Life after school

Progressive Employment Programme

Link Alliance Summer Interns

We’re so proud of our cohort of 21 Link Alliance Summer Interns! At the start of 2023, interns graduated from a three-month structured workplace-based training and mentoring programme which was designed to build confidence, experience and relationships.

Our 20 engineering students and one commerce student were based onsite and at head office. They came from across Aotearoa New Zealand and a few of our interns have stayed on with us while they complete their studies.

Interns were first welcomed onto the project with a powhiri. They then completed a full project induction (requried for all new CRL staff), health and safety inductions including a Site Safe Passport and some also needed to do a rail induction.

We exposed rangatahi to as many aspects of the project as possible so that they could explore the varied subject matter expertise required to build the CRL. We also based them within a team with a manager/mentor so that they could learn as much as possible within their chosen internship field.

As well as all the learning – our interns also had a lot of fun together! There were some competitive activities involved including an extremely spirited Amazing Race across the CRL sites.

Interns told us that as well as the learning opportunities on the project, they really valued the personal relationships they have made including with each other.

This is the Link Alliance’s fourth year of welcoming summer interns to help build the CRL. Huge congratulations to everyone involved! We plan to continue offering summer internships for university students. If you're interested in joining a future cohort, get in touch on socialoutcomes@linkalliance.co.nz

Through this programme we welcome rangatahi who are not already in education or working to take part in a 16-week paid internship. They are also given the opportunity to secure full time employment following graduation.

We work closely with pastoral care organisations who nominate interns and help to support them while they are part of the PEP. Link Alliance mentors are also available as interns complete a structured placement that’s enriched with meaningful employment.

We understand that rangatahi leave school for a number of reasons and the PEP is designed to bypass barriers that prevent rangatahi reaching the employment start line.

We have had a group of PEP interns on the project every year since 2019. Last year saw a cohort of 10 graduate the programme.

Meet the Young Gunz!

We emphasise social responsibility to upskill the young workforce, and try to provide a whānauoriented environment for employees. Through ‘Young Gunz’, our young workers at the Maungawhau Station site take turns facilitating the 7am Friday construction team meeting –the ‘toolbox’ talks and then individually give an update on upcoming work, learnings and highlights for the week to the rest of the group.

Link Alliance supervisor Morris Misilisi says it began “with making sure rangatahi felt able to speak up, particularly around health and safety. This is such an important issue on site and rangatahi need to know they are encouraged to share concerns and suggestions.”

Atarangi in front of Te Waihorotiu Station's construction site

Back to the books

Atarangi was one of the project’s first Progressive Employment Programme interns. She completed the programme in 2019 and recently told us that when she began her journey, she never imagined that it would lead her down this career pathway. Fast forward to 2022, these days you will find Atarangi out across the Te Waihorotiu (Aotea) and Karangaa-Hape (Karangahape) sites fulfilling her role as the Environmental Administrator.

Atarangi is also completing an Environmental Science degree part time at the University of Auckland with the support of a Downer cadetship scholarship.

She tells us she is grateful to be supported in so many ways from her Link Alliance whanau, and we appreciate that she gives back in many ways such as sharing her career journey. She has been popular with students as a presenter for the Link Alliance Education Engagement Programme (LEEP), and at external community events.

Raised in the small rural community of Taumarunui, I know how important education is to forging a rewarding career. I’ve worked in civil engineering for over 24 years on major infrastructure projects across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific and I enjoy opportunities to tell my story to the younger generation.

Glenn Houpapa, Stations Delivery Manager

It’s important for us to show the fantastic work we’re doing to school students to encourage them into careers in the engineering and construction industries.

I love engaging with and sharing my knowledge with the next generation. They will be our future change makers of the world!

Diana

I like to take part in the engagement sessions as I love to show what I do to the youth in hopes to inspire them and show them that there’s more than just pick packing and labouring jobs out there

Bringing schools around site is one of the highlights of my job. It’s a great opportunity to show young people there’s more to construction than just cranes and clipboards, and to spark their interest in potential careers they might not have otherwise discovered.

It’s always a wonderful experience getting to share with young women the amazing job possibilities there are across construction for them in the future.

Deidre Fitzgerald, Development Response Manager at