More than 2,800 attendees packed the Howick Leisure Centre for the third annual Eastern Schools Career Expo, an event that’s becoming a cornerstone of career planning for local teenagers.
The recent event brought together nine secondary schools from across east Auckland in a united push to open doors for young people exploring their future pathways.
It wasn’t just universities and training providers lining the hall. Local businesses and industry organisations such as TechStep NZ were on hand to give the students a real-world view of the workforce.
“This is about connecting students with real opportunities,” Auckland Business Chamber’s Adrian Ceballos says.
The chamber has supported and managed the event through its Education to Employment programme since its launch.
The local schools involved were Macleans College, Saint Kentigern College, Botany Downs Secondary College, Edgewater College, Sancta Maria College, Elim Christian College, Pakuranga College, Howick College, and Michael Park School.
This year marks the first time these eastern schools have teamed up for a careers event of this scale.
Unlike the traditional school-based career evenings many parents will remember, these regional expos offer something broader, Ceballos says.
They’re a shared community effort that connects students directly with employers and real-world opportunities.
“This gives students more than a brochure. It gives them a conversation, a chance to ask questions, and a spark of inspiration.”
As one student put it: “It gave me a clearer vision of what to do next!”
The Howick Youth Council lent its support to the expo, helping to host a welcoming and informative experience for the wave of students filtering through.
The expo’s success is fuelling momentum for other regional events.
The Auckland Business Chamber also successfully delivered the South Auckland Schools Career Expo, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, on June 24-25, with over 6700 attendees.
- To see more photos from the expo by Sue Townson of the Howick Photographic Society click here.
