Fathers who were little more than boys themselves faced extra challenges when it came to parenting, Catholic Social Services (CCS) social worker Mike Tonks said.
But the young men often had trouble finding the help they needed, CCS director Ian Donnelly said.
Mr Tonks and Henk Van Der Vis run Game On parenting courses for fathers of all ages.
In the past 18 months, almost 20 per cent of participants have been teenagers.
Complicated relationships and the desire to keep living the teenage life presented special challenges, Mr Tonks said.
"They still have quite a bit of maturing to do," he said.
"And often they really want to be involved with their baby but the mum is not keen to have their involvement. They feel quite gutted and isolated."
Teen dads had an important role to play in the well-being of their children, Mr Tonks said.
"All kids need a mum and dad. The attachment a father has with his kids is as powerful and necessary as that of a mum, so the children grow up knowing their father and knowing they are loved."
The government recently produced a booklet to help social agencies better support teen dads.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the booklet Supporting Teen Fathers: A resource for service providers would be used by organisations working directly with teen fathers.
"Teen fathers are often overlooked, as teen parent initiatives tend to focus on teen mothers," Ms Bennett said.
The government is investing $730,000 in support specifically for teen fathers.
"I think it's a very positive step," Mr Donnelly said.
"There haven't been a lot of resources out there for dads full stop, let alone teenage dads."
