Taylor Bruning & Saskia Gray
From Trades Academy Students to Kaiārahi Rangatahi at Whenua Iti Outdoors
For both Taylor and Saskia, Trades Academy was far more than a programme they attended while at school. It provided opportunities, built confidence, developed leadership skills, and ultimately helped shape the career paths that have led them both to Whenua Iti Outdoors, the organisation where their Trades Academy journeys began.
Taylor first attended the Manaaki Tāpoi Level 2 Trades Academy programme in 2018 while she was a Year 12 student at Nayland College. Looking back, she describes the experience as life changing.
“At the time I was lost, uncertain about life, and quite a reserved person. After my first week at Manaaki, I went back to school, and my teachers noticed a real change in me.” That newfound confidence created opportunities for Taylor to take on leadership roles at school. She became involved in Mihi Whakatau, supported Year 9 students, and in Year 13 was appointed as a Kaitaunaki within her whānau class. She went on to complete both the Manaaki Tāpoi Level 3 and Extension programmes in Year 13, where she met fellow Trades Academy student, Saskia Gray. Through the programmes, Taylor developed valuable skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.
“The courses helped me understand who I am and gave me confidence in myself. The skills I learned working with others have been incredibly important in helping me get to where I am today.”
After leaving school, Taylor worked two jobs, splitting her time between an early morning bakery shift and afternoon work at The Warehouse. Unsure whether university was the right path, she focused on earning an income and living independently.
An opportunity then arose through Whenua Iti Outdoors, which offered her casual work. With support from Rātā Foundation funding, she later secured a cadetship on the Waka Journey programmes with Whenua Iti Outdoors. Additional Sport NZ funding aimed at supporting rangatahi into instructor roles enabled Taylor to move into a career in outdoor education. Today, she is a Kaiārahi Rangatahi at Whenua Iti Outdoors, delivering programmes for primary and secondary students, tutoring on the Manaaki Tāpoi Trades Academy programme, and working with international students through ExpedNZ. Māori culture and values are woven throughout the programmes she delivers.
Looking ahead, Taylor hopes to move into leadership and management roles. “Most of what I’ve learned so far has been through experience, but I’d like to study to develop my skills further. I’m interested in leadership, professional development, Te Ao Māori, working with rangatahi, and helping people connect with the taiao.” Her advice to students considering Trades Academy is simple: “It might feel scary stepping into something new, especially when it takes you out of your comfort zone, but these opportunities can be life changing. Just give it a go.”
Saskia’s Trades Academy journey began in 2019 when she attended the Manaaki Tāpoi Level 3 programme at Whenua Iti Outdoors. The following year, she completed the Environmental Sustainability programme, further developing her passion for people and the environment. After leaving school, Saskia enrolled at the University of Canterbury and began studying towards a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Law. While she enjoyed the environmental and legal aspects of her studies, she found herself drawn to more practical, hands-on learning. “My experiences with Trades Academy at Whenua Iti helped me realise that I enjoyed learning through doing and working directly with people.”
Partway through her second year, Saskia changed her studies and completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Indigenous Studies and Psychology. After graduating, a social media post shared by Taylor about a Whenua Iti Outdoors tutoring opportunity caught her attention. That opportunity led Saskia back to the organisation where her Trades Academy journey had started. She has now been employed at Whenua Iti Outdoors for almost two years as a Kaiārahi Rangatahi, working alongside Taylor and delivering many of the same programmes.
“Both Manaaki Tāpoi and Environmental Sustainability gave me a great introduction to Whenua Iti and the work we do. They helped me understand what it was like to be a tutor and gave me opportunities to lead groups and develop confidence.” The technical knowledge she gained through Environmental Sustainability, including trapping, native flora and fauna identification, and caring for the whenua, has also proven valuable in her current role.
In the future, Saskia hopes to work in the cultural advisory space. “Through Manaaki Tāpoi and my work at Whenua Iti, I’ve met a wide range of people and organisations working in the cultural sector. It’s sparked a genuine interest in exploring the opportunities available in that space.”
Like Taylor, she encourages students to take advantage of the opportunities Trades Academy offers. “If you think a programme like this might be for you, just give it a try. You never know where it might lead.”
A Shared Journey
Although they took different paths after leaving school, both Taylor and Saskia credit their Trades Academy experiences with helping them discover their strengths, build confidence, and find direction.
Today, they work side-by-side as Kaiārahi Rangatahi at Whenua Iti Outdoors, helping the next generation of young people learn, grow, and discover opportunities of their own. Their stories are a powerful example of how Trades Academy can open doors, create pathways, and inspire future careers in unexpected ways.