TYLA Youth Development Trust

What TYLA Youth Development Trust does

TYLA Youth Development Trust is a registered New Zealand charitable trust established in 1996 and headquartered in Auckland, delivering early-intervention youth development programmes to at-risk tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people), primarily in South Auckland (Otara, Papatoetoe area). The organisation operates six core programmes: Cultural Immersion Values Camp (entry-level Marae-based induction), Engagement Programme (school holiday delivery), Nga Mana Wahine (girls' empowerment), Ko Wai Ahau? (Māori cultural identity via pepeha and whakapapa), GRO Programme (outdoor gardening-based social work), and AYE / Awareness of Your Emotions (emotional intelligence). Programmes are delivered directly by TYLA staff at community venues including IBOXII gym, City Fitness, and marae, with no commercial pricing to beneficiaries.

The business model is donation-funded: revenue is sourced from individual donors, corporate supporters (KPMG, SkyCity), and philanthropic and government partners (Auckland Foundation, Foundation North, Four Winds, Lottery Grants Board, Oranga Tamariki, NZ Police, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry for Women). Youth participants are referred via government agencies or self-referral at no cost. Operations are supported by approximately 15-20 staff and volunteers, including a Chief Executive (Anastasia Meredith), youth mentors, social workers, and administration staff, governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Andrew Howard.

TYLA holds no proprietary technology stack; there are no apps, APIs, or software products. The competitive position is built on 29 years of community trust in South Auckland, formal referral agreements with state agencies, cultural-credibility assets in Māori protocol delivery, and a partnership ecosystem spanning Rotary, NZ Warriors Foundation, and local government boards. Marketing and donor engagement are driven by organic social (Instagram, Facebook), the TYLA Podcast, email newsletters, and earned media including Celebrity Treasure Island selection.

Name

TYLA Youth Development Trust

Legal name

TYLA Trust

Website

https://tyla.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TYLA Youth Development Trust is a registered New Zealand charity, founded in 1996, delivering early-intervention youth development programmes to at-risk tamariki and rangatahi across South Auckland through cultural immersion, mentoring, boxing, and emotional intelligence programmes funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Community youth programs
• Early intervention services
• Cultural identity programs
• Charitable mentoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Avondale

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: TYLA operates as a registered charity funded through donations from individuals, corporate supporters, and charitable foundations. Revenue is received through direct donations via the website and participation in charity events such as Celebrity Treasure Island.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TYLA Youth Development Trust provides structured, in-person youth development programmes for at-risk tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) in South Auckland. The portfolio includes a Cultural Immersion Values Camp as the entry point, plus ongoing programmes covering school holiday engagement, young women's empowerment (Nga Mana Wahine), Māori cultural identity (Ko Wai Ahau?), outdoor experiential learning (GRO Programme), and emotional intelligence (AYE). All programmes are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through donations and grants.

Product overview

TYLA Youth Development Trust offers a portfolio of six youth development programmes designed to support disadvantaged, vulnerable, and at-risk rangatahi (young people). The programmes form an integrated approach: the Cultural Immersion Values Camp serves as the entry point, followed by ongoing support through the Engagement Programme (school holiday activities), Nga Mana Wahine (empowerment for young women), Ko Wai Ahau? (Māori cultural identity), GRO Programme (outdoor experiential learning through gardening), and AYE (emotional awareness). TYLA is a registered charity and non-profit organization, not a commercial technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cultural Immersion Values Camp An introductory youth development programme for new participants that teaches eight TYLA values, boundaries, and expectations through a Marae stay experience with cultural components, storytelling, and Māori history; designed for at-risk tamariki and rangatahi entering TYLA.
• Engagement Programme A school holiday programme providing a structured and safe environment for at-risk youth, reinforcing TYLA values and boundaries, offering respite care for families, and teaching life skills through physical activity and teamwork.
• Nga Mana Wahine A monthly programme for girls addressing self-esteem, identity, self-confidence, women's health, relationships, boundaries, leadership, and educational and life goals as they transition into young women; targeted at young women in TYLA's catchment.
• Ko Wai Ahau? A Māori cultural identity programme teaching rangatahi their Pepeha (self-introduction in Māori) and Whakapapa (genealogy/ancestors); welcomes Māori and Pacific Islander tamariki and rangatahi in TYLA's programmes.
• GRO Programme A hands-on outdoor programme using organic gardening to deliver social work intervention for at-risk rangatahi through experiential learning in planting and cultivating produce.
• AYE (Awareness of Your Emotions) An emotional intelligence programme helping tamariki and rangatahi understand their emotions from happiness to sadness, and providing tools to redirect negative emotions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants have transitioned from the program to become thriving adults with employment and families

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Auckland RotarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996The founding relationship that established TYLA in 1996. Auckland Rotarian Charles Crotty encountered an at-risk youth and chose rehabilitation over criminal prosecution. He then sourced funding to establish TYLA with fellow Rotarian Derek Brickall. Rotary has continued support for 29 years, with TYLA being main recipient of World Press Photo Exhibition proceeds.
• Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner providing funding and referrals for at-risk children and young people.
• NZ PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting youth diversion and development programs. Historical connection since 1995-1996 establishment of TYLA.
• Ministry of Social DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner providing funding and referral pathways for rangatahi.
• Ministry for Women (Manatū Wāhine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Wahine Boxing Program in schools, helping young women build self-esteem, confidence and positive mindset through boxing and fitness.
• Department of Internal Affairs (Te Tari Taiwhenua)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support through various initiatives.
• Auckland FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing philanthropic funding.
• Foundation NorthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing philanthropic funding for youth development.
• Four WindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support for youth development initiatives.
• NZ Warriors FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRugby league club foundation providing volunteering opportunities for rangatahi and connections to NZ Food Network.
• KPMGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter providing professional services and expertise.
• SkyCityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter providing community funding.
• IBOXIIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal gym providing venue for boxing and fitness training programs for rangatahi, including HOOKS after-school program.
• City FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGym partner providing training facilities for youth fitness programs.
• MisterwolfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative services company owned by board member Derek Lockwood, providing branding and creative support.
• Otara-Papatoetoe Local BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government body providing community support and funding in the South Auckland area.
• Albert-Eden Local BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government body providing community support and funding.
• Whau Local BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government body providing community support and funding.
• Lottery Grants BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment lottery funding body providing grants for community initiatives.
• One FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporter mentioned in podcast production credits.
• Queen Shirl'eminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts mentor who provides opportunities for rangatahi to grow in performing arts, collaborating with TYLA programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Auckland City Mission: Large Auckland social services charity addressing poverty, housing, and family support including youth; comparable in Auckland geography, charitable model, and government/philanthropic funding base but with a broader portfolio than TYLA.

Direct peers

• Youthline Auckland: New Zealand youth support charity providing counselling, mentoring, and helpline services to rangatahi; directly comparable as a youth-development nonprofit operating in Auckland with government and donation funding.
• Rainbow Youth (New Zealand): Auckland-based youth development charity providing support and programmes to vulnerable young people; comparable as a small Auckland youth-services NGO with community-led delivery and grant funding.
• Lifewise: Auckland social services NGO supporting vulnerable people including youth experiencing homelessness and disadvantage; comparable as a community-based charity operating in South Auckland with government and philanthropic funding.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters New Zealand: Mentoring-focused charity pairing at-risk youth with adult mentors across New Zealand; directly comparable in target population (vulnerable NZ youth), mentoring model, and dependence on donations/corporate partnerships.
• Youth Development Initiatives Trust (Graeme Dingle Foundation NZ): New Zealand charity running structured youth development programmes (Stars, Kiwi Can, Career Navigator); comparable as a multi-programme youth-development trust with school-based delivery and corporate/foundation funding.
• Zeal (formerly YMCA Auckland – Youth Development): Auckland-based youth development organisation delivering creative, cultural, and wellbeing programmes to rangatahi; closely comparable in geography, target demographic, and integrated programme portfolio.
• Variety – the Children's Charity NZ: New Zealand charity supporting disadvantaged children and youth through grants, programmes, and outreach; comparable in serving vulnerable NZ tamariki and reliance on corporate sponsorship and individual donations.

Emerging players

• I Am Hope (Mike King): New Zealand youth mental health charity running school-based mental health programmes; comparable in target demographic, fundraising via high-profile advocates, and school/community delivery model.

Others

• United Way New Zealand: National community-funding intermediary that channels corporate donations into youth and family services across NZ; comparable as a funding-partner ecosystem player rather than a direct programme provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TYLATrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/tylayouthtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tyla-youth-development-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TYLA Youth Development Trust