YOUTH VILLAGE
The Carterton Youth Village
​The Beginning
2016 - 2019
Wayne Poutoa and Jennifer Poutoa first established themselves into the community through Carterton Baptist Church, where they were only meant to stay for a weekend.
Through this they started teaching 40 - 50 young people through Te Wananga O Aotearoa. They focused on multiple subjects such as retail, tourism and preforming arts.
Young people then created letters to introduce themselves and feedback on the programs, where 80 percent of the young people were involved in gang lifestyles, sexual abuse, addiction, ADHD, ODD and a range of other mental health issues.
Based on these findings they decided to take in the top 3 priority youth to stay on site for 2 years from 2017 - 2018.
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From Dream to Design
2019 - 2025
By 2018, Wayne and Jennifer realised their home wasn't big enough to support all the youth in crisis who needed help.
So they dreamed of building a safe, purpose-built space filled with love and structure.
Their first idea was to turn shipping containers into tiny homes smart and affordable.
But it turned out to be too expensive and complicated to get approved.
When they spoke to the Carterton District Council, there were concerns about the project's size and challenges. Wayne and Jennifer asked, “What can we do?”
That changed everything.
The council suggested cabins instead.
So, Wayne and Jennifer were now looking at how cabins would work.
But this wasn’t just about buildings, it was about helping people.
They held a meeting with neighbours to share their ideas.
Some people were worried, but when they heard that youth had already been living safely with Wayne and Jennifer for two years, their doubts turned into trust.
Still, they needed money.
The First Cabin
Chris Dugdale from the Dugdale Trust heard their story and believed in the vision.
Momentum grew, but so did the costs.
They needed more than just money, they needed miracles.
Wayne and Jennifer prayed.
Then one evening, they visited Chris and Warwick. That chat over a cup of tea sparked something special. Chris and Warwick fully committed, buying the first cabin for $15,000.
That started it all.
Church members joined in.
One by one, six cabins were funded. Nearly $90,000 was raised, and with labour and materials included, the total value reached over $160,000.
And none of it came from the government.
The Village had become a reality.
The Village Founders
Fa'amatuainu
Wayne Poutoa
Jennifer Poutoa
The Village Board of Trustees
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Joseph Gillard
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Peter James
Cimone Grayson
Pauline Cave
The Village Staff
Jenny Kapene
Ashleigh Paul
Jacinta Kitiseni
Special Thanks
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers in our community and to the whanau who support them. Your dedication and selflessness make a significant impact, and we truly appreciate the time and effort you invest in making our community a better place.