Straight talk about what's next.
For teens working out their direction, the parents and caregivers backing them, and the schools helping them get there. Written in New Zealand, with sources.
For students & school leavers
“I don't know what to do with my life.” Start here.
No idea what you want to do after school? You're not behind. Six steps to find a direction – even when nothing interests you – starting this week.
2 October 2026 · 4 min readHigh-paying jobs in NZ you can get without a degree
18 well-paid NZ jobs that don't need a degree – from line mechanic to air traffic controller – with real 2026 pay data from Tahatū and how to get in.
2 October 2026 · 15 min readHow to write a CV with no experience: free NZ template and examples
Free CV template for NZ students and school leavers: Word download or copy and paste, three made-up CV examples and how to write a CV with no experience.
2 October 2026 · 9 min readCover letter template NZ: examples for a first job or apprenticeship
Free cover letter template for NZ: Word download or copy and paste, made-up examples for a first job and an apprenticeship, and what to change each time.
2 October 2026 · 9 min readJobs for teens in NZ: how to get your first job at 15 or 16
Jobs for teens in NZ: who hires 15 and 16 year olds, your pay and the legal rules, where to find real vacancies and how to apply with no experience.
2 October 2026 · 4 min readMinimum wage in NZ 2026: what you should be paid at 16, 17, 18 and 20
NZ minimum wage from 1 April 2026: $23.95 adult, $19.16 starting-out and training. Who gets which rate, the rules for under-16s and how to check your pay.
2 October 2026 · 10 min readHow to get an electrical apprenticeship in NZ
How to become an electrician in NZ: what apprentices do, ways in, the EWRB Trainee Limited Certificate, pay while you train and after, and how to apply.
2 October 2026 · 10 min readHow to get a building or carpentry apprenticeship in NZ
How to become a builder in NZ: what a carpentry apprenticeship involves, ways in, how to apply, apprentice and carpenter pay, and becoming an LBP.
3 October 2026 · 12 min readPlumbing apprenticeships in NZ: how to get started
How to become a plumber in NZ: what apprentices do, ways in, the PGDB limited certificate, apprentice wages and plumber pay, and how to apply.
3 October 2026 · 11 min readMechanic apprenticeships in NZ: how to get started
How to become a mechanic in NZ: what automotive apprentices do, ways in, MITO and other providers, apprentice and mechanic pay, and how to apply.
2 October 2026 · 6 min readIs university worth it in NZ? An honest comparison
Is uni still worth it in NZ now Fees Free is ending? Apprenticeship vs university on cost, pay while training, time and flexibility – and how to decide.
2 October 2026 · 4 min readFees Free ends in 2026. Here's what it means for you
Fees Free ends on 31 December 2026. Who can still claim up to $12,000, how and when to apply, and how to pay for study or training from 2027.
For parents & caregivers
My teenager doesn't know what they want to do. Should I worry?
Your teen has no idea what they want to do after school? That's more common than you think. How NZ parents can help them find direction – without pushing.
2 October 2026 · 4 min readWhat social media actually does to teenagers (and what it doesn't)
Social media and teen mental health: what NZ and international research really shows about sleep, mood, focus and self-worth – and what parents can do.
2 October 2026 · 3 min readScreen time for teenagers: how much is too much?
How much screen time should a teenager have? NZ guidelines, what's normal, the warning signs – and how to cut back week by week without a fight.
2 October 2026 · 3 min readNew Zealand's social media ban for under-16s, explained
Is NZ banning social media for under-16s? What the 2026 bill would do, which apps it covers, when it could start and what families can do right now.
2 October 2026 · 3 min readNCEA is being replaced: what the changes mean for your teen
NCEA is being phased out from 2028. What the new NZ Certificate of Education means, who it affects, the new A+ to E grades – and what to do now.
Guides
Career advice for NZ teens and school leavers: where to start
Practical career advice for NZ teens and school leavers: the decisions you face, questions to ask about any job and where to get free help.
Guide · 3 min readWhat to do after high school in NZ – when you've got no idea
Not sure what to do after high school in NZ? Your real options – work, apprenticeships, study, gap year, your own business – and a simple way to decide.
Guide · 4 min readJobs AI can't replace? How work is really changing
Will AI take my job? Nobody can promise a job is safe. How AI changes tasks, which work is harder to automate, and five questions to test any job.
Guide · 9 min readApprenticeships in NZ: how they work and how to get one
How apprenticeships work in NZ: who can start, apprentice pay, Gateway and trades academies, finding an employer and provider, 2026 changes, next steps.