More than 3500 students from Whakatāne, Rotorua and across the Bay of Plenty will descend on Mercury Baypark in Tauranga as the region’s largest career event connects young people directly with the businesses shaping the future of the Bay.

Hosted by The Rotary Club of Tauranga and Priority One, the Canvas Careers Expo returns on Thursday and Friday, August 6-7, bringing together employers, industry organisations, tertiary providers and training organisations from across New Zealand.

This year’s event features its largest industry representation yet, with sectors including construction, engineering, manufacturing, health, horticulture, technology, finance, logistics, tourism, Māori business, the trades, law, science and fishing.

Rotary Club of Tauranga organiser Sue Boyne says the expo is designed to help students and career changers explore possibilities they may never have considered.

“The most valuable part of the expo is the opportunity to have genuine conversations with people working in the industries that interest you,” said Boyne.

“Young people can ask what it’s really like to work in a particular sector, what employers are looking for, what qualifications are needed and what pathways exist. Those conversations can be life changing.”

The event also provides an opportunity for businesses to showcase career opportunities, apprenticeships, cadetships and training pathways, with several exhibitors actively recruiting future talent.

Priority One’s Instep manager Michelle Clarke said: “Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping rangatahi make sense of the many pathways in front of them.

By attending the Canvas evening session together, whānau can listen, explore and ask the questions a young person may not yet know to ask. It is not about having all the answers or choosing a career on the night. It is about creating space for curiosity and starting conversations that can continue long after Canvas is over.”

Beyond helping students make informed decisions about their future, the expo also supports the region’s workforce development by strengthening connections between education and industry, ensuring young people gain a better understanding of the opportunities available close to home.

“There are sessions both days between 9am and 2pm and a 4-8pm session on the Thursday evening, which is a great opportunity for students to attend with their parents and whānau.”

The Canvas Careers Expo is free to attend. For more information go to www.canvascareers.co.nz