What Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand's Youth Mentoring Programme Involves

Updated

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand runs youth mentoring programmes that pair taiohi (young people) with positive role models who provide guidance and friendship. The organisation's stated purpose is to ignite youth potential — its site frames this as "providing taiohi/young people with positive role models, guidance, and friendship." If you are a parent or caregiver considering nominating a child, or an adult thinking about becoming a mentor, the programme is built around that one-to-one mentoring relationship rather than a classroom or group activity.

What the programme is built around

The core idea is a mentoring relationship: a young person is matched with a volunteer mentor who becomes a consistent, positive presence in their life. The site describes this as "mentorship, support, and resilience," and positions the outcome as redefining futures rather than simply filling time.

The organisation's framing is worth noting: "Potential is universal; opportunity is not." That line captures the logic of the programme — the mentoring relationship is the mechanism for turning potential into opportunity.

Ways to get involved

The site presents three main paths, each aimed at a different person:

Path Who it's for What it means
Nominate a child Parents, caregivers, whānau, or others referring a young person Put a young person forward to be considered for mentoring
Mentor a child Adults who want to volunteer Become a mentor and be matched with a young person
Support a child Donors and supporters Fund or otherwise support the programme

Each path has its own entry point on the site ("NOMINATE A CHILD," "BECOME A MENTOR," "SUPPORT / DONATE"), so the first practical step is choosing which of the three describes you.

What the site says about impact

The organisation publishes impact information and success stories rather than a detailed breakdown of programme mechanics. Two stories are featured:

  • Stef's story — described as a journey "from adversity to nursing school success," framed around resilience, motherhood, and study. The site presents it as evidence of "the transformative power of mentoring."
  • Jacqui and Emma's story — a mentoring relationship that moves "from navigating the uncertainties of new schools to building a legacy of community impact."

The site also links to "OUR IMPACT" and "NEWS AND REPORTS," which is where you would look for the organisation's own reporting on outcomes.

What the site does not specify

The public pages do not state match frequency, session length, minimum commitment, or the age range of young people served. If those details matter to your decision — for example, if you can only commit a few hours a month, or you need to know whether your child falls within the eligible age group — you would need to confirm them directly with the organisation or your regional office before proceeding.

Regions covered

The site lists regional operations including Auckland, Coromandel, Christchurch, Wellington, North Canterbury, West Coast, Gisborne Tairawhiti, Whakatane, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Taranaki, Nelson-Tasman, and Rotorua, alongside a national head office. Availability of a mentoring match depends on your region, so checking whether your area is listed is a sensible first step.

How to decide your next move

  • If you want a young person mentored: start with the nomination path and be ready to describe the young person's situation and what kind of support would help.
  • If you want to mentor: use the "Become a Mentor" path; expect the organisation to assess fit and match you with a young person.
  • If you want to support without mentoring: the donate/support path is the relevant one.

In all three cases, the site's own success stories are the best available signal of what the programme is trying to achieve — but for commitment details, eligibility, and regional availability, treat the website as a starting point and confirm specifics with the organisation.