From the Frontline: Barty Doak

In this week’s From the Frontline, meet Barty Doak, an agricultural tutor helping young people build confidence and practical skills through hands-on learning.

From the Frontline is a video series that celebrates our frontline workers who go above and beyond every day for tamariki and rangatahi.

Watch the video

Transcript

Barty Doak: 
Kia ora. Barty Doak tōku ingoa. 
My role for Oranga Tamariki here at Te Puna Wai is Agricultural Tutor. 
I've been at Te Puna Wai for about 13 years. I've done roles on the floor and spent a good four years of that escorting young people around the country. 
I was supporting the original agricultural tutor out here. I had a landscaping background and a love of the outdoors, so I spent lots of time out with him, picking up skills. Then I naturally progressed into the role of Agricultural Tutor. 
The idea behind having the farm was to give young people employable skills, get them outside working with their hands, get them into the fresh air, and give them new experiences. 
When we first started, it was an empty paddock. There was nothing out here but gorse and broom. We started out with sheep and currently have about 12. I added a few goats to the farm. We started with one horse and now have four. 
We also have pigs, chickens, geese, ducks and alpacas. 
A lot of our young people have cats or dogs, but apart from that they haven't been around horses, goats or sheep. We get to see the compassion they have for animals out here. 
It's about showing young people that there are other ways to learn, not just in a classroom. A lot of our young people are hands-on learners. 
When I'm not here, I'm a dad raising my own children. 
I'm also a member of the volunteer fire brigade, so I'm on call and can respond at any time. 
I like to help people, whether it be here or in the community. I find helping people helps me too. It gives me a sense of purpose and belonging, and it gives me that connection to my community. 
The hardest part of this job is when it's time for our young people to move on, knowing they may not have the same opportunities. You just hope you've planted some seeds, that they've learned skills that are transferable into life outside this place. 
One thing I wish people knew is that there are so many good people working here. They work here because they want to see change. They want to see our young people succeed in life. 
There are a lot of experiences young people can have here. While they're here, they're safe, and we care for them. 
 

Learning on the land

Barty Doak has been a familiar face at Youth Justice residence Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo for about 13 years. This busy dad has done several different Youth Justice roles, including 4 years escorting young people around the country.

With a landscaping background and a love of the outdoors, his current role as the residence’s agricultural tutor, was a natural progression after a stint supporting the original tutor.

Under Barty’s care, the space has been transformed into a thriving farmyard. 

“When we first started it was an empty paddock. There was nothing but gorse and broom. Now its bustling with life. We started with sheep (we currently have 12) moved on to goats, then horses (we now have 4), pigs, chickens, geese and ducks.”

Sowing the seeds of success

One of the best parts of the job is seeing the young people interacting in an environment they may never have previously had access to.

“A lot of our young people have cats or dogs but haven't been around horses, goats or sheep. I’m lucky enough to see the compassion they have for animals.”

A lot of Barty’s day is spent teaching the young people everything from how to grow vegetables, to building animal shelters.

Working on the farm gives young people employable skills and a raft of new experiences. Just being out in the fresh air, working with their hands is a game changer. My hope for these tamariki is that these new experiences will help set them up for success in the future.

Barty Doak , Youth Justice Agricultural Tutor

From farming to firefighting

Away from work, Barty is a member of the Darfield volunteer fire brigade, meaning he can be called out any time of the day or night.

“I like helping people, whether it’s here at work or in the community. I find that helping people helps me. It gives me a sense of purpose and belonging. I love being connected to my community.”

It’s that sense of wanting to help people, that keeps Barty coming back to Te Puna Wai.

“There's so many good people working here. They all want to see change. They want to see our young people succeed in life. Not only do we offer our young people a lot of experiences, we really care for them.”

Other stories From the Frontline

Published: September 2, 2026

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