Who is Zeal?
We believe every young New Zealander deserves to belong, to be accepted on their terms, and to have a real shot to thrive. Zeal is an Aotearoa youth organisation providing safe, inclusive local and online spaces – where you can explore and flex your strengths through affordable programmes and workshops, and make lifelong friendships at creative showcases and events.
Support Zeal
Transform young lives by donating or giving your time.
Work at Zeal
For a career in changing young lives, check out opportunities at your local Zeal.
Meet the team
Want to connect with our people? Get to know our board, or reach out to our managers.
Mission
To make transformative spaces and experiences accessible to all young people, supporting rangatahi to connect to their mana, innate self-worth and sense of belonging.
Vision
All young people in Aotearoa living full lives of meaning and purpose.
Impact
All rangatahi (young people) feel seen, valued, safe, empowered and have an equitable shot to thrive.
How we make a difference together
Empowering rangatahi
Transformative spaces and inclusive communities where young people can be themselves, feel safe, valued and seen. We walk alongside rangatahi experiencing challenges – to help them live with mana, self-worth and a sense of belonging.
Building skills
Pathways to further education and employment that ignite young people’s passions and connect them to their innate abilities. Where they can learn skills and find new challenges and opportunities to define their own success.
Engaging online
To meet rangatahi wherever we’re needed, we expand Zeal’s
culture and experiences to digital spaces – creating moments of connection with online hangs, Zeal lives, support chats and helping young people innovate online distress interventions for their own community.
Impact across 5 regions
96% of young people say feel supported and cared for at Zeal
22,796
Young people at hangs, Zeal Nights, street youth work, gatherings, mentoring and online activities
18,453
Young people at creative workshops, activities and alternative education
21,024
Young people at Zeal events
748,772
Social media engagements
416
Attendance at co-design and computer refurbishing workshops
140
Rangatahi gaining paid work experience
How we work
Upholding mana
We hold a young person’s mana above everything else, meeting them where they are, on their terms.
Recognising value
We recognise everyone has unique gifts, and the need for personal connection, walking alongside rangatahi, so they can develop holistically.
Empowering self-determination
We seek ways to empower each young person to share their unique gifts with their community and encourage them to model generosity.
2022 Zeal Audited Accounts (1 MB)
2022 Annual Report
2022 Zeal Survey report
Our values and vibe
Aroha
We are driven by a relentless love for rangatahi.
Whanaungatanga & Manaakitanga
We love through real connection and compassion.
Rangatiratanga
We celebrate and champion young people and each other.
Humarietanga
We bring our best to the mission. We stay open, adaptable and keep learning.
Thanks to our key partners
Zeal relies on the generous support of key partners who we’re proud to call whānau. Lives have literally been saved, so we cannot say enough how grateful we are for your partnership.
Auckland Council, Foundation North, Hamilton City Council, Kapiti Coast District Council, Lion Foundation, Lottery Grants Board, Mike & Jen Ballantyne, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Youth Development, New Plymouth District Council, North Taranaki Alternative Education Group, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Pacific Inc Limited – Le Va, Toi Foundation, Vodafone Foundation, WEL Energy Trust, Wellington City Council
Partner with Zeal
Think our missions are aligned? Let’s make a greater impact together.
Partner with us
If you believe that every young Kiwi deserves to belong, be accepted on their terms, and have a real shot to thrive, you can help create change for thousands of young people.
Enquire if you’d like to invest in the future of young people by donating or gifting resources or your time. Together we can change the playing field for young people across the motu.
Legal Stuff
Zeal is a not-for-profit youth organisation, governed by a board of trustees. You can find us on the NZ Charities Register under Zeal Education Trust (CC29343). Our audited accounts from 2009 onward are publicly available online here.