Apply for Accelerator 2026

Explore the different Accelerator 2026 experience options below. Once you have decided what you would like to apply for (your top three choices), click the apply now button below and submit your online application.

Please note programme places are limited. Completing an application does not guarantee you a place on the programme. All Accelerator experiences are subject to change.

Health

Hospital (8 places) Learn about how a hospital operates, and all the different roles involved in helping people overcome their medical challenges. Based at Southern Cross Hospital, you will especially benefit from this experience if you are interested in nursing, becoming a doctor or a surgeon.

Psychology & coaching (3 places) Here you can learn all about different ways to help people in the psychology and personal coaching field. You will learn from two businesses that talk with their customers to help them make changes in their lives or simply provide some support to help them get through challenging times.

Pharmacy (2 places) An important part of our healthcare system includes those working in a Pharmacy. Roles range from degree qualified pharmacists to apprenticeship model dispensing team members. From overseeing medical dispensing to helping customers with off-the-shelf product selections, no two days are the same in this sector.

Education

Education (6 places) If you’re interested in education, then the Education Accelerator experience is for you. At school you can see exactly what a teacher does day-to-day. But what about other kinds of education jobs? What’s involved in being an educator in a private training institute? How do businesses keep their staff up to speed? And who oversees the standard for quality education? These are just some of the questions you can find answers to as part of this unique experience.

Police, Security & Defense

Policing, Investigation & Security (6 places) There are lots of different ways we’re kept safe in the community. The NZ Police play an important role doing this in our community. But it doesn’t stop there – Private investigating and business security services are two other jobs that you will learn about on this programme.

NZ Defense Force (8 places) Thinking Army, Navy & Air force? Yes. But add to that engineer, doctor, nurse, communications expert – the list goes on (and on). There are SO many different Defense Force career options – learn more about these on this experience.

General Services

(that all sectors need)

Transport & Logistics (6 places) Getting things from A to B is big business – and it is a service every single sector needs. Its a service we often take for granted, until deliveries don’t arrive on time and delays happen. Get an overview of all the jobs in the sector at Port Taranaki and TIL Hookers and learn what really goes on behind the scenes.

Accounting & Finance (6 places) What is involved in accounting and finance today? How has technology changed the sector? How do accountants and finance managers support businesses to achieve their goals? Is it really all about the numbers? Visit global accountancy firm BDO, the innovative team at Schurr & Ireland followed by Taranaki’s own TSB finance & treasury teams to find out.  

Legal Services (6 places) Is being a lawyer like the TV show Suits? (spoiler… no!). Find out what it is really like on this Accelerator experience. Learn what do legal professionals in Taranaki work on. You’ll get to talk with professionals working for clients (legal services) as well as those working as internal legal counsel for big business (TSB).

Marketing, comms & design (6 places) Here you will see the full breadth of the marketing, graphic design and communications sector across multiple organisations. Be involved in writing a creative brief (designing the message that you want to share), next you’ll get creative with the team at TGM and design a newspaper advert, take your message to media at the Daily News, and finally go behind the curtain on radio with Bryan Vickery. This is a truly exciting real-world opportunity to experience this sector first hand.

Creative & Arts

Creative & Arts (4 places) Learn from two established Taranaki artists (Mark Dwyer and Paul Rangiwahia), and how they have turned their creative skills into their livelihood. Learn what it takes to work in the sector, and how a mix of creative, technical and business skills support their growth. Photography, video, painting/printing and social good – you will leave your mentoring experiences truly inspired.

Engineering

Engineering – Civil Infrastructure sector (8 places) The infrastructure sector is all about building our lifestyle capital – roads, bridges, large buildings, waterways and more. On this unique programme you will experience the full breadth of the industry and follow a ‘real world’ project within the industry. Start at NPDC and look at town planning for a bridge, go to a surveying and design companies to see how engineers design it, then off to manufacturing and construction businesses who bring the plan into reality. This is a unique opportunity from a pro-active group of businesses looking to support Taranaki youth into the sector. Students interested in policy/planning, surveying, civil or mechanical engineering and construction management would especially benefit from this experience.

Engineering – Energy sector (6 places) Energy is big business in Taranaki. And as Taranaki looks to lead the way in renewable energy generation for NZ, it’s an exciting time to be part of the sector. On this experience you will be based at Todd Energy and learn about the different roles involved in the work they do. Students interested in chemical, process, mechanical or electrical engineering pathways would especially benefit from this experience.

Engineering – Electrical (6 places) As we move towards a low-emissions future our electrical companies will be increasingly important. On this experience you’ll learn whats involved in getting electricity through the grid and into the spaces that we use everyday. Students interested in electrical technician, trade, and electrical engineering pathways would especially benefit from this experience.

Engineering – Consultant Services (6 places) Taranaki is home to a number of expert engineering consultancy organisations – including Worley and LogiCamms. These businesses provide expert engineering design services to a number of sectors in the Taranaki region – and beyond. Service sectors include energy, infrastructure and more. So if you’re interested in engineering but not 100% sure on the type of engineering that is right for you, this experience could help you work it out.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing – products & international markets (2 places) Manufacturing is one of the biggest industries in Taranaki. On this mentoring experience you will learn about product research and design, development practices, manufacturing and what’s involved in exporting to international markets. Based at QP Sports, this is a unique opportunity for those interested in specialist products and global markets.

Food manufacturing – products & international markets (6 places) Learn from iconic Taranaki brands – manufactured right here, and sold across NZ and the world (including Juno Gin, Van Dyck Fine Foods & Ozone Coffee Roasters). Learn about innovation in product development, and how products are developed for different markets. This experience is ideal for those interested in food product research, design, manufacturing/production, NZ and international markets.

Construction

Architecture & Construction Management (6 places) Construction and building is a large and important sector in Taranaki. And to make it work we need a sector that works together. On this Accelerator experience you will first visit award winning local team BOON. Here you’ll see what goes on before the design process event starts – right through to the design of special spaces. Next you’ll follow a project through to Construction Management at Pepper Construction. Here you will see what is involved in transforming plans into reality.

Visitor & tourism

Events & Hotel Management (4 places) Visitor and tourism is a sector set to grow. Here you will spend time at multiple divisions of The Devon Hotel. You’ll learn about managing a restaurant, what it takes to run a hotel, to host headline acts to the region and make a private wedding event run like clockwork. A lot goes on behind the scenes in this sector, and you’ll see it all on this experience.

Environmental

Water management (6 places) Water is our most precious commodity. Here’s your chance to see how the NPDC look after it. From what goes on in the lab to the details of the plan operations – you will get a look at all the roles involved in keeping our water clean, clear and pure.

Technology

Technology (8 places) We use technology everyday – it’s made so easy, integrated into our day-to-day lives. On this programme you can go behind the scenes to learn about how technology experts make this happen. On this experience you’ll get a look behind the curtain at TSB (keeping our online banking app running and processing our pay-way transitions) and at Learner Me/Proformac (supporting the technology industry at large). Students interested in software development, user experience design, and technical project management would benefit from this programme.