The Project

A million minds are not making the contribution to New Zealand society that they might. How can we harness this potential?

The future of many bright young people in our country is at risk, compromising our chances of building a prosperous, successful knowledge society. In Auckland in particular, where the population is youthful and diverse, these challenges are particularly acute. 

It is now widely acknowledged that the current levels of educational under-achievement puts the region’s prosperity at risk, undermining our chances of sustaining a highly skilled and globally competitive workforce.

In line with the Trust’s vision and mission, it decided to address the well-documented issue of the underachievement of Maori and Pasifika children in schools  in the Trust's region - Auckland and Northland. The ultimate objective is to ensure that Maori and Pasifika children are able, as they move into adulthood, to fully engage in New Zealand society and to enable them to develop the capacity and skills required to manage and grow their economic base.

The Trust decided to begin with community consultation. It held two parallel consultations: one with Maori and one with Pasifika. The Trust agreed to resource and support the two groups to come up with a set of recommendations. The groups were to set their own timelines.

ASBCT Trustees have agreed to set aside a significant sum for this project. There is a commitment from the Trust to fully resourcing and supporting it and to building an ongoing relationship with the project partners.