MĀNGERE GREEN SKILLS
This 12-week pilot equips South Aucklanders with hands-on bike maintenance skills and a micro-credential.
BikeFIT Mechanic Pilot
The Māngere Green Skills: BikeFIT Mechanic Pilot is a grassroots initiative designed to build practical skills, open job opportunities, and support local leadership in the green economy.
This 12-week programme combines classroom learning, hands-on mechanic experience, and wraparound pastoral care. It’s about more than fixing bikes; it’s about creating green jobs, improving access to safe, affordable transport, and building a stronger local bike economy.
The pilot is being delivered in partnership with:
Time to Thrive (Triple Teez) – a trusted community bike organisation running the Māngere BikeFIT hub, delivering community engagement and pastoral support
NZ Bicycle Training Academy – delivering high-quality, industry-aligned training
Richard Barter – overseeing project coordination and evaluation
Haimona Ngata – documenting the journey through storytelling
The programme is funded by The Southern Initiative, with additional support from Auckland Transport, the Auckland Climate Grant, and Social Labour Supply. It reflects what’s possible when communities lead the way, shaping practical, place-based responses to climate, transport, and employment challenges.
Project objectives:
Grow the number of skilled local bike mechanics to improve community access to safe, usable bikes
Support Māngere to become the cycling capital of the Pacific, one bike at a time
Deliver training that reflects the culture, context and needs of South Auckland communities
Align training with industry standards and create pathways to jobs in the bike sector
Boost the capacity and visibility of local bike hubs like Triple Teez
With two small intakes planned for 2025, the next step is to build on what we learn: growing the pilot, strengthening partnerships, and exploring new ways to support a thriving, sustainable workforce in South Auckland.
