Seven years of showing up.
Elevate began in 2018 with a borrowed hall and six kids. We've stayed because the work matters and because the same young people keep walking back through the door — now bringing siblings, then their own friends.
Our mission
To create a place in South Auckland where every young person is known, supported and stretched — through structured programs, consistent mentorship, and a building that feels like home.
Our vision
A generation of rangatahi from Papatoetoe and surrounds who finish school well, lead in their communities, and stay connected to each other across the decades.
From a borrowed hall to a permanent home.
Borrowed hall on Hillside Road. Six kids, one whiteboard, weekly Saturday tutoring.
Added Friday futsal and started the first wellbeing circle. Reached 40 active rangatahi.
Lockdown forced everything online. Built a phone-based mentoring roster that we still run.
Moved into our own building. First Leadership Cohort intake.
Twelve programs, a full-time staff team, and our first school-holiday overnight camp.
Where we are now — and where this site picks up the story.
Four values, non-negotiable.
Our values aren't a poster on the wall. They're the filters we run every decision through — from who we hire to whose phone call we return first. If we ever break one, our community will be the first to tell us.
Manaakitanga
We host with care. Every person who walks in is welcomed by name.
Mahi tahi
We work as a whānau — staff, volunteers, parents, rangatahi.
Rigour
Programs are structured, measured, and improved each term.
Open doors
Faith, ethnicity, and ability are never a barrier to taking part.
People who stay.
The team behind Elevate — coaches, tutors, facilitators. Most started here as students themselves and have stayed for years, not terms.
Staff profiles coming soon
We're collecting up-to-date photos, bios and police-vet records before publishing — they'll appear here as soon as the admin team confirms each one.
Our Board of Trustees.
Trustee list will appear here
We publish the full board roster on this page once each trustee has signed off on their public listing.
Come visit.
The fastest way to understand what we do is to walk through the doors. Drop in any weekday afternoon, or book a tour with our whānau liaison.