digest (kai as well as information) were extremely helpful for their learning experience.
The Gig
The gig itself had a fantastic vibe. The awesome Te Oro staff said it was wonderful to see the space activated for a real gig and they want to do more things like that, bringing rangatahi artists to their amazing space. Our line up included a wholesome opening act from artist Aislin, contrasting to the high energy hip hop vibes brought by the Wāhine Navs. In between, our participants performed the aforementioned spoken word poem, and a few of them showcased their own songs. One of the participants coincidentally had some music dropping at midnight, and they were able to promote themselves during their set, before going back to operate the lights straight afterwards. This opportunity for the rangatahi to flex all of their different artistic muscles was a huge highlight, and something we wouldn’t have been able to do if not for their own enthusiasm and drive.
Almost half a year on, we are proud to say that a number of our participants went on to work at events over the summer, including the Auckland Council Lunar New Year, and Laneway Festival. Looking back, the 2024 Event Pathways Programme not only continued the legacy of its predecessor programmes but also expanded the pathway for youth in a tangible way.
YANZ is incredibly proud to have empowered 20 young people through EPP this year (including intern participants and rangatahi crew), and to have forged stronger links with the industry that will benefit future cohorts. We are excited to keep evolving this programme - exploring opportunities such as collaborations with more live events, introducing management focused workshops, and potentially extending the programme length to accommodate even more hands-on learning. EPP’s growth is a shining example of what can happen when we invest in rangatahi potential: we illuminate career pathways that young creatives might not have envisioned for themselves, and in turn, inject fresh energy and diversity into Aotearoa’s events sector.
EPP Rangatahi Testimonials
“The YANZ team did an amazing job organizing so much into just two days. It was a packed schedule, but everything ran smoothly, and I felt supported throughout. Thank you for the opportunity!”
“Overall, the program met and surpassed my initial expectations, giving me both practical skills and a deeper appreciation for event production.”
“I felt very cared for and comfortable with everyone from the first night, they were really kind, open and easy to get along with”
“Thank you for the lovely experience that was the EPP Weekend. I learned so much about the live events industry and have been inspired by everyone and everything.”
