Auckland’s pipes, roads, buses, trees and construction sites have something in common. Behind many of them are people whose careers began with a helping hand from Ngā Puna Pūkenga [Skills for Industry].
This year, the programme reached a major milestone, supporting its 1,715th Aucklander into permanent, full-time employment since launching in 2019. And if that wasn’t enough cause for celebration, the 2025/26 financial year was its strongest yet, with a record-breaking 452 people securing jobs across infrastructure, transport, construction and related industries.
This is quite a feat for an initiative that started as a pilot project with 42 job placements in its first year.
Ngā Puna Pūkenga is a partnership between Auckland Council and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Its mission is simple: help Aucklanders facing barriers to employment into stable careers while helping employers fill critical skills shortages.
The results speak for themselves. Around 80 per cent of participants have been able to remain off a benefit for over two years, demonstrating the success of the programme in creating sustainable employment pathways rather than short-term job placements.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the programme has been delivered for both Aucklanders and employers.
“Good jobs change lives. This programme is helping Aucklanders build careers while supporting the workforce needed to deliver and maintain the infrastructure our city relies on.”
From civil construction and roading to arboriculture and public transport, the programme connects employers with people ready for an opportunity. Employers provide permanent, full-time roles, while participants receive support with recruitment, training, mentoring and career development.
Paying the Living Wage further strengthen these outcomes, helping provide greater financial security for workers and their whānau while demonstrating employers’ commitment to meaningful social impact.
And sometimes, that opportunity changes everything.
One employee was determined to build a better future for his family. Through support from Ngā Puna Pūkenga, he gained his Class 2 licence and passenger endorsement before securing a role as an urban bus driver. What started as a goal for stable employment has become a long-term career.
Another employee joined the industry with no driver’s licence, no qualifications and no traffic management experience. Through training, mentoring and a healthy dose of determination, he progressed into supervisory responsibilities and now helps mentor others entering the industry.
These stories are not unusual within the programme. Participants have gained heavy vehicle licences, achieved industry qualifications and stepped into leadership roles. A number have gone from newcomers to mentors, helping the next wave of workers navigate their own career journeys.
Auckland Council’s General Manager Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience Craig McIlroy says that’s what makes the achievement especially meaningful.
“Reaching more than 1,700 job placements is a significant milestone and reflects the commitment of employers, industry partners and everyone involved in the programme.
“Behind every one of those placements is a person who has gained new skills, greater security and opportunities for the future.”
The programmes growth has been made possible through strong industry support. This year alone, 28 employers participated, including 15 for the first time. Since 2019, a total of 171 employers have worked with Ngā Puna Pūkenga to create employment opportunities for Aucklanders.
Minister for Social Development Louise Upston says employment has a ripple effect far beyond the workplace.
“Employment creates opportunities for people and their families. Ngā Puna Pūkenga is helping Aucklanders gain skills, build confidence and establish long-term careers.”
The programme’s impact has even attracted attention on the world stage. In 2025, Ngā Puna Pūkenga was named runner-up in the Procura+ Awards Global Initiative of the Year category and was a finalist in the Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards Social Impact category.
But for those behind the programme, the real measure of success isn't the awards cabinet. It's the trainee who becomes a supervisor. The new recruit who earns their first qualification. The parent who can provide greater certainty for their whānau.
As Auckland continues to grow, so too will the need for skilled workers to build, maintain and support the city's infrastructure. Thanks to Ngā Puna Pūkenga, hundreds more Aucklanders are proving that with the right support, a job can become a career, and a career can open the door to a very different future.
And after helping more than 1,700 people take that first step, the programme shows no signs of slowing down.