Diving Into the Future: Te Rau’s Journey with Marine Mahi for Rangatahi

For more than two decades, Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust (MTSCT) has worked toward connecting tangata to their local freshwater and marine environments — kia kotahi ai tātou me te taiao. One of the threads in that vision is our Marine Mahi for Rangatahi programme, empowering the next generation through real-world experiences and hands-on conservation action thanks to the generous support of SkyCity Auckland.

We talked to Te Rau, 24, to get a look at how the programme is making waves, both above and below the surface, in Northland and Auckland. His story embodies what this programme is all about. 

Te Rau (far left) and the team at the annual Poor Knight's snorkelling trip, 2025

From his first Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) snorkel day at Maunganui Bay/Deep Water Cove, to becoming a Marine Mahi for Rangatahi cadet, Te Rau has grown from a curious volunteer to a confident leader. Mentoring others and representing Wettie on the Annual Poor Knights Competition Trip, Te Rau has built strong social and professional skills with every opportunity he got.

“I never would’ve thought I’d be out at the Poor Knights as a Wettie Representative. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped get me here.”

Te Rau describes his time in the programme as “nothing short of amazing” and says he could see himself doing this mahi for a long time to come. Since the inception of the Marine Mahi for Rangatahi program in Northland, it has been a privilege to be part of the journey and to connect with rangatahi that are passionate about the moana and to provide them with guidance and real life skills.

“It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know Te Rau,” says MTSCT Northland Regional Coordinator Ray Downing. “He has shown much enthusiasm for the mahi we do and has been a great EMR ambassador and asset to the Northland team. He is a kind and caring individual that loves to share his passion for the moana. I look forward to being able to continue supporting Te Rau’s aspirations.” 

Te Rau with Ray Downing

The Bigger Picture: What Marine Mahi for Rangatahi Achieves

This programme supports rangatahi wellbeing by connecting them with the ocean and freshwater environments, fostering leadership, building environmental literacy, and nurturing a deep sense of kaitiakitanga. Through paid cadetships, mentoring, and hands-on experience in water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and marine education, these young leaders gain the tools they need to protect te taiao and inspire others.

The key goals of the Marine Mahi for Rangatahi programme are to:

• Empower and inspire communities to achieve their environmental aspirations

• Remove barriers to connecting with te taiao

• Restore the mauri from the mountains to the sea

• Develop rangatahi leadership and volunteer pathways

• Support facilitated mentorships for future environmental stewards

MTSCT Northland crew member Pippa Benton says, “Over the past two years, contributing to the Marine Mahi for Rangatahi Northland program has been both a privilege and profoundly rewarding. Having the ability to connect rangatahi with the moana in an accessible and meaningful way has been a wonderful gift. This program has taught me a lot about engaging with youth, and I cannot wait to continue developing it to provide many more young people with these once in a lifetime opportunities.”

Te Rau with fellow Marine Mahi for Rangatahi 2025 participants after a successful day cleaning up ocean litter

🙌 Arohanui, SkyCity

This mahi wouldn’t be possible without the backing of SkyCity Auckland. Their continued support helps remove barriers for rangatahi to access meaningful environmental opportunities and allows our team to nurture the next generation of ocean leaders. To everyone who’s made this programme possible: ngā mihi maioha.