A Helping Hand: Te Hononga Akoranga COMET Auckland

For more than 25 years, education organisation Te Hononga Akoranga COMET Auckland (COMET) has been driving change for more equitable education and skills outcomes in south Auckland.

Chief Executive Katheren Leitner says, “COMET believes that everyone has the right to realise their dreams through lifelong learning. We identify where the biggest gaps and opportunities are, then bring together people across education, business, community and government, to design and implement educational programmes. We lead initiatives with new-borns and their parents - through to young people, educators and employers.”

COMET’s programmes include Talking Matters, which supports the creation of language-rich environments to improve brain development, particularly in a baby’s first 1,000 days.

COMET AUCKLAND

Another programme, SouthSci, shows young people the value of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) skills. COMET funds around 10 projects a year, with professionals and researchers working with young people to increase awareness and engagement so they can realise the career options available to them in the STEM fields.

The vision behind COMET’s Youth Employability programme is for every young person in New Zealand between the ages of 14 and 24 to be employable. The programme is made up of workshops, voluntary work, and 80 hours of hands-on work experience.

COMET became independent from Auckland Council at the end of last year, and established itself as a charitable trust. Bell Gully advised COMET in connection with this transition, as well as the gifting and transfer of some of COMET’s programmes as it continues to expand and evolve.

Recently Bell Gully advised on the gifting of COMET’s Youth Employability programme to Youthtown, by way of a Deed of Gift. Bell Gully then advised on moving the Talking Matters programme out of COMET to operate under a new charitable entity, Talking Matters Charitable Trust. Decoupling the Talking Matters programme from COMET involved lawyers from Bell Gully’s corporate and employment teams advising on the transfer of employees and assets, including benefits of various funding agreements.

Says corporate partner Toby Sharpe, “It’s a pleasure to assist Te Hononga Akoranga COMET Auckland and to see its mahi lift educational aspirations and unlock awesome potential. Bell Gully is excited to see the education initiatives COMET brings into being as an independent organisation.”