Explore your future
North Canterbury Youth Futures has been collecting stories of local role models and how they got into their chosen careers, and the study, training, or employment pathways that you could take to get into those careers.
Check them out and be inspired for your future!
Sport and Recreation
Featuring Amberley Pool and North Canterbury Sport and Recreation
Working in sport and recreation offers a dynamic and fulfilling career that allows you to inspire and engage with local communities through physical activity and wellness. This field requires a passion for sports, fitness, and helping others achieve their goals.
Key stills include leadership, communication and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
Whether you're coaching, managing sports facilities, lifeguarding, or organising community events, this career path promises variety, impact and the opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles.
Feeling inspired? Follow these links to check out some places where you could study or work in sports and recreation:
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury offers programs in sport science and physical education, providing a comprehensive education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Courses cover a range of topics including biomechanics, exercise physiology, and sports coaching.
University of Canterbury - Sport Science and Physical Education
Ara Institute of Canterbury
Ara Institute of Canterbury provides courses in sport and exercise science, as well as outdoor education. The programs focus on developing skills in fitness assessment, exercise prescription, and adventure-based learning, preparing students for diverse careers in the sport and recreation industry.
Lincoln University
Lincoln University offers degrees in sport and recreation management, blending business principles with sport and recreation studies. Students learn about event management, sports marketing, and facility management, equipping them for leadership roles in the industry.
The Kind Foundation
The Kind Foundation offers vocational courses in sport and recreation, emphasizing practical skills and hands-on experience. One such opportunity is the Intern Outdoor Instructors program, running from 19 August 2024 to 31 May 2025 at Wainui Park. Interns develop leadership and coaching skills, deliver outdoor education, and facilitate adventure activities such as kayaking, high ropes, giant swing, coasteering, flying fox, and archery. Accommodation, food, full training, and induction are provided.
Skills Active Aotearoa
Skills Active Aotearoa offers industry training and apprenticeships in sport and recreation. Their programs are designed to develop practical skills and professional competencies in areas such as fitness, outdoor recreation, and sports coaching.
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Water Unit
Featuring Waimakariri District Council
The Council's Water Unit team looks after the district's water supply, wastewater (sewage) and stormwater, including urban drainage, rural drainage and stockwater.
There's so many different career paths that you can take in the water team from being a technician on the ground, being a drain layer pipe installer, to a manager, an asset manager, civil engineer doing all the design for the water renewal programs.
It's a job that gives back to the local community, offers never ending opportunities for work, allows you to work with some great people and have fun on the job and be outside, and means you can work anywhere in the world.
Feeling inspired? Follow these links to check out some places where you could study or work to pursue a pathway in a water team like WDC:
Apprenticeships
New Zealand’s Water Industry is one of the fastest growing infrastructure areas. Working with water – like other essential natural resources – is dynamic and rewarding. There are so many aspects to the industry that it’s no surprise many people spend their whole career with water and never get bored.
Right now is a particularly interesting time to be in this sector, with issues such as climate change, ageing populations and ageing infrastructure presenting complex challenges for the water industry and New Zealand government.
Technology and data continue to be useful tools as the industry looks to meet the continued need for pure, reliable and sustainable water while simultaneously planning for an often uncertain future.
There is a need to engage and train younger workers to come through and fill the gaps made by an ageing workforce.
Connexis’ water training programmes recognise the specialist technical skills that water professionals need in order to take the industry forward. Training programmes can be taken individually or as part of a structured career pathway.
University of Canterbury
Civil Engineering is all about the infrastructure you see around you — buildings, roads, water supply, and transport, to name a few.
You will learn how to strengthen the design of structures to withstand 21st century challenges such as sustainability and climate change, as well as natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.
UC's civil engineering offers:
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Learn practical skills through projects, fieldwork, lab courses, and collaborative competitions like bridge building.
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Use bespoke design software and engineering platforms.
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Work experience as well as a research project.
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Minor in either Structural Engineering or Water and Environmental Systems Engineering.
Learn more about UC's School of Engineering here
Forestry
Featuring Native Solutions
Native Solutions provides forest management services for all aspects of planting, land maintenance, landscaping and silviculture nationwide throughout New Zealand.
Provide Forest Management Services For All Aspects Of Planting, Land Maintenance, Landscaping And Silviculture Nationwide Throughout New Zealand.
Want to know more check out https://www.nativesolutions.co.nz/
Feeling inspired? Follow these links to check out some places where you could study or work to pursue a pathway in forestry:
Native Solutions Ltd.
Planting season at Native Solutions is a very busy time of year (April – December). We are always on the look out for motivated, hard-working and dedicated planters to join our crews. A forestry planting job at Native Solutions is very unique! You will be working in a crew of tree planting experts anywhere between 6-12 people and will take you nationwide all over New Zealand.
Find out more and apply at https://www.nativesolutions.co.nz/recruitment/
University of Canterbury
UC is the only university in New Zealand to offer professional forestry degree programmes, including undergraduate programmes run through the School of Forestry and the Faculty of Engineering. Our first-class facilities include teaching and research spaces and the Wood Technology precinct, which contains a timber drying and preservation unit, a pulp and paper room, and a general workshop.
There are many plantation and native forest areas, both publicly and privately owned, used for teaching and research within convenient range of the University. Field trips to Canterbury's indigenous and exotic forests are integral to our teaching and we have strong relationships with local forest organisations and their valuable staff. Students also travel to Hanmer Springs; the West Coast; the Nelson region; and the central North Island on extended field trips. Students regularly visit several wood processing industries in Canterbury with which we maintain regular contact.
Learn more about UC's School of Forestry here.
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Hair and Beauty
Featuring Smoke and Mirrors Hair Lounge, Rangiora
Smoke and Mirrors Hair Lounge is a Rangiora based hair salon. Their goal is to provide a comfortable and accepting environment where everyone is encouraged to express themselves freely. Our team is dedicated to delivering top-quality hair services with a relaxed and friendly approach.
Want to know more check out https://smokeandmirrors.nz/
Feeling inspired? Follow these links to check out some places where you could study or work to pursue a pathway in hair:
Ara Institute of Canterbury
Ara offer a range of practical, industry-relevant programmes in hairdressing and barbering, beauty therapy and massage therapy.
Find out more at https://www.ara.ac.nz/study-interest-areas/hair-beauty-and-massage/hairdressing-and-barbering/
HITO
HITO offer apprenticeships and on-job training qualifications in hairdressing, barbering and beauty therapy.
Apprenticeships are the smart way to get qualified as you get your work experience in a real work environment. You’ll be paid to learn the skills employers really want while working towards your qualification. To top it off, you can start anytime your employer is ready, meaning you don’t have to wait for the start of term. This way you can go further, faster.
We partner with business owners to support trainers and apprentices throughout the qualification journey – from sign up to providing your NZQA certificate, and everything in between.
Find out more at https://www.hito.org.nz/
Broadcasting, Media and Communications
Featuring Compass FM - North Canterbury's own radio station.
Compass FM broadcasts full time from Rangiora to all the towns and communities in North Canterbury. With our transmitter up on Mt Grey, thanks to Mainpower's support, we're the only station in New Zealand with full power transmission!
But what makes Compass FM special? We're not just any radio station; we're a community hub. From Amberley to Akaroa and even down to Ashburton, we're on air, playing a mix of music that's perfect for your workday, weekend, or evenings. And if there's a song you're not keen on, don't worry - we've always got a banger lined up next!
What's really cool is that we're not just about music. We're here to share stories from locals like you, whether it's about a cause you're passionate about or a talent you want to show off. You might even hear from an 8-year-old with a song to sing! Plus, you can tune in online anytime at Compass.fm.
Feeling inspired? Follow these links to check out some places where you could study or work to pursue a pathway in broadcasting, media and communications:
New Zealand Broadcasting School
The New Zealand Broadcasting School is the premier national provider of applied education in broadcast journalism, television, film, digital media and radio performance and production in New Zealand.
Based in Christchurch, the school is hands-on and totally focused on career outcomes.
We offer a degree in broadcasting communications which has three streams: journalism; radio; and screen & television production.
University of Canterbury
Faculty of Arts
Discover a vast range of pathways to a thriving career in media and communication and beyond at the University of Canterbury. Explore a diverse array of subjects including media and communications, journalism, screenwriting, English, film, game development, and more. During your studies, you will learn both written and hands-on practical skills, with opportunities to glean insights from industry experts. Gain the desirable skills sought after by employers in today's dynamic job market. To learn more visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/arts/study-arts/arts-qualifications
Compass FM Intro to Radio Day
Compass FM is holding an introduction to Radio Course at our Rangiora Studios on Tuesday 27th August from 0900 - 2.30 pm approx and would like to invite High School Students year 11-13 who are interested in a career in broadcasting.
It's a full day course and you’ll have the opportunity to create and voice commercials, talk on air
with insight's into announcing, promotions, producing, music scheduling, content etc.
We will also have one of the Tutors from the NZ broadcasting school at ARA coming to talk to the students, and answer any questions they may have about The NZ Broadcasting school.
Cost is $60 per student To register for the day and for payment information please email contentcompassfm@gmail.com
