Merchant 1948’s Young Hearts Project has been partnering with MATES Junior since it was launched in 2014. This project was established to assist young people in our community, especially those who are struggling in life. Read more
It has been 7 years since James Tevaga left school and he looks back at his time with MATES as one of his highlights. Now a fully qualified teacher, he believes he wouldn't be where he is today without MATES... Read more
This year MATES has a whole new team ready and keen to start work for 2021. The new team are all experienced MATES mentors and are passionate about helping release the potential in young people through mentoring... Read more
Kuru Kae was the first member of his extended family to study at university. He believes the support he received from his MATES mentor helped him get on the pathway towards achieving his goals - a Masters in Criminology.... Read more
The mentoring connection is powerful, builds confidence and improves the students’ sense of wellbeing. A great example of the power of the mentoring relationship to release untapped potential is a shy young girl from Avondale Intermediate... Read more
MATES needs to find a new batch of eager Uni students, willing to give back to the community through mentoring. Our Programme Manager, Sonya Masoe, gives us the low-down on what's involved with becoming a MATES mentor… Read more
"Uni for a Day" is legendary, This much-anticipated outing is held each year to give Year 8 students something to aim for as they prepare to begin High School. After being cancelled twice due to Covid, it was finally held in October 2020... Read more
MATES had a challenging start to a year that will go down in history, but the team finished the year in style with an epic Senior Prizegiving and celebration held in rooms at Eden Park... Read more
During the last school holidays, MATES ran a Study Fono with a focus on mentoring and tutoring senior students who have been doubly disadvantaged by the first Covid lockdown and loss of nearly a term of schooling... Read more
An inside look at a MATES Junior study group, where the goal is building relationships - from which confidence and positivity begin to flow out into other areas of life, including the student’s learning... Read more
Rahui was a MATES mentee in her final year at school... now in her fourth year of a six-year conjoint degree, she decided to give back to her community and become a MATES mentor herself. Here is Rahui's journey in mentoring... Read more
Meteri's story with MATES began as a mentee in 2015 at Aorere College, a student with potential who needed help with her studies. Five years later and a Law student at Uni, she has come full circle and has become a MATES mentor... Read more