What a day! On Monday 16 June, Pūkenga Rau in Tokoroa was buzzing with energy as nearly 1,000 students, whānau, and community members came together for the 2025 SWIFT Employment and Skills Expo. With the sun shining on a crisp winter’s day, the venue came alive with kōrero, connection, and community spirit.
Led by the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT), the expo was powered by a dedicated committee made up of local high school career coordinators, tertiary pathway specialists, and high school teachers. Their collaboration ensured the event was not only well-organised but deeply connected to the needs and aspirations of our rangatahi and wider community.
The expo featured close to 50 exhibitors, from training providers and local businesses to government agencies and industry professionals. It was a day of discovery, inspiration, and hands-on learning, with 950 sausage sizzles served to fuel the conversations.
“It was fantastic to see students and the wider community come together to see what opportunities are in the District,” said Kiani Tuhua, SWIFT’s Community Partnerships & Engagement Lead.
Feedback from exhibitors and schools has been overwhelmingly positive. Darnel Manu, Deputy Principal from Tokoroa High School shared, “The students really enjoyed it as did our staff. Our Principal thought it was great and liked the event being at Te Pūkenga. There was so much for the students to explore and also to experience the venue. I know it took a lot of planning but it definitely paid off”
Exhibitors also praised the event’s organisation and impact. Emily de Smidt from PIHMS said, “The new building we were in was great and the kids were lovely”, while Jeremy Hall from MSD noted, “The energy throughout the day was incredible, and seeing over 1,000 students come through was truly inspiring”.
The vibe was felt across the board. Delmita Te Miha from Toi Ohomai described the day as “a vibe… buzzing around and enjoying the demos and exhibits,” and highlighted the value of the campus setting and student volunteers
Wayne Dickson from Tokoroa Police called it “bloody good, nah, better than that—excellent,” and suggested bringing more hands-on elements like dog handlers and AOS members next time.
The overall sentiment was clear: the expo was a huge success. As Charles Change from SGS put it, “The energy from the students, schools, and community was truly uplifting, and it was great to see such strong engagement throughout”
SWIFT is proud to have hosted this event in partnership with our local education leaders, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to our supporters—Toi Ohomai, South Waikato – Space to Grow, and South Waikato District Council—for helping make the day such a success.
SWIFT is proud to have hosted this event in partnership with our local education leaders, and looks forward to building on its success. To everyone who exhibited, attended, volunteered, or simply showed up with curiosity—ngā mihi nui. You made the day what it was.
Bring on 2027—bigger, better, and even more inspiring.
