The Rangatahi o Whakatū serves rangatahi between the ages of 12 and 16 who have become disconnected from education. Approximately 70-80% rangatahi Māori. 

Youth Nelson has been operating in Whakatū Nelson since 1997 and have a history of success in helping young people forge pathways back into mainstream education, or towards further training or employment. We strive to remove barriers and awhi rangatahi to take ownership over their hauora, future and direction by experiencing real agency and self-efficacy. 

We aim to provide rangatahi with opportunities to connect with knowledge across a broad range of subjects and see possibilities for themselves that may look quite different to those lived out in their immediate surrounds. Gaining social and relational skills that can lead to positive personal and professional relationships and to connect with their whakapapa and heritage, finding tūrangawaewae, understanding of self and identity they can be proud of. 

The resilience of our rangatahi and staff following the July flash flooding of our Washington Road premise has been extraordinary. Despite the loss of kura supplies, personal items, and projects, our rangatahi have remained calm and committed to their learning while adapting to a temporary location and learning routine.