"It's really important, I think, in this current climate, for students to be thinking about their futures and being positive about it," Paraparaumu College head of careers and transition Kim Kelly said.
"It's a bit heads-down at the moment and not looking forward as much as we normally do."
Previous career expositions on a smaller scale had been held at Paraparaumu College and Kāpiti College, but the need arose for a large single one, she said.
"I was at Victoria University and met Richard Barnett, who is the student recruitment organiser, and he said that for them, going to all these different expos was quite full-on, and he was appreciative of one in the Hutt, which was a big one for the community where everyone could come at the same time.
"So the wheels started turning and I thought wouldn't it be fantastic if we did something like that on the coast.
"I chatted to a few of our providers about whether it would be of interest to them and they were keen.
"One of the things providers like as well is having parents come too, because it makes for a richer discussion.
"We started talking about it last year and have spent the last six months getting everyone organised and ready for it."
