Te Ara Poutama Alternative Education Centre was established to cater for the needs of students ages 13-16yrs, alienated from mainstream education and at-risk of permanent dislocation from a positive future. Te Ara Poutama provides an emotionally safe learning environment where students can discover their unique strengths and talents while learning new skills, gaining motivation, self-discipline and improving self-esteem.

Our aim is to see students enrolled in the programme benefit in the following ways:

• grow in confidence and self-esteem
• discover their unique abilities, talents and strengths
• improve in areas of self-discipline such as punctuality, attendance and work-habits
• improve their outlook on life
• develop new skills for managing behavious, such as conflict resolution and relating to others
• reduce areas of risky behaviours
• improve habits of sexual behaviour, substance abuse and criminal involvement
• improve their learning and educational skills, especially in areas of literacy and numberacy
• widen their horizons
• set positive goals for their future
• experience the taste of success and
• break the cycle of failure and hopelessness