Empowering Rangatahi, One Opportunity at a Time

We’re excited to share something truly special that’s already making a real difference in our community, a partnership that’s all about connection, opportunity, and creating meaningful change for our young Pasifika people in the Waikato.

In collaboration with K'aute Pasifika Trust, Cater Plus, and the Ministry of Social Development, a unique employment initiative is underway. One that’s helping rangatahi step into the hospitality industry.

So, who’s behind this?

Cater Plus, a proudly New Zealand-owned catering company that delivers food services right within client facilities across the education, healthcare, aged care, and corporate sectors. With a strong focus on people, community, and service, Cater Plus supports organisations from the Far North to the Deep South, and everywhere in between. K'aute Pasifika Trust, based in Hamilton, provides culturally grounded support in health, education, employment, and social services for Pasifika and wider communities across Waikato.

But this is more than just another job program. It’s a program to uplift our youth, nurture their potential, and ensure they are seen, supported, and given every chance to succeed.

In late 2024, a meaningful Talanoa (conversation) sparked the beginning of something pretty special. Steven Naidu, who leads K'aute’s Employment Services team, caught up with Sam Ware, the People & Culture Manager at Cater Plus, and they got talking about how tough it was for young Pasifika to land jobs. "We could see how hard they were trying,” Steven shared. “They were sending out job applications and just not hearing back. We knew something needed to change, and that we’d have a better shot at making a difference if we worked together.” That first conversation quickly grew into a shared vision – to build a tailored, culturally informed pathway into hospitality careers. It wasn’t going to be easy; it would take time, planning, and a whole lot of trust. But with K'aute’s training expertise and Cater Plus’s commitment to people, the foundation was set.

In January 2025, a collaborative hui at the K'aute Pasifika Village brought everyone around the table. Together, we co-designed a bespoke program centred around giving rangatahi the tools, confidence, and support they needed to enter the workforce.

The program includes:
✔️ Hospitality micro-credentials
✔️ Soft skills and job-readiness training
✔️ Real work experience at Cater Plus sites
✔️ Ongoing mentoring and holistic wraparound support

“This wasn’t a box-ticking exercise,” Steven shared. “It was about building something genuine that could open real doors for our young people.”

Recruitment kicked off across MSD sites in Hamilton, and the response was amazing. What made it different was K'aute’s personal approach, taking time to understand each young person’s story, exploring their passions, career goals, wellbeing, housing, and readiness for work. That genuine care shone through. The calibre of candidates was so strong that even those not selected at first have since been supported into employment.

On March 24, 2025, six rangatahi officially started work at Cater Plus sites across the Waikato. It marked the beginning of new journeys, not just into jobs, but into personal growth and confidence. Now, only weeks in, the feedback speaks for itself: “I love my job. I couldn’t get hired before this, now I feel like I’m finally moving forward.” “I’m learning so much every day. I wish more young people had this kind of support.”

Some of these young people may stay in hospitality long term. Others might use this as a launchpad for different paths. But no matter where they go, they’re stepping forward with real-world experience, confidence, and a support network behind them.

As Steven puts it: “We’re so grateful to Cater Plus for opening their doors. They saw potential in our youth and chose to invest in it, and that kind of leadership has a ripple effect well beyond one company – it uplifts entire communities.”

To our rangatahi - we see you, we believe in you, and this is just the beginning.