A free guide to study and career options for high school students Years 12-13 October 2023 | ISSUE #28
GRACE KURU GEOSPATIAL ANALYST – PAGE 6
BRODIE REEVES AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER – PAGE 8
MILLIE O’GRADY VOLUNTEER SUPPORT MANAGER – PAGE 7
TAI TUHIWAI MAINTENANCE MANAGER – PAGE 14
TEIGAN JOPSON PLUMBER – PAGE 38
REGAN DRIEVER PIG FARMER – PAGE 21
MIRIAMA BARLOW FISHING TRIMMER – PAGE 16
JUSTUS PAITAI HEAVY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER – PAGE 31
KAEA PRESTON GROUND SUPPORT TECHNICIAN – PAGE 11
LEAVINGSCHOOLNZ WWW.LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
CONTENTS
05 FOREWORD | EMMA DANGAN
30 PHOTOGRAPHER | NATASHA BOSHKOVSKI
06 GEOSPATIAL ANALYST | GRACE KURU
31 HEAVY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER | JUSTUS PAITAI
Great advice for school leavers from the 2023 Young Farmer of The Year. A n interest in Geography, the Environment and Open Spaces led to a career in GIS.
07 HATO HONE ST JOHN | MILLIE O’GRADY
A variety of jobs on offer at Hato Hone St John.
MANAGING EDITOR
Oliver Lee
SUB-EDITOR Peter White CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Emma Dangan, Diana Clement, Peter White PHOTOGRAPHERS Duncan Brown, Tegan Clark, Sandra Henderson, Geoff Horrell, iStock, Jessica Jones, Luke Marshall, Marty Melville, NZ Young Farmers, Pete Nikolaison, Dean Norrie, Alan Stevens, Logan West, Nicola Wilhelmsen DESIGN & LAYOUT Mervyn Hurley HNZL 2014 Limited PRINTER Webstar, Auckland PUBLISHER
08 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER | BRODIE REEVES Turning old cars into their former glory.
COPYRIGHT: Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Although all material is checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any loss due to use of material in this magazine.
Maintaining and servicing the big machines we see on the roadside every day.
32 ENGINEERING FABRICATION | TAMA DUNN
Rigging and Fabrication work suits the 2022 ATNZ Apprentice of the Year.
34 ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN | NICHOLAS TUTTON
11 ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE | KAEA PRESTON
35 CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT | LUANA STEERE
Leading Aircraftsman Ground Support Technician.
12 SALES REPRESENTATIVE | ABBY CURRAN
From Showroom Sales consultant to Sales Representative on the road.
14 MAINTENANCE MANAGER | TAI TUHIWAI
Highly qualified engineer has a leading role at Fonterra Co-op Group.
15 PROCESS PROJECT MANAGER | HANNAH REVELL
Making sure that everything runs smoothly at Fonterra’s Edendale Plant.
A variety of tasks in the Accounting profession.
Using financial and business know-how to help clients achieve their targets.
36 FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR | JESS SHEEHAN
A variety of jobs with ANZCO has led Jessica to a financial administrative role.
38 PLUMBER | TEIGAN JOPSON
S afeguarding people while working as a plumber at Otago University.
16 DEEP-SEA FISHING | MIRIAMA BARLOW
39 ELECTRICIAN | NATHAN CASSIN
17 FORESTRY | GRACE MARSHALL
40 APPRENTICE BUILDER | LISA GUITE
A variety of jobs in the Fishing industry.
A love of the outdoors suits this Operations Scheduler with Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd.
18 LANDSCAPE DESIGN | BELA GRIMSDALE Combining a passion for Art and Design in creating great outdoor spaces. 20 MAINTENANCE ENGINEER | AIMEE KELLS A variety of roles on offer in the Meat Processing Industry.
Box 331-667, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 T: +64-9-486 6966 E: oliver@oliverlee.co.nz W: oliverlee.co.nz W: LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ ISSN 2463-3380 (Print) ISSN 2463-3399 (Online)
A passion for Photography has led to a new career.
10 ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE | MATTHEW ANDERSON
Fire Crew Manager – one of the many job opportunities with RNZAF.
Loving the variety of work as a qualified electrician. Gateway course at high school has led to a Building Apprenticeship.
41 PART-TIME JOBS
A part-time job during the school holidays enhances your CV.
42 STUDYLINK
Discover ways to pay for your future studies with help from StudyLink.
21 PIG FARMER | REGAN DRIEVER
43 EXAM TIPS AND WELLBEING
22 WASTEWATER | STEPHEN MEYRICK
44 PREPARING A GOOD CV
2023 Joint Stockperson of the Year enjoys working with intelligent animals. Turning wastewater into clean water that is good for the environment.
24 NOTICEBOARD
Key dates, websites and information in one easy-to-find spot.
26 APPRENTICE BUILDER | TUTES STONE-WILLIAMS
Combining a love of sport and building suits this young apprentice.
28 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER | GRACE JAMES
A love of children makes early childhood teaching a dream job.
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Preparing for exams can be stressful. Some great tips and advice here. A great CV can help you stand out from the crowd.
45 EMPLOYABILITY TOOLS
Seven key skills employers look for.
46 LIVING AWAY FROM HOME
Moving away from home gives you freedom but it’s not cheap.
47 BUYING AND RUNNING A CAR
Owning your own car is great but it comes with a lot of costs.
AVAILABLE FREE ONLINE www.leavingschool.co.nz
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KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN by EMMA DANGAN photograph NZ YOUNG FARMERS
FOREWORD
A PASSION FOR FARMING
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THROUGHOUT MY SCHOOL YEARS I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO BE – I WAS GOING TO BE A VET, NO MATTER WHAT. WHAT I DID NOT REALISE, WAS THAT ALTHOUGH YOUR INITIAL VISION MAY START YOU DOWN ONE PATH, YOUR EVENTUAL DESTINATION MAY BE SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT. The important thing is to start somewhere – even if you do not know where you are heading yet – because starting somewhere will expose you to things you did not know you were interested in. This is exactly what happened for me. After finishing my high school studies at Massey High School in Auckland, I enrolled at university hoping to become a vet. Before I could achieve this dream, I had to make it through a six-month selection period where I would need the best grades I could possibly achieve to make it through. After months of studying night and day – the results came out. I will never forget the feeling of opening the email that said – “we regret to inform you you have not been accepted into the Veterinary Science programme of study”. At that point, my world felt like it came crashing down. All I had ever wanted to be was a vet – there was no Plan B. After the devastation wore off, I decided the best thing I could do was enrol in an Agricultural Science degree – and see where that led me. I packed my bags and moved to Massey University in Palmerston North. It did not take long before I was immersed in university life. I felt like I had finally found my people – and with farming being the point of connection, the friendships blossomed. But that was not the only thing that blossomed – my grades also improved remarkably. When I initially completed the pre-veterinary course, I had given up everything that made me Emma. I thought this was the only way to achieve good grades. I stopped playing sport, I sold my horse, I stopped catching up with friends – all in the name of fitting more hours of study into a day. When I moved to Palmerston North, I did the opposite. I spent time with friends and enrolled in social sports teams. My grades improved so much that I was eventually offered a place in the veterinary programme while I was still studying for an Agricultural Science degree – I was going to become a vet after all.
THE LESSON FOR ME WAS pretty clear – PRIORITISE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY AND THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE. PLACE. EMMA DANGAN
2023 FMG YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR The lesson for me was pretty clear – prioritise things that make you happy and the rest will fall into place. I also learnt a second valuable lesson – you can have more than one passion and direction. Although I ended up completing the Veterinary degree, agriculture became the real passion and is what I largely fill my days with now. If I had not failed the first time – and attempted to get into vet school – I would never have known how deep my passion for agriculture ran. I am proud to say that I am now a farmer and a vet but I am sure that one day I will add to that list – as I navigate through life’s challenges and uncover more hidden opportunities. My advice to students as they prepare to finish their high school studies is keep all your options open and if at first you do not succeed, do not give up on your dreams.
EMMA DANGAN is the 2023 FMG Young Farmer of the Year. She runs a dairy farm in Pirongia, in the Waikato, with her husband, Chris.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
JOB TITLE GEOSPATIAL ANALYST 6
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
WORK IN THE SPATIAL INDUSTRY writer PETER WHITE photographer DEAN NORRIE
GRACE KURU says a career in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) would suit school leavers who have an interest in Geography, the environment and open spaces. “I think it also suits anyone who has good computer skills because there is a technical element in using computers and using the programme. I spend most of my day on a computer. The design part of it is also important, which includes cartography or map design,” says Grace. “Attention to detail is quite important and in the analysis there is a little bit of Maths and Statistics that come into it as well. You do need good communication skills when you are working with a range of people, so you know what they want you to achieve in your work.” Grace, 24, is a graduate GIS Analyst at Abley, based in Christchurch since September last year after spending eight months as a GIS Specialist at Citycare Property. GIS covers a wide spectrum of disciplines which makes her role interesting. “GIS is reading and then doing analysis on geographical or spatial data and then making maps or visualisations of that data so you can see spatial relationships. It helps to provide evidence for decision-making. “Abley is a transport engineering and location intelligence consultancy, so most of my projects are transport-related but I also get exposed to a range of other non-transport related work. The typical things I do are making static maps and mapping applications. Static maps are single page maps that, for example, go into a report. “Some projects include speed management mapping, showing current speed limits and proposed changes, and parking mapping showing how people use spaces and for how long they occupy them. We also do web maps or mapping applications, which are dynamic maps you access in your web browser, where a user can go in and move around a map, turn on and off layers, and click into features. I have done web maps for suitable locations for EV (electric vehicle) chargers.”
I ALWAYS LIKE HAVING NEW PROBLEMS TO SOLVE EVERY DAY WHICH IS CHALLENGING AND I AM ALWAYS LEARNING. GRACE KURU
What Grace likes most about her role is she gets to work with a broad range of people within her company. “They will come to me with a problem and I get to help them solve it. I have worked with engineers, planners, and community engagement. I always like having new problems to solve every day which is challenging and I am always learning.” Grace did a Bachelor of Science in Geography at the University of Canterbury. She then did a postgraduate diploma in Geographic Information Science at Victoria University of Wellington, including
spatial analysis, geographic computing (python), cartography and remote sensing. It was while at Marian College in Christchurch that she first learned about GIS. In Year 13, she took Geography, History, Digital Technology, Calculus, Accounting and Religious Education. “I went to my careers advisor and said I really enjoy Geography but also like the design aspect of Digital Technology. She thought GIS would be a good fit and it just was.”
KEY FACTS ■ GRACE KURU WORKS FOR ABLEY IN CHRISTCHURCH AS A GEOSPATIAL ANALYST. ■ IN YEAR 13, SHE TOOK GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, CALCULUS, ACCOUNTING AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. ■ GRACE SAYS A CAREER IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) WOULD SUIT SCHOOL LEAVERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN GEOGRAPHY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND SPACES.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on page sponsor Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, visit www.linz.govt.nz For more information on studying geographic information science (GIS) with various tertiary providers, visit www.linz.govt.nz/studying-gis
writer PETER WHITE photographer DEAN NORRIE
AMBULANCE SERVICE CAREERS When people think of Hato Hone St John Ambulance Service, it is mostly about sirens and lights flashing off to an emergency. But there is a wide variety of career options available in the organisation for school leavers. MILLIE O’GRADY has been the volunteer support manager for the Canterbury region since 2021.
“I work with our local Canterbury managers and the other volunteer support managers throughout the country to align our priorities and strategy for volunteers and continue to improve our volunteer programme,” says Millie. “What I enjoy most about the role is just being able to create opportunities for others to find their purpose. It is really cool to see people who have a fulltime job be able to step into a volunteer role and do
what I enjoy most about the role is just BEING ABLE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS TO FIND theIR PURPOSE. MILLIE O’GRADY
something for themselves and for others. It is really exciting to see so many people help to make a difference in our community. Our volunteers are an essential part of our organisation, especially in our rural areas.” Millie’s Hato Hone St John story started in 2014 in her second year of a primary school teaching degree. She bumped into someone who was the fundraising manager for Hato Hone St John in Christchurch. “I got talking to her and she told me they had an administration role they were about to advertise. I had been heavily involved in Canteen since my sister had cancer when she was young, so that had sparked my interest and passion for charity work. So when that job came up, it was something that really resonated with me. “I applied and got the position, dropped out of uni and moved into a fulltime role that aligned more with what I wanted to do. Here I am, nine years later, in a management role within ambulance operations.” Millie has had different roles since that start in fundraising. She has worked in the clinical team responsible for training ambulance staff as an administrator, before moving into a management role looking after internships. “I was running the programme for graduates who had done the degree and wanted to be paramedics with Hato Hone St John. They have to do an internship programme and I got the opportunity to run the programme and get into the management space. My passion is supporting others to do what they want to do and what they do best. I really enjoy helping in the background.” Millie went to Christchurch Adventist School. In Year 13 her favourite subjects were PE, Home Economics, Art, English and Mathematics. For school leavers, she says there are so many career options available within St John. “When I started, I had no idea where I wanted to end up but I knew it was an organisation that aligned with my values. So, just follow your passion and take opportunities when they come and build relationships with people from different organisations. “We are all about helping others so having really good people skills, communication skills and being an honest, trustworthy person, will align with the sort of work we do.”
KEY FACTS ■ MILLIE O’GRADY IS THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT MANAGER FOR HATO HONE ST JOHN AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THE CANTERBURY REGION. ■ SHE WORKED IN THE CLINICAL TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING AMBULANCE STAFF AS AN ADMINISTRATOR BEFORE MOVING INTO A MANAGEMENT ROLE. ■ MILLIE’S FAVOURITE SUBJECTS IN YEAR 13 WERE PE, HOME ECONOMICS, ART, ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS.
For more information on career opportunities with Hato Hone St John, visit https://join.stjohn.org.nz/ ambulance-careers/home
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
HATO HONE ST JOHN
A PASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE
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AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER
PAINTING UP A STORM QUALIFIED CAR REFINISHER
writer PETER WHITE photographer ALAN STEVENS
YOU DoN’T ALWAYS NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU leave school – sometimes it can find you.
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BRODIE REEVES
“It is nice when something comes in looking a bit rough and you put the colour down and it goes out looking new,” says BRODIE REEVES. The 26-year-old is an automotive refinisher at the large Toyota New Zealand factory in Thames. He has worked for the company for nearly seven years and last November he finished his apprenticeship with a New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Refinishing (Level 4) qualification. Brodie enjoys the satisfaction he gets from seeing a finished vehicle restored to its former glory with a top paint job. “We have a line of preppers who bring the car ready for me and three other painters to paint. There is quite a bit to ensuring the best possible result – from choosing the right grade of sandpaper to sand with and choosing the right colour match. You can have a white colour but there are actually hundreds of different shades of white – so finding the right one and then applying it properly.
“Many people think it is easy - but it takes a lot of skill and practice. I will literally paint for up to eight hours a day.” Working for Toyota comes with plenty of perks and benefits, Brodie says. “I enjoy working for them. There are a lot of chemicals in my job. One thing I always appreciate - after having my dad go through cancer – is the standard of health and safety equipment. With Toyota, it is always top of the line. Nothing is cheap - all the best stuff on the market you can get for a job. “They also provide Southern Cross healthcare for you and your family – and we shut down for four weeks over Christmas – plus I have a good relationship with most people there. It is quite a friendly place.” He did his apprenticeship through MITO which he says worked out really well. “MITO offered me courses for the weekend. I would go to Hamilton and do a course with a MITO trainer and they would sign you off on your practical work.
“There was stripping of cars, taking off bumpers and doors, which I don’t do as I am consistently painting. They were really accommodating and would come in once a month to make sure I had everything I needed at work.” Brodie was raised in Otago and went to South Otago High School. He moved up to Hamilton just before he left school during Year 12. He wants school leavers who may not be doing so well to remember they still have a great opportunity ahead of them. “You don’t always need to know what you want to do when you leave school – sometimes it can find you. “I got Level 1 at school and then got a job at Toyota and an apprenticeship. So if you don’t do well at school, it does not mean your life is over – you still have the same opportunities in the working world. “If you want to work hard, people will recognise it and you can be rewarded.”
KEY FACTS ■ BRODIE REEVES IS AN AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER AT THE TOYOTA NEW ZEALAND FACTORY IN THAMES. ■ HE DID HIS APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH INDUSTRY TRAINING ORGANISATION MITO, A DIVISION OF TE PŪKENGA – NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY. ■ BRODIE’S ADVICE TO SCHOOL LEAVERS IS IF YOU WORK HARD, PEOPLE WILL NOTICE AND YOU CAN BE REWARDED. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on careers with Toyota New Zealand, go to www.careers.toyota.co.nz For apprenticeship opportunities through MITO, visit www.mito.org.nz/get-qualified/ apprenticeships-and-training
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE 10
FIRING UP IN THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
FOLLOWING FAMILY FOOTSTEPS writer PETER WHITE // photographer JESSICA JONES
MATTHEW ANDERSON is from a family of firefighters in Central Otago so he was always likely to follow down that path. “I wanted to be a firefighter but I wasn’t sure where. I wanted to make a career out of it – it was a matter of whether I joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force or New Zealand Army or go through Fire and Emergency New Zealand,” says Matthew. “I thought the Royal New Zealand Air Force would be more interesting, working around aircraft and being trained in every aspect of firefighting, and the opportunities that would come with it would be second-to-none.” Matthew, 23, joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force during his last year at Cromwell College – starting his initial recruit course in 2019. He has quickly made rapid advancement in his career. He is now an Aviation Rescue Firefighter by trade in the position of Fire Crew Manager at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Woodbourne, near Blenheim. He has achieved his two chevrons to reach the rank of corporal. His initial recruit training course took 14 weeks. Matthew then spent time at the fire station at RNZAF Base Woodbourne doing some on-job training prior to his trade training basic fire course. Army and Air Force Firefighters are trained at Linton Army Camp. This training takes approximately three months. RNZAF Aviation Rescue Firefighters then conduct additional training back at their bases to learn further aviation specific firefighting skills. Matthew did 18 months of on-job training at RNZAF Base Woodbourne followed by his senior fire trade training back at Linton. He has also passed his Fire Command and Control Junior course which gives him the skills to act as a Crew Manager. Matthew loved his initial training straight from school. “It was pretty cool, to be fair, learning all the drill marching, the weapon training, the whole ground defence stuff, the history of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the visit to the Tūrangawaewae (Royal New Zealand Air Force Marae) at RNZAF Base Ohakea – and the relationships you have built with people from all over the country.” He relished the opportunity to get stuck into his trade training. “Everything is done thoroughly and in-depth – we are trained to a very high standard.
IF YOU WANT A CAREER IN THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND air FORCE, THEN START WORKING TOWARDS THE CORE VALUES OF comradeship, courage, comMITMENT and INTEGRITY. MATTHEW ANDERSON
“We cover everything from aviation firefighting, domestic firefighting, motor vehicle crashes, hazardous substance incidents, co-response medical calls, rural firefighting, and even delivering fire safety training to other personnel on base.” Matthew is excited to be working with the most up-to-date firefighting equipment in New Zealand. “We are bringing in to service two multi-milliondollar aviation fire appliances. They are Oshkosh Strikers and are the only two of their kind in the country. “The trucks have state of the art technology and equipment to allow us to be more proficient in our
primary output of aviation firefighting – to be fair they are an awesome piece of kit.” In Year 13, Matthew took Woodworking, PE, Outdoor Leadership, Statistics, English and Geography. His advice to school leavers is there are awesome opportunities in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. “You will be pushed to your limits at times on your recruit course and trade course. If you want a career in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, then start working towards the core values of comradeship, courage, commitment and integrity. “You definitely need courage to give things a go and get amongst it.”
KEY FACTS ■ MATTHEW ANDERSON IS AN AVIATION RESCUE FIREFIGHTER WORKING AS A FIRE CREW MANAGER AT THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE BASE AT WOODBOURNE, NEAR BLENHEIM. ■ HE JOINED THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE DURING HIS LAST YEAR AT CROMWELL COLLEGE. AT THE AGE OF 23, HE HAS EARNED HIS TWO CHEVRONS TO REACH THE RANK OF CORPORAL. ■ MATTHEW TOOK WOODWORKING, PE, OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP, STATISTICS, ENGLISH AND GEOGRAPHY IN YEAR 13. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on career opportunities within the Royal New Zealand Air Force, visit www.defencecareers.mil.nz
DEFENCE FORCE CAREERS
writer PETER WHITE photo LOGAN WEST
KAEA PRESTON has achieved the rank of Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) since joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force five years ago. Her area of expertise is in repairing heavy vehicle machinery and so much more – there is no shortage of variety in her role. “I am a Ground Support Equipment Technician – we almost touch everything but the aircraft,” says Kaea.
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“We can go from servicing vehicle jack stands, to water blasters, to working on the Unimog, fire trucks, refuelling trucks and aircraft tow tractors,” says Kaea. “A Leading Aircraftsman in my trade is when you become a qualified technician. You first join as an Aircraftsman, which is pretty much like a trainee, and then once I finished my qualification I was reclassified to Leading Aircraftsman.” Kaea started in the Royal New Zealand Air Force by doing her three-month recruits course and – as she is under a tech trade – she had to do an aeronautical engineering fundamentals course that also took three months. “I had to do my first year trade training working on defence force vehicles at Woodbourne. I was then posted up to RNZAF Base Whenuapai and have been here ever since.” Kaea is attached to Maintenance Support Squadron of Maintenance Wing Auckland. “We pretty much support the output of the aircraft. The GSE TECH trade is split up into four sections – vehicle maintenance, aviation fuel GSE maintenance, aircraft GSE and electrical GSE, which work on everything from the stands to fire engines and ground power units that provide power to the aircraft while under maintenance on the ground. “I am currently at our fuel maintenance section. We look after all the fuelling trucks as well as completing Air BP training to be able to carry out tests on all the refuelling equipment.” GSE Technicians receive training towards the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering qualification and progress towards Class 5 driver’s licenses through their career. What Kaea has enjoyed most in the Royal New Zealand Air Force is all the different people she has met. “From your recruit course when you first join, you obviously meet up with a whole bunch of people you don’t know – I have gained life-long friends. “Learning the vehicle side of things has also been another main highlight.”
Kaea has always taken an interest in the mechanical side of things – her dad is a mechanic – but it was a close school friend who tipped her across to a defence force career. “She was looking at the Royal New Zealand Air Force for firefighting and I found out about the GSE trade and how you get paid to get qualified. “I thought it was something I am interested in – and an opportunity to gain what I wanted to achieve – and still be with my friend.”
Kaea went to Freyberg High School in Palmerston North. In Year 13, her subjects were Māori Studies, Tourism, Geography, Visual English and Gateway. She is keen to encourage school leavers to follow her path – particularly females who may not have considered doing what she has done. “Don’t worry about the stereotype. There are only three females in my trade in the Royal New Zealand Air Force but I say just go for it. I wasn’t top of the class. This is something that is open to everyone – just give it a shot.”
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE IS THE RIGHT FIT
DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE STEREOTYPE – THERE ARE ONLY THREE FEMALES IN MY TRADE IN THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE – BUT I SAY JUST GO FOR IT. KAEA PRESTON
KEY FACTS ■ KAEA PRESTON HAS ACHIEVED THE RANK OF LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN (LAC) SINCE JOINING THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE FIVE YEARS AGO. ■ SHE IS A GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (GSE) TECHNICIAN WORKING IN FOUR AREAS – VEHICLES, FUEL MAINTENANCE, AIRCRAFT GSE AND ELECTRICAL GSE.
For more information on career opportunities within the Royal New Zealand Air Force, visit www.defencecareers.mil.nz
■ LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN KAEA IS KEEN TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOL LEAVERS TO FOLLOW HER – PARTICULARLY FEMALES WHO MAY NOT HAVE CONSIDERED DOING WHAT SHE HAS DONE.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
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JOB TITLE RETAIL SALES
RETAIL SALES CAREERS 12
writer PETER WHITE photographer LOGAN WEST
MAKING HER MARK IN PLUMBING WORLD Helping people design the bathroom of their dreams is what ABBY CURRAN has been doing for two years at Plumbing World in Mairangi Bay, Auckland. Abby, 24, started working part-time there on Saturdays – “just to get my foot in the door” – and that initiative paid off for her when a fulltime sales consultant role came up in the showroom. “We are ultimately the face of Plumbing World for plumbers and retail customers. People sometimes have ideas – or have no ideas at all – we are the ones who help spark inspiration for their bathroomware and how to design it in some sort of aspect,” says Abby. What she loves most about working in the showroom is the interaction with the customers. “No two customers are the same. We also do big projects that can be over a period of a couple weeks or even months with retail customers or plumbers. This is where we really gain a relationship with those customers. That is the best part of the role.
“Obviously, if you have some sort of passion for the plumbing side of things or design that helps greatly as you are helping the majority of customers design their bathrooms.” This month, she has started a new role with Plumbing World as one of the company’s sale reps working in West Auckland. She will still be utilising the same people skills but will be out and about – rather than inside the showroom all day. It is a new challenge Abby is looking forward to. “I am excited to be on the road and using my personality and knowledge to build relationships with people who aren’t just walking through the door. I will be going out to sign customers who are not currently shopping with Plumbing World.” Abby went to Vanguard Military School – in Rosedale on Auckland’s North Shore – as her aspirations were to go into the Air Force. In year 13, she took PE, English, History and Maths but her plans soon changed. She ended
up travelling overseas – and then got hit by the COVID-19 lockdowns. She was without a job for a year and says it was her mother who sparked the solution. “My mother also works for Plumbing World as a sales rep. I watched her – and how passionate she was about her role – so when that chance came up for me at Plumbing World, I grabbed it. I have taken after her.” Abby says the plumbing industry is still looked at as a male-dominated world but that is changing rapidly. She would like to encourage young females to consider a career with companies like Plumbing World – or look at the possibility of a plumbing apprenticeship. “Some people may go ‘oh no, that’s for a boy to do’ – but the more women who are getting involved are showing that it is okay to be part of this industry. Being a female does not disadvantage you.”
WE ARE ULTIMATELY THE FACE OF PLUMBING WORLD FOR PLUMBERS and retail customers. ABBY CURRAN
KEY FACTS ■ ABBY CURRAN HAS JUST STARTED A NEW SALES REPRESENTATIVE ROLE WITH PLUMBING WORLD ON AUCKLAND’S NORTH SHORE. ■ SHE SPENT TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THAT AS A FULL-TIME SALES CONSULTANT IN THE COMPANY’S MAIRANGI BAY SHOWROOM. ■ ABBY ENCOURAGES YOUNG FEMALES TO CONSIDER A CAREER WITH PLUMBING WORLD OR LOOK AT A PLUMBING APPRENTICESHIP. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on career opportunities with Plumbing World, visit www.plumbingworld.co.nz
Supporting future tradies now & into the future There are plenty of reasons why Kiwi tradies trust Plumbing World to have their back. So here are a few of the things we’re doing behind the scenes to support our mates looking to join the trade. Championing the next generation. The plumbing trades are an attractive career option for all school leavers to consider, so we’re proud to continue to support the Masterlink and ATT apprenticeship schemes, especially in these uncertain times. We’re also very proud of our Young Plumbers and Young Plumber of the Year initiatives as they help future proof our Industry and support and celebrate excellence. Keeping business moving. We work alongside Master Plumbers and closely with our suppliers advocating to MBIE and the Government on behalf of the plumbing trades to ensure business keeps functioning while global supply is disrupted.
Supporting equality. We’re focused on providing a supportive and inclusive culture for all our team members. Plumbing World is also a NAWIC supporter (National Association of Women in Construction) and is behind the Women in Trades Expo series. Keeping the flame alive. We’re dedicated to getting to a zero carbon future so are working to ensure our operations are efficient. We are also focused on instilling confidence in the future of NZ’s energy mix as we move away from fossil fuels to further cut our countries emissions.
We’re your Team in Black At Plumbing World we’re committed to developing our people throughout their careers. To support this we have teamed up with all the best industry players to make our industry hum. We’re here to keep our industry safe, inclusive and open so everyone’s journey is rewarding. If the Plumbing trades sound good to you please drop us a line.
plumbingworld.co.nz
LEADING A TEAM WITH COMMON GOALS writer PETER WHITE // photographer ALAN STEVENS
TAI TUHIWAI works as a maintenance manager with the Fonterra Co-operative Group based in Morrinsville. The 25-year-old has previously held positions as a process project manager, process team leader and environmental manager with the company. “In my role as maintenance manager for the the business units at Fonterra – and what I probably Whakatane area, so every time I turned up for those Morrinsville/Waharoa sites, one of the key enjoyed the most was connecting with a diverse Iwi and Hapu engagement meetings they already accomplishments is working together collaboratively range of people who I touch base with now on knew my name.” with a team. It is always about us all rowing in the a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Tai attended Kawerau College (now Tarawera High same canoe – in the same direction – making sure School) from Years 9–12 before shifting to Rotorua “It really helps leverage your early career as you everyone has the same common goal,” says Tai. Boys’ High School, where he took Physics, Calculus, are quite visible in the company. I found in this Chemistry, PE and History in Year 13. programme, the biggest influence is the amount “I find working as a team is far more efficient and of exposure and practical experience out on site easier than working by yourself. This role is fairly “In those Years 9–12, I was not actually aiming for with the multiple product streams that Fonterra unique - not every day is the same. You dabble in uni but had the Fonterra sparky apprenticeship in makes, like cream, butter and powders.” the people space now and then, management mind – but then I moved schools and my grades of projects and budgets, and making sure the were good enough to pursue a different avenue. One of the many things Tai has enjoyed at Fonterra performance of the site is running efficiently.” is the company’s passion for involving Iwi and Hapu “I have a few positions with Fonterra I am keen and the wider community. This was particularly on pursuing in the future, including the regional Tai attained a Bachelor of Engineering degree evident in his environmental manager role. manager role. with Honours from University of Waikato – before joining the Fonterra Graduate Technical “I led one of the work streams to work alongside “I also wouldn’t mind doing some sort of corporate Programme (FGTP) and gaining a Masters of Iwi and engage them with the change in consent role and getting some experience in that world – Dairy Science. conditions that were going to be compromised by and also the subject matter expert role around mechanical engineering.” “It was a bit of a game-changer for me. I found the the wet weather we had last year. FGTP programme developed my understanding for Tai’s advice to school leavers – just be keen and “It was quite unique for me as my full name – how vast Fonterra is. You get to be part of many of always try your best. Tairongo – is actually one of the chiefs from the
MAINTENANCE MANAGER
MAINTENANCE MANAGER 14
DIVERSE CAREERS WITH FONTERRA
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IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT US ALL ROWING IN the same CANOE – IN THE SAME DIRECTION – MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS THE SAME COMMON goal. TAI TUHIWAI
KEY FACTS ■ TAI TUHIWAI IS A MAINTENANCE MANAGER WITH THE FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP, BASED IN MORRINSVILLE. ■ HE TOOK PHYSICS, CALCULUS, CHEMISTRY, PE AND HISTORY IN YEAR 13. ■ TAI ATTAINED A BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING DEGREE WITH HONOURS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO BEFORE JOINING THE FONTERRA GRADUATE TECHNICAL PROGRAMME (FGTP) AND GAINING A MASTERS OF DAIRY SCIENCE.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on career opportunties with Fonterra and to see all their current career programmes, visit www.fonterra.com/earlycareersnz
HANNAH REVELL
PROCESS PROJECT MANAGER
I knew engineering was a good, practical, problem-SOLVING AREA WHERE I COULD USE MY STRENGTHS IN SUBJECTS I ENJOYED MOST.
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VARIED CAREERS WITH FONTERRA
writer PETER WHITE photographer GEOFF HORRELL
PROBLEM SOLVING GAINS RESULTS
One of the things HANNAH REVELL likes most about her role as a Process Project Manager at Fonterra is seeing the results of a project that has been implemented and the cost savings. “I am lucky that I get to follow that process from start to finish, to get things But she changed her focus and graduated with a four-year Bachelor of Food across the line for my co-workers who are doing their jobs brilliantly but don’t Technology (Honours) degree – majoring in Process Engineering – from have the resource to see through new projects,” says Hannah. Massey University. “I knew engineering was a good, practical, problem-solving area where I could The 25-year-old is based at Fonterra’s Edendale site in Southland, that last year use my strengths in subjects I enjoyed most.” celebrated 150 years in operation. She works on two of the four milk powder spray dryers – one makes mostly whole milk powder and butter milk powder, Hannah was then accepted for the Fonterra Graduate Technical Programme (FGTP) the other skim milk powder. which enabled her to gain a Masters of Dairy Science that kick-started her career. “Fonterra offers the graduate programme to anyone who has done a four-year “I look after the whole process that includes evaporation, spray drying and science or engineering degree with honours. It is a one-year programme in then packing. conjunction with Massey University that puts you through a masters. I spent the “I am responsible for asset care and I look at reporting on the condition of all first three months on site at Edendale and then four months in Palmerston North of our assets in the plant – as well as scoping up new projects where we have at the research centre there. I was lectured on all-things dairy and then spent four high risks. I am responsible for getting that organised and done. months doing a research project up in Hamilton.” “I also do a lot of maintenance scheduling for our winter shuts and run multiple International opportunities appealed to Hannah when she applied for the meetings in a week – just trying to get our maintenance team and our graduate programme. operations team working together to keep the plant running.” “I thought there would be good opportunities to work overseas either with Hannah has lived half her life in Norway which is where she spent her high Fonterra or just because they are well recognised, other businesses overseas school years. Her focus was on the core science subjects of Chemistry and will value your experience.” Biology in achieving the International Baccalaureate (IB) qualification. Her advice to school leavers – while it is important to be able to work as part In 2018, Hannah came to New Zealand to study at university. She originally of a team, you need to be able to drive yourself to get results and not have to wanted to be a vet so signed up for a pre-vet course at Massey University. be told what to do – and enjoy finding the solution to a problem.
KEY FACTS ■ HANNAH REVELL IS A PROCESS PROJECT MANAGER AT FONTERRA’S EDENDALE SITE IN SOUTHLAND. ■ SHE SPENT HER HIGH SCHOOL YEARS IN NORWAY WHERE SHE ACHIEVED THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) QUALIFICATION. ■ HANNAH WAS ACCEPTED FOR THE FONTERRA GRADUATE TECHNICAL PROGRAMME (FGTP) AND GAINED A MASTERS OF DAIRY SCIENCE QUALIFICATION.
For more information on career opportunties with Fonterra, visit www.fonterra.com/earlycareersnz
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
DEEP-SEA FISHER
HARD WORK PAYS OFF 16
A LIFESTYLE CAREER AT SEA “The best thing about working for Sealord is the people you meet every trip and interacting with others. I also like gaining leadership roles,” says MIRIAMA BARLOW. Miriama, 23, is a trimmer on board Sealord’s vessel Ocean Dawn. She loves working the six weeks at sea – six weeks at home roster she is on. “It is hard work. We do eight hours on – eight hours off, around the clock when we are at sea. It is great for saving money because you are not spending money at sea, which is a big bonus for us. “And the six weeks off is amazing – it is probably my favourite thing about being on the boat. It is about planning ahead when you are at sea and knowing what you want to do when you get off. I like to go to the gym when I am home because you have to be fit to do my job – we are lifting trays of fish all the time we are out there.” Miriama went to Rodney College on Auckland’s North Shore. She admits she did not enjoy her time
writer PETER WHITE photographer LUKE MARSHALL
at school as much as she would have liked and left in Year 12. Her favourite subjects were Art and PE. After leaving school, she shifted to Nelson to stay with her dad and applied for many jobs. Sealord was the only company to offer her a role, so at the age of 18 she joined up and went on her first deep sea fishing trip. She has loved it ever since. “The thing with Sealord is they always look after the crew and they listen to the things we want to change – they are very welcoming. “We usually go down the west coast of the South Island, down to the Auckland Islands. The species we mainly catch are hoki, ling, squid and sometimes orange roughy.” Miriama started as a packer on the factory line on her first voyage. “I was just learning the flow of what goes on in the factory. I have not been on deck yet and it is not something I am interested in. I am a trimmer now,
so I make sure there is no bone going through in the fillets and that the fillets are graded properly. “There are three grades going up the scale for workers. You start as a trainee, then you get boosted to C grade, then B grade and I am currently A grade. I worked really hard for that. Next you can train to be a supervisor or a factory manager – one day I would like to gain one of those roles.” There are challenges to deal with when you first go to sea. Miriama’s advice to school leavers keen to join Sealord is to listen, follow instructions, work hard and be a team player. “The big thing is to make sure you are fit enough to handle the work and be willing to put in the hard mahi to get the treats.”
THE THING WITH SEALORD IS THEY ALWAYS LOOK AFTER THE CREW AND THEY LISTEN TO THE THINGS we WANT TO CHANGE – THEY ARE VERY WELCOMING. MIRIAMA BARLOW
KEY FACTS ■ MIRIAMA BARLOW IS A TRIMMER FOR SEALORD, WORKING ON BOARD THE FREEZER FACTORY BOAT OCEAN DAWN. ■ THE SPECIES THEY MAINLY CATCH ARE HOKI, LING, SQUID AND SOMETIMES ORANGE ROUGHY. ■ MIRIAMA RECOMMENDS A CAREER AT SEA FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS SAYING THAT THE BIG THING IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE FIT ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE WORK AND BE WILLING TO PUT IN THE HARD MAHI TO GET THE REWARDS. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on career opportunities in the fishing industry, visit www.sealord.com/working-at-sealord www.seafood.co.nz/careers and www.deepsea.co.nz
A SUSTAINABLE WAY FORWARD writer PETER WHITE photographer DUNCAN BROWN
FORESTRY
FORESTRY INDUSTRY CAREERS
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FORESTRY IS SUCH A varied industry And i really highly recommend doing the bachelor of forestry science to ANYONE WHO LIKES THE OUTDOORS. GRACE MARSHALL
“I love the forestry industry, I love the challenge and being able to get outside and work with so many different people,” says GRACE MARSHALL. Grace, 25, is juggling two major roles. She is a part-time Operations Scheduler for Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd based in Napier and studying for her PhD in Forestry from the University of Canterbury (UC) – focused on exotic (pine tree) to native forest transitions. She was not thinking of a career in forestry at high school but says doing a Bachelor of Forestry Science (Honours) degree at UC was “the best decision I ever made”. “At Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd, I work with the operations teams with harvesting and engineering. My main role is looking after the harvesting crews, giving them a programme – usually about 18 months of work for each – and we have between 17 and 19 harvesting crews.
“We have to balance the forest harvest at the right age and is it pruned or unpruned – as our mill has different demands at different times. Weather plays a big part. We also harvest private wood lots so have to slot those in. “I also do a lot of budgeting. I work with the forest leadership team for the bigger picture, strategic planning – and with the engineering team developing a new scheduling tool.” The forests are all in Hawke’s Bay – from Mohaka in the north near Raupunga and Gwavas in the south near Tikokino – with three more in-between. In February this year, Cyclone Gabrielle caused catastrophic damage to the forests and infrastructure in the Hawke’s Bay. Grace put her PhD on hold and returned to work fulltime for four months to help with the project management of the recovery.
“We lost all our offices and our sawmill and pulp mill are both still down and all the electrics were destroyed. We had a lot of damage to the forests and public roads. “It was quite a stressful time because we really needed to get our contractors working – but we were really limited where we could put our crews.” The opportunity to study for a PhD came from being awarded a UC Accelerator Scholarship that covers her fees and pays a generous stipend. In July, Grace was honoured to be awarded the Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup – for her PhD in transition forestry and its link to Iwi landowners. The Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup is awarded to a young professional in New Zealand’s forestry sector.
It recognises individuals who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to sustainable forest management principles – both the Prince of Wales and King Charles signed the award. Grace attended Cashmere High School in Christchurch. In Year 13, she took Photography, Print Making, Drama, Statistics, Biology and Year 12 Chemistry. “Forestry is such a varied industry and I really highly recommend doing the Bachelor of Forestry Science to anyone who likes the outdoors. “It has a lot of science but also economics – and you can go down many different roads with this degree.”
KEY FACTS
■ GRACE MARSHALL WORKS PART-TIME AS AN OPERATIONS SCHEDULER FOR For more information on apprenticeships PAN PAC FOREST PRODUCTS LTD BASED IN NAPIER – WHILE ALSO STUDYING FOR A PhD IN FORESTRY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY. n sign making, ■ visit www.signee.nz GRACE WAS HONOURED TO BE AWARDED THE PRINCE OF WALES SUSTAINABILITY
CUP – FOR HER PhD IN TRANSITION FORESTRY AND ITS LINK TO IWI LANDOWNERS.
■ IN YEAR 13, SHE TOOK PHOTOGRAPHY, PRINT MAKING, DRAMA, STATISTICS, BIOLOGY AND YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY.
For more information on career opportunities in the Forestry Industry, visit www.forestrycareers.nz and for more information on studying for a Bachelor of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury, visit www.canterbury.ac.nz
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
writer PETER WHITE // photographer LOGAN WEST
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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
DESIGNING BETTER SPACES BELA HINEMOA GRIMSDALE finds landscape architecture a creative way to combine her passion for art and design – in the natural and built environments – with her connection to Te Ao Māori.
Bela – who is of Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira descent – has worked for Tāmaki Makaurau-based LandLAB for the past six years after graduating from Unitec|Te Pūkenga with a four-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Auckland, with a double major in Cultural Heritage and Museums and Art History. “I discovered a passion for practical and traditional Māori methods, materials, techniques and researching native plant species for their uses. Landscape architecture is relatively new to me but I pulled in all my knowledge I have learnt through life – my Māori genealogy and all the study I did – into what I do now,” says Bela. “What I love most about my role at LandLAB is working with Māori artists and how we integrate their stories and values into our projects. I really enjoy research so that’s everything to do with the
land, its history and people, and that is what drives our designs. “We work closely with our artists to integrate their stories and values into our projects in a meaningful
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IS REALLY BROAD. THERE IS A whole lot of different facets of IT INCLUDING ART, DESIGN, CREATIVITY, LANDSCAPE, PLANTS AND PEOPLE. BELA HINEMOA GRIMSDALE
way. This is through different landscape design elements such as paving, lighting, furniture, standalone artworks and materiality. “I get to meet all these amazing artists from all over the country and it is great to learn all the stories of Aotearoa.” One of the projects Bela worked on in the Tāmaki Makaurau CBD was the Quay Street upgrade. This was one of five projects with several landscape architectural firms involved, working alongside each other. Bela was doing an internship with LandLAB in her fourth year at Unitec|Te Pūkenga, which she says is a good way for students to start their careers in the industry. “It is all built now and I am really proud of the work that we did. We worked closely with an amazing artist, Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki); it is just beautiful what was done there.” Bela loved her time studying, particularly at Unitec|Te Pūkenga. She worked extensively on the landscape architecture magazine XSection which she says opened up opportunities through networking. Bela attended Western Springs College but left early to start working. She spent 20 years in the
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
hospitality industry before finding her true calling in the field of landscape architecture. She encourages school leavers to consider the four-year Unitec Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. “A key thing is to have a passion for the land, a passion for culture, a passion for people and places and the environment. With all these pressures we are coming into now, as landscape architects we are probably going to be leading the fight against climate change. “Landscape architecture is really broad. There is a whole lot of different facets of it including art, design, creativity, landscape, plants and people. “We design better places for people.”
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KEY FACTS For more information on studying architectural studies through Unitec | Te Pūkenga, visit www.unitec.ac.nz/architecture
■ BELA HINEMOA GRIMSDALE HAS WORKED FOR TĀMAKI MAKAURAUBASED LANDLAB FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS AFTER GRADUATING FROM UNITEC | TE PŪKENGA WITH A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DEGREE. ■ ONE OF THE PROJECTS BELA WORKED ON IN THE TĀMAKI MAKAURAU CBD WAS THE QUAY STREET UPGRADE. ■ BELA IS OF TE ĀTIAWA, NGĀTI RAUKAWA AND NGĀTI TOA RANGATIRA DESCENT.
We can’t wait to see you on City Campus!
After 100 years of Teacher Education on the Epsom Campus we are moving! The Faculty of Education and Social Work will have a new home in 2024 on City Campus, in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau. • • • •
State of the art specialist initial teacher education spaces Amazing new Recreation and Wellness Centre opening mid-2024 Easy access to everything you need Fantastic degree programmes in Education, Teaching , Social Work and Sport, Health and PE
This is an exciting time to study with EDSW! We look forward to seeing you next year!
education.auckland.ac.nz
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ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIP writer PETER WHITE // photographer SANDRA HENDERSON Working hard and going the extra mile in her job has paid off for AIMEE KELLS. The 20-year-old began in the processing room bagging and packing meat in 2021 at the large Silver Fern Farms plant in Hawera, Taranaki, before working as a trades assistant. In July, she changed tack and started her Maintenance and Diagnostic Engineering apprenticeship. The end goal is a National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering. A maintenance and diagnostics engineer makes, fits and repairs parts for machines and related equipment used in places such as factories, farms, mining sites and oil refineries. Aimee is excited to be moving into the next stage of her career with Silver Fern Farms. Her trades assistant role has been good grounding for her apprenticeship – she says it is challenging as there is lots of information and processes to remember. “I like the hands-on aspect and taking things apart and putting them back together – I do a lot of the maintenance jobs that don’t require a full engineer. I am also doing a lot of welding and am getting ready for a project which will involve that. “I also do general work in the plant as well. I come in the morning before the shift starts and do a pre-op. We service all the machines, oil them and check they are running.” Aimee says working extra shifts and getting her hands dirty on less desirable jobs is how she got to where she is today. “It is definitely all about putting in some extra effort and showing the company you are prepared to do what they want you to do.” Engineering was not something she had planned to do but there is a strong engineering history in her family. “My dad is an engineer and I know a lot of people who do engineering – but I never thought I would do it myself until I had a go. I really enjoy doing that sort of work.” Aimee went to Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls from Years 9-12 and then moved to Stratford High School for her final year, where she took Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Statistics and Tourism.
With her strong science background, she was keen to do lab work and train to work in pathology – but then COVID-19 lockdowns changed everything. Aimee found distance learning challenging so she took a job at Silver Fern Farms and has worked her way to a new career in engineering. “I told myself when I started I would do three years and earn some money and see what I wanted to do after that. But now I have started doing engineering work, I can see a future doing that.”
Aimee says school leavers interested in this career path should have a good grounding in Maths, Statistics and Calculus as there is technical drawing involved.
Job opportunities in the industry are plentiful at the moment as there is a shortage of engineers.
it is definitelY all about putting in some extra EFFORT AND SHOWING THE COMPANY YOU ARE PREPARED TO DO WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO. AIMEE KELLS
KEY FACTS ■ AIMEE KELLS IS DOING A MAINTENANCE AND DIAGNOSTIC ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIP WITH SILVER FERN FARMS. ■ SHE BEGAN WORKING FOR SILVER FERN FARMS BAGGING AND PACKING MEAT IN THE PROCESSING ROOM IN 2021. ■ AIMEE STUDIED PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, STATISTICS AND TOURISM IN YEAR 13.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on apprenticeships and careers at Silver Fern Farms, visit www.silverfernfarms.co.nz
ENERGY CENTRE TRAINEE
ENGINEERING
FORGING NEW PATHWAYS
PIG FARMERS IN DEMAND
writer PETER WHITE photographer SANDRA HENDERSON
When Karl Stanley’s grandfather and great uncle returned from World War II, they were proud to purchase one of the farmland blocks set aside for returning soldiers. Today, Karl is proudly upholding those values – farming high quality pork on the land near Opunake in Taranaki. “We love working with our pigs, they are just such interesting and rewarding animals to be around,” says Karl. “We believe happy pigs – with high standards of health and welfare and very good nutrition – are the key to producing outstanding pork. Our pigs are fed entirely on wheat, barley and corn and the result is a consistently high quality product.” Regan Driever joined Stanley Brothers Pig Farm two years ago straight from school – having enjoyed a stint of work experience at the farm. He has not taken long to shine – last year he was the joint winner of the 2023 Stockperson of the Year award. Previous winners were Karl and farm manager Leon. Regan, 19, has achieved his NZQA Level 3 qualification in Pig Husbandry and plans to study for his Level 4 next year. “It is important to get those extra qualifications – to up my skill level and go further in life,” says Regan.
Pigs are unique animals to farm. Regan loves working with them and particularly likes their different personalities. “I enjoy how intelligent they are – they are pretty cool animals. Never a dull moment with them. They are very smart and very inquisitive. They like to touch and wreck everything – they have their own personalities and are all different.” Stanley Brothers Pig Farm has about 4,800 pigs, with Regan one of six fulltime workers. He says they have the pigs for 142 days before they are trucked out – with 250 piglets born every week. One of his key roles is to run the mill that produces the feed for all the pigs.
“I approached them and asked if I could get some work experience. I really enjoyed it – and they seemed to like me – so they offered me a job. They said I had to finish off my Level 2 units and then I went straight into the job. “I grew up on a dairy farm so I knew about animal welfare but for someone who hasn’t had that experience with animals, pig farming is a good entry-level for school leavers – particularly with the on-farm training plus getting Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. “I see it as a long-term career – I’d encourage any young people interested in the sector to apply for work experience and see what they think.”
PIG FARMER
HIGH JOB SATISFACTION
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“We are all grain feed here so we have a mixture which goes through a disc mill run by computer. I just have to type in what recipe I want made.” Regan enjoyed Biology, Horticulture, Agriculture and Agribusiness at Hawera High School – before leaving halfway through Year 12 to start fulltime at Stanley Brothers Pig Farm.
I ENJOY HOW INTELLIGENT THEY ARE – THEY ARE PRETTY COOL ANIMALS. never a dull moment with them. they are very smart AND very inquisitive. REGAN DRIEVER
KEY FACTS
■ REGAN DRIEVER STARTED WORKING AT STANLEY BROTHERS PIG FARM TWO For more information on apprenticeships YEARS AGO, STRAIGHT FROM LEAVING HAWERA HIGH SCHOOL. n sign making, ■ HE IS THE JOINT WINNER OF THE 2023 STOCKPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD – visit www.signee.nz ACHIEVED THROUGH HIS NZQA LEVEL 3 QUALIFICATION IN PIG HUSBANDRY. ■ REGAN IS ONE OF SIX FULLTIME WORKERS FARMING ABOUT 4,800 PIGS AT STANLEY BROTHERS PIG FARM. HE SAYS PIGS ARE VERY SMART AND INQUISITIVE ANIMALS, WITH THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES.
For more information on careers in pig farming, visit www.nzpork.co.nz For more information on studying pork production through Primary ITO, visit www.primaryito.ac.nz
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
WASTEWATER APPRENTICE 22
WASTEWATER APPRENTICESHIP
writer PETER WHITE photographer PETER NIKOLAISON
MONITORING WATER STANDARDS “I always wanted to get a qualification in something. Wastewater treatment hadn’t really crossed my mind before but when the opportunity came up, I thought it sounded interesting,” says STEPHEN MEYRICK. “Then I just fell in love with the job. I love that we can turn used, dirty water into really clean water that’s good for the environment – and I love the science that’s behind doing that.” Stephen has been working for Juken New Zealand Ltd, near Masterton, for almost seven years. He started as a process worker straight from school, but it was beginning an apprenticeship at the company’s wastewater treatment plant last year that really kick-started his career. He is doing a New Zealand Certificate in Wastewater Treatment through Connexis | Te Pūkenga. Connexis delivers training programmes to help up-skill the infrastructure workforce. Without their help, Stephen says he would have struggled to get through his apprenticeship. “Connexis have been so helpful in terms of learning, especially the assessors and when we were doing our block course – it absolutely helps having them on board.” Juken New Zealand Ltd has been heavily involved with the New Zealand forestry and wood-processing industries for the past 25 years. Stephen joined the company at age 17 but was not sure what he wanted to do until the opportunity came to move to the wastewater treatment plant. “My boss at the time said to me I should give it a go and just do it. I started in the job and love what I do. When I walked into the job, I didn’t even know what wastewater was. “What we do is basically clean the factory water. Anything that has been processed through the boiler or steam ends up at the wastewater treatment plant to get processed. We have bugs in our tanks that eat up all the ammonia – and break it down and make it cleaner and safer for the environment. It then goes into a clarifier – after some more processes it ends up at our irrigation field as nice clean water. “We also get to look after the environment at the same time.” In August this year, Stephen made his television debut on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp programme about 82-year-old Hugo Manson – who may be the country’s oldest apprentice. Stephen is mentoring Hugo. He says it was nerve-racking being in front of the cameras but he enjoyed it. “It was quite humbling. They did a story on Hugo and how the old and young can work together – my bosses loved it and thought we did a good job with it.” Stephen attended Mākoura College in Masterton. He admits he did not have the best time at school, struggling with dyslexia. Stephen left during Year 12 with a strong desire to work hard and make the most of every opportunity he was given. He says what he has achieved so far just shows what can be achieved if you have the right work ethic, are motivated, positive and determined to succeed.
I LOVE THAT WE CAN TURN USED, DIRTY WATER into really clean water THAT’S good for the ENVIRONMENT. STEPHEN MEYRICK
“I know that school is not for everyone. Some people love to learn through books, and there are some people who are hands-on. You just have to put the mahi in, show respect and also keep an open mind.”
KEY FACTS ■ STEPHEN MEYRICK IS DOING A NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT THROUGH CONNEXIS | TE PŪKENGA. ■ HE SAYS CONNEXIS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN TERMS OF LEARNING, ESPECIALLY THE ASSESSORS WHEN HE WAS DOING THE BLOCK COURSE. ■ STEPHEN IS MENTORING 82-YEAR-OLD HUGO MANSON — WHO MAY BE THE COUNTRY’S OLDEST APPRENTICE.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on apprenticeships through Connexis | Te Pūkenga, go to www.connexis.org.nz
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IMPORTANT NOTICES
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Helen Keller
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Term 1 (10 weeks): Starts between Monday 29 January and Wednesday 7 February and ends Friday 12 April Term 2 (10 weeks): Starts Monday 29 April and ends Friday 5 July Term 3 (10 weeks): Starts Monday 22 July and ends Friday 27 September Term 4 (10 weeks): Starts Monday 14 October, and ends no later than Friday 20 December
If you don’t believe in yourself, why is anyone else going to believe in you. Tom Brady
If you are about to leave school and you’re looking at tertiary study, there’s going to be a lot to think about. If it’s anything to do with financial support while you’re studying, StudyLink can help. You need to apply by
16 December 2023.
Sign up for info at www.studylink.govt.nz
JOB HUNTING
2024 SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS
Information sourced from Ministry of Education, visit www.education.govt.nz
STUDENT ALLOWANCE AND LOANS
MATTHEW ANDERSON RNZAF FIRE CREW MANAGER – SEE PAGE 10
SCHOLARSHIPS There is a free-to-use comprehensive list of Year 13 scholarships available to 2024 school leavers at MoneyHub. Millions of dollars are available and applications close throughout the year. Talk to your careers advisor or visit www.moneyhub.co.nz/students
These websites will help you find a job! AWF – www.awf.co.nz Trade Me Jobs – www.trademe.co.nz/jobs MyJobSpace – www.myjobspace.co.nz Student Job Search – www.sjs.co.nz Do Good Jobs – www.dogoodjobs.co.nz Work and Income – www.job-bank.workandincome.govt.nz Seek – www.seek.co.nz
We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it. Johnny Depp
FEELING DOWN?
Leaving school is one of the biggest transitions we undertake in our lives, and it’s a time when anxiety, worry and depression can surface. www.thelowdown.co.nz is full of ideas and people who can help you get unstuck and get to a better place. GRACE MARSHALL FORESTRY OPERATIONS SCHEDULER – PAGE 17
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
Need to talk? Free text to 5626
ABBY CURRAN SALES REPRESENTATIVE – SEE PAGE 12
A fantastic resource providing expert advice and confidential, free information on all things education and employment related – including choosing school subjects, enrolling in study or training and applying for jobs. Call their free advice line on 0800 222 733, free text CAREER to 434 or chat online by visiting their website at www.careers.govt.nz
Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made. If you push through the hard days, then you can get through anything. Gabby Douglas
There are two kinds of people — those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.
IMPORTANT NOTICES IMPORTANT NOTICES
CAREERS NEW ZEALAND
Indira Gandhi
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GRACE JAMES EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER – SEE PAGE 28
IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING LIFELINE available 24/7 0800 543 354 www.lifeline.org.nz YOUTHLINE available 24/7 0800 376 633 or free text 234 www.youthline.co.nz WHAT’S UP Mon–Fri noon–11pm & Sat/Sun 3pm–11pm 0800 942 8787 www.whatsup.co.nz ALCOHOL DRUG HELPLINE 0800 787 797 available 24/7 www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT It’s always important to make sure that you are on the electoral roll and ready to take part in national and local elections. How else can you be sure that you are ready to have your say on the big issues affecting you and your family? TUTES STONE-WILLIAMS BUILDING APPRENTICE – SEE PAGE 26
www.elections.org.nz/voters
NICHOLAS TUTTON ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN – SEE PAGE 34
The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. B.B. King Visit www.keytolife.org.nz
Read online at www.leavingschool.co.nz LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
BUILDING APPRENTICE 26
COMBINING SPORT AND WORK VALUES
writer PETER WHITE photo DEAN NORRIE
BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE TUTES STONE-WILLIAMS started his building apprenticeship this year working for SC Projects in Christchurch. The 20-yearold’s apprenticeship was organised by BCITO Te Pūkenga – and Tutes could not be happier with how it has all worked out for him. “BCITO are just awesome to deal with. I can’t describe how much help they have given me – but it is much more than getting the tools grant which is such an asset to get,” says Tutes. “It is the way they helped make me feel welcome as a first-year apprentice – and it was not like you were being chucked in the deep end. They follow you every step of the way and also guide you – to help you achieve to the best of your capabilities.” The things Tutes loves most about being an apprentice is the hands-on work and experiencing multiple, different situations. “I have learnt how to use many hand tools and power tools. I have a lot of skills in my inventory to use in my everyday working life. Now, it is a good feeling to go on
to a job and have my foreman ask me to do something – and to be confident in being able to do it. It is an overwhelming feeling compared to when I first started.” Tutes attended Nelson College and took Te Reo Māori, PE, Health, Rugby Athlete Development and Industrial Engineering in Year 13. He also did a Gateway course in Year 12 – which was focused on learning to coach rugby and experiencing helping out the younger players. “I can see how in other industries as well that it so helpful for the younger generations coming through to do the Gateway experience. It shows you how you need to work in certain situations – before moving into the industry.” In Year 11, he went on the inspirational Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand course. Tutes says there were multiple tasks he achieved that really boosted his self-confidence and everyday skills in general. “That was an awesome experience and I definitely recommend it to help guide you on the right path in life.”
Once he is qualified, Tutes would like to travel to Australia and work there – or maybe continue his promising rugby career overseas. Tutes was a star performer in the Nelson College First XV, played for Tasman under-19s, and since moving to Christchurch, has shown his leadership skills captaining the Waitaha Māori Colts team. Tutes sees a clear and important parallel between sporting success and achieving high standards at work. “Taking those leadership skills as captain of Waitaha Māori and that confidence from the rugby field, is exactly the same as being on-site and working with a team of builders. You learn certain skills like communication and being confident that you can apply both on-field and on-site – I have experienced that multiple times. “The key thing is, don’t second guess yourself or worry about your fitness if you are an athlete and want to become a builder. Being a builder actually makes you stronger.”
BCITO ARE JUST AWESOME TO DEAL WITH. I CAN’T DESCRIBE how much help they have given ME. TUTES STONE-WILLIAMS
KEY FACTS ■ TUTES STONE-WILLIAMS STARTED HIS BUILDING APPRENTICESHIP THIS YEAR WORKING FOR SC PROJECTS IN CHRISTCHURCH. . ■ HIS APPRENTICESHIP WAS ORGANISED BY BCITO TE PŪKENGA, WHO HAVE HELPED HIM ACHIEVE TO THE BEST OF HIS CAPABILITIES. ■ THE THINGS TUTES LOVES MOST ABOUT BEING AN APPRENTICE IS THE HANDS-ON WORK AND EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE, DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on starting a building apprenticeship with BCITO Te Pūkenga, visit www.bcito.org.nz
Keen on starting your apprenticeship?
Enrol in Gateway for a headstart.
Talk to your Career Advisor now or visit
2059-09-23
bcito.org.nz/gateway-schools
EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER
writer PETER WHITE // photographer DEAN NORRIE
TEACHING OUR TAMARIKI
INSPIRING OUR YOUNG CHILDREN
“I love watching the children grow and become independent in themselves – it is very rewarding watching them learn. It is about making them feel comfortable. You are their friend – not really their teacher. They have a lot of trust and respect for you so it works really well,” says GRACE JAMES.
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Grace, 23, is an early childhood education teacher (ECT) at BestStart Styx Mill in Christchurch. She has been working there for two years and previously spent two years at a private early childhood centre. She works with three other teachers looking after 16 children under two-years old – it is very busy but so satisfying. “You need to be the type of person who can be really good under pressure -but can also be really good working with children. I just love children.” Grace says having a great personality is important in succeeding as an early childhood education teacher. “I knew from the age of five-years-old that I wanted to be a teacher. It is embedded into who I am basically. When I went to Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ) to study – that
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GRACE JAMES
just really reiterated it for me that this was what I wanted to do.” Grace spent three years at the Christchurch branch of Te Rito Maioha completing a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) – combining fulltime work and study. The course is a mix of online learning with practical experience and block courses at early childhood centres. “What I really enjoyed about it was it taught me lots of important skills in terms of how to work with children – and that real practical experience at a pre-school. It helped articulate the theory I was learning.
“You also learn a really big bicultural aspect. Te Ao Māori is really important because as teachers you have an obligation with the Treaty of Waitangi. “The way that we do that is by really protecting Māori language and culture – it was a big part of my study and is a big part of my teaching today.” Grace went to Rangiora High School where she took English, Maths, Early Childhood Education, Food and Nutrition, and Biology in Year 13. She says all of those subjects teach the real foundation skills of managing your time wisely and using problemsolving – particularly Maths.
“The good thing about that was when I went into work to be an early childhood teacher, I had a really good work ethic – and had the determination and perseverance to really get through it.” Next goal for Grace to achieve is to get her Master of Education qualification – hopefully within the next three years. She wants to be able to go higher up the sector she works within. “I would love to potentially one day work for the Ministry of Education or even run an early childhood centre – so qualifications like that can really help put your foot in the door for those opportunities.”
EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER
I LOVE WATCHING THE CHILDREN GROW AND BECOME INDEPENDENT IN THEMSELVES – IT IS VERY REWARDING WATCHING THEM LEARN. IT IS ABOUT MAKING THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE. YOU ARE THEIR FRIEND – NOT REALLY THEIR TEACHER.
KEY FACTS ■ GRACE JAMES IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TEACHER AT BESTSTART STYX MILL IN CHRISTCHURCH. ■ SHE SPENT THREE YEARS AT TE RITO MAIOHA COMPLETING A BACHELOR OF TEACHING – COMBINING FULLTIME WORK AND STUDY. ■ GRACE WOULD LIKE TO GET A MASTER OF EDUCATION QUALIFICATION – TO POTENTIALLY WORK FOR THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OR RUN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRE.
Discover a career that combines passion, purpose and prosperity Chiropractic is a natural approach to health and wellbeing which focuses on care of the spine and nervous system. Find out how you can make a positive impact in the lives of others through a hands-on profession that offers great work-life balance and career opportunities.
Scan QR code for more details or visit chiropractic.ac.nz/discover
For more information about studying to be an Early Childhood Teacher with Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ), visit www.ecnz.ac.nz
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PHOTOGRAPHY
PICTURE PERFECT PLACE TO STUDY
30
A FINE ARTS DEGREE
writer PETER WHITE photography LOGAN WEST
Chasing your dream – and doing what you are passionate about – can be more rewarding than you could ever imagine. Just ask alumni student and photographer NATASHA BOSHKOVSKI. She spent 12 years as an early childhood teacher in Auckland – before deciding to give up her career to follow her passion for photography. Natasha enrolled in the Certificate in Digital Media and Design course at Whitecliffe – and enjoyed the programme so much that she signed up for a three-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She completed her degree last year majoring in Photo Media and is now in the first year of her Master of Fine Arts degree. Natasha enjoyed her time working as an early childhood teacher but her passion for photography – which was more than a hobby – was something she wanted to pursue and get a qualification in.
Whitecliffe was founded in 1983. The head office is located in Symonds St, Auckland – with campuses in Manukau, Wellington and Christchurch. It is one of New Zealand’s highest ranked and awarded research institutions in the private sector – and has a long-standing record of academic excellence. At Whitecliffe, students are encouraged to be brave and turn their talents into a life-long career.
They learn to think creatively, critically, take risks and develop advanced skills. There are five different schools offering courses – Fine Arts, Design Innovation, Fashion and Sustainability, Information Technology, and Creative Arts Therapies. Natasha highly recommends Whitecliffe to students who want to build new skills and create meaningful change.
“I was looking for a part-time course in photography but could not find one in Auckland – so I enrolled in a fulltime course at Whitecliffe. The faculty support and knowledge inspired me to want to study further,” says Natasha. “In the undergraduate degree, every term we had different subjects relating to photography – which gives you a great level of knowledge. “I was so happy with my lecturers and the skills I had learned during my degree, I decided to stay and do my masters as well. Whitecliffe lecturers are all practising artists who share their experience – within the world of exhibitions, museums and galleries – with students. “Students get exposed to practical and contextual skills within a studio setting. I believe students receive real world skills and experience to be successful.” What Natasha is enjoying most about her master’s course is being able to research different mediums to specialise and focus on a long-term project. “We have seminars at Whitecliffe as well as external examiners from different universities assessing the work. Students are given the opportunity to exhibit their project at DEMO and other galleries.” Natasha is working part-time for the Whitecliffe marketing team as a freelance photographer and within production. Portrait photography is her specialty and she also enjoys making videos and short films.
I WAS SO HAPPY WITH MY LECTURERS AND THE SKILLS I HAD LEARNED DURING MY DEGREE, I DECIDED TO STAY AND DO MY MASTERS AS WELL. NATASHA BOSHKOVSKI
KEY FACTS ■ NATASHA BOSHKOVSKI IS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HER MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE AT WHITECLIFFE. ■ SHE COMPLETED HER BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE AT WHITECLIFFE LAST YEAR, MAJORING IN PHOTO MEDIA. ■ NATASHA SPENT 12 YEARS AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER IN AUCKLAND.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on the courses available to study at Whitecliffe, visit www.whitecliffe.ac.nz
writer PETER WHITE photo LOGAN WEST
BIG MACHINERY, BIG FUTURE
JUSTUS PAITAI loves working on big machinery – the bigger the better. The 25-year-old has nearly completed his New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering – Plant and Equipment (Level 4) apprenticeship. He has worked for CablePrice (NZ) in Auckland for the last four years. “What I like most about my apprenticeship is how I am always learning something new – and being able to apply that the next time I go out to do that same job. It is good to know that everything I have learnt is sinking in and I am able to use it,” says Justus. “Pretty much everything I have learnt is practical to the job. It is excellent as a broad spectrum of what you need as a heavy diesel mechanic.” Justus works on all manner of large machinery – including diggers, dump trucks, loaders – and “basically anything you see on the side of the road where there is dirt and big machines,” he says. His apprenticeship was arranged through MITO – Te Pūkenga, who offer a range of on-job training programmes and learning experiences for those working fulltime. “It’s been good since being assigned through MITO to my support person Brad. I’ve been more on top of things and have received a lot of support. I would not have got to this point without them.” Justus is also grateful for the support and financial help he has received from Māori and Pasifika Trades Training. MPTT is a group of training and industry organisations working together to help Māori and Pasifika become leaders in the trades. Justus first dealt with MPTT when he was doing his initial training courses at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) before his apprenticeship. “When I first started at MIT, I got in touch with MPTT. They helped get me through the schooling and after I signed up for a heavy diesel course, they offered me $1,000 to help cover the cost of tools once I started in my workplace. As an apprentice, that was very, very helpful. That was a lot of money to be able to get your tools and a head-start at your apprenticeship.” Justus is of Cook Island, Māori and Niuean heritage – which he is proud of. He says the work MPTT do to support young Māori and Pasifika people is very important. “I’m not sure if our people are too knowledgeable of what is on offer to them out there. I believe MPTT is doing a good thing by introducing all different types
HEAVY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
MĀORI AND PASIFIKA TRADES TRAINING
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PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNT IS PRACTICAL TO THE JOB. IT IS EXCELLENT AS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF WHAT YOU NEED AS A HEAVY DIESEL MECHANIC. JUSTUS PAITAI
of trades to upskill our people – and get them into training because we need them in this industry.” The initial courses Justus did at MIT have proven to be a great help to him settling into his apprenticeship. “If there is anything I do recommend to school leavers it’s definitely doing those courses. That time at MIT helped me familiarise myself with not only the tools of the job – but also what I would be doing in the working industry.” His last words of advice to male and female school leavers – his industry is looking for eager young people who are willing to learn the trade and better themselves in the future.
KEY FACTS ■ JUSTUS PAITAI HAS NEARLY COMPLETED HIS NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN HEAVY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING – PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (LEVEL 4) APPRENTICESHIP. ■ HE WORKS FOR CABLEPRICE (NZ) IN AUCKLAND, WORKING ON DIGGERS, DUMP TRUCKS AND LOADERS. ■ HIS APPRENTICESHIP WAS ARRANGED THROUGH MITO – TE PŪKENGA. HE IS ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL HELP HE HAS RECEIVED FROM MĀORI AND PASIFIKA TRADES TRAINING (MPTT).
For more information, and to apply for a Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarship, visit www.maoripasifikatrades.co.nz/ apply-now For more information on Automotive apprenticeships available through MITO – Te Pūkenga, go to www.mito.org.nz/ get-qualified/our-industries/automotive/
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
ENGINEERING FABRICATION 32
SOLID CAREERS IN STEEL INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION writer PETER WHITE // photographer DUNCAN BROWN
TAMA DUNN admits he was not sure what he wanted to do when he was going through his high school years. But while at Hastings Boys’ High School, the 22-year-old did some work experience with Patton Engineering, near Hastings – and that was the start of his career in steel construction work. Tama’s opportunity came from the innovative collaboration between Patton Engineering and Hastings Boys’ High School. They have created a trades training and apprenticeships programme for high school students that provides ATNZ apprenticeship opportunities for top performers. Tama recently completed his four-year apprenticeship and gained a New Zealand Certificate in Engineering Fabrication (Trade) (Level 4). He started off doing fabrication work and has since worked on rigging, steel work for buildings and stick welding – but now he is qualified, he mostly works as a steel erector. Last year, he was named the 2022 ATNZ Apprentice of the Year. The award celebrates an ATNZ apprentice who demonstrates outstanding performance in their work, has a great attitude, is proactive on the job – and shows obvious pride and enjoyment in what they do. Tama was also appointed to the National Industry Advisory Group (Engineering). The role of the NIAG is to advise the Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce
ATNZ WERE COOL TO WORK FOR. MY ACCOUNT MANAGER, BEN JULIAN, HELPED ME OUT A LOT IN REGARDS WITH MY PAPERWORK AND KEEPING ME UP TO DATE WITH MY PROGRESS. TAMA DUNN
Development Council about skills and training issues within the engineering sector. The group focuses on lifting the skills level of Māori, Pasifika
and other underrepresented groups – to increase their participation in the sector’s workforce. “We are just trying to create better pathways for them and to help them get there – if that is what they choose to do,” says Tama. Tama – of Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa and Ngāti Kahungunu descent – would like to one day have his own contracting business. “I love being on the tools and in five years’ time, I want to be a contractor – so I recruit some young fullas to work for me and run my own little crew. “I’d get them off the streets, get them out of trouble. I’d pick them up in the morning, make sure they get to work on time, have their tools, work the day, and take them home again.” ATNZ began in the Hawke’s Bay and is now New Zealand’s largest employer of apprentices in mechanical engineering and related industries – with more than 450 managed apprentices across more than 200 companies.
Youth NZQA Health & Safety Short Courses Practical skills for future employment success NZQA Unit standard short courses Train online, at your school or one of our local training centres Online courses completed at any time that suits you School leavers, get set for a trades career
Become a youth mentor today! Help tamariki & rangatahi reach their potential.
Faculty, come and visit us at Cate Lock in your training needs now
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View courses and book online today!
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call Heather : 027 466 2024
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ENGINEERING FABRICATION
“ATNZ were cool to work for. My account manager, Ben Julian, helped me out a lot in regards with my paperwork and keeping me up to date with my progress – coming to see me if I needed anything,” says Tama. “They also gave us a tools allowance for anything we needed for our job.” At Hastings Boys’, Tama took English, Te Reo Māori, Maths, Physics, Engineering and PE in Year 12. He is keen to encourage school leavers to consider a career in the trades. “There are plenty of jobs going in the line of work we do, particularly here in the Hawke’s Bay. “The thing is when you start as an apprentice, it is basically head down, arse up – and just keep going for it.”
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KEY FACTS ■ TAMA DUNN COMPLETED HIS FOUR-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP AND GAINED A NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN ENGINEERING FABRICATION (TRADE) (LEVEL 4). ■ HIS APPRENTICESHIP WAS ORGANISED BY ATNZ WHO PROVIDE APPRENTICESHIPS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ENGINEERING FABRICATION, REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING, AND MECHANICAL BUILDING SERVICES. SHORT COURSES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. ■ TAMA WAS NAMED THE 2022 ATNZ APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR. THE AWARD CELEBRATES AN ATNZ APPRENTICE WHO DEMONSTRATES OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THEIR WORK.
Hands-on Jobs for Hands-on People
Are you good with your hands? Do you like making and fixing things? You might be more suited to an engineering apprenticeship than you think. We are looking for engineering apprentices all over New Zealand so if you have a great attitude and want to learn a trade and set yourself up for life go to info.atnz.org.nz/ love-making-things
www.atnz.org.nz
For more information on starting an engineering apprenticeship through ATNZ, visit www.atnz.org.nz
ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN 34
ACCOUNTING AN ART AND A SCIENCE
writer PETER WHITE photography ALAN STEVENS
PROVIDING VALUE TO BUSINESS “Over the years, I have come to embrace the notion that accounting is both an art and a science. What you learn at university is a science, and how you apply it in the real world is the art,” says NICHOLAS TOTTON. Nicholas, 29, is the finance manager for Tuu Oho Mai Services in Hamilton, and an Accounting Technician with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He enjoys the variety in his role as it covers many aspects of accounting. “No day is the same; I manage the finances in the organisation and do a lot to support the team. Today, for instance, was payroll day so I got to manage the payroll and ensure the financial commitments are being looked after. I do the budgeting, forecasting, and offer my financial advice and recommendations to the senior team. “I enjoy the problem solving and social aspects of being a finance manager. Not only do I work on the finances but I find solutions to support the organisation’s IT systems. The social aspects of my role include talking with my colleagues and clients on a day-to-day basis about work – but also getting to know them and building relationships.” Tuu Oho Mai Services is a registered charitable trust that specialises in providing a range of services within the community. They provide non-violence, safety, anger management and other educational programmes and support – for women, men and children of all cultures. Before joining Tuu Oho Mai Services, Nicholas worked for Matley – a Chartered Accountant practice based in Hamilton and Tokoroa. “I started fulltime at the same time I began studying remotely through Massey. Over 10 years, I gained experience in accounts processing, payroll, migrating data between POS, CRM, payroll and accounting systems. I was the go-to person to provide assistance for all things technology – and I also supported and trained the younger staff.” Nicholas attended Forest View High School in Tokoroa. In Year 13, he took Physics, Calculus, Computing, Graphics, Economics – and also did both Year 12 and Year 13 Business Computing and Administration in the one year. “At school I was leaning towards architecture or engineering, and I pursued the diplomas in
I ENJOY THE PROBLEM SOLVING AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF BEING A FINANCE MANAGER. NOT ONLY DO I WORK ON THE FINANCES BUT I FIND SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE organisation’s it systems. NICHOLAS TOTTON
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT AFFILIATE Explore the accounting and finance world and receive valuable information and resources to broaden your skills and understanding. You will be invited to networking and careers events and have access to exclusive employment opportunities. What are you waiting for? Sign up to be a Chartered Accountants ANZ student affiliate today. Business Studies, Science and Technology at Massey University.” Nicholas also gained the qualification of Certified Technologist from IT Professionals of NZ in October 2021. “I studied by distance learning and I did not have the motivation at that time – I had to make sure my time management and organisational skills were
top notch. I kept motivated by creating reachable goals for myself and it feels good ticking off those goals – step by step. “Being diligent, turning up on time and doing the best job you can possibly do, are all very important – and most importantly find a job where you enjoy working with the people.”
KEY FACTS ■ NICHOLAS TOTTON IS THE FINANCE MANAGER FOR TUU OHO MAI SERVICES IN HAMILTON. HE IS AN ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN WITH CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. ■ HE HAS DIPLOMAS IN BUSINESS STUDIES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FROM MASSEY UNIVERSITY, AND GAINED THE QUALIFICATION OF CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGIST FROM IT PROFESSIONALS OF NZ. ■ NICHOLAS ENJOYS THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF HIS ROLE – TALKING WITH COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS – AND ALSO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on studying to become an accounting technician, visit www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/ become-a-member/entryrequirements/accounting-technician
writer PETER WHITE photography MARTY MELVILLE
CHARTERED ACCOUNTING Accounting is one of the most versatile careers out there. Accountants use their expert financial and business know-how to make epic things happen in just about every industry – and they find opportunities for their organisation or clients to achieve their goals. LUANA STEERE is a Chartered Accountant, often referred to as a CA, working as a Senior Business Analyst at Te Mātāwai in Wellington. The Te Mātāwai investment programme supports initiatives that revitalise the Māori language – in the home and within communities. Luana, 26, who is Samoan, loves going into work every day – there is a special feeling at Te Mātāwai. “Everyone really cares about the work they are doing. I am working for an organisation I’m really passionate about – working towards something that I think is really awesome. I hope one day to take some skills I have learnt into a Pasifika realm as well,” says Luana. “This is the only organisation I have worked for where bringing that tikanga into the office is important so it really does feel like family – everybody can bring their whole selves to work. I have really enjoyed that because it is so similar to Samoan culture in how they treat everyone as family and welcome everyone. “They have also helped me with my cultural capability – I am taking te reo classes – but it is just working with people who care so much about what they do for their community.” Luana started working with Māori and Pasifika at KPMG – where she worked for more than seven years – in a programme called Kiwa. “It was mentoring Māori and Pasifika tertiary students to show them they could get a job in an environment like a Big Four firm. A lot of them went on to work as graduates at KPMG – that kind of started my interest in what I could do in the work space.” Her high school years were spent at Upper Hutt College. In Year 13, she took Classics, Tourism, Statistics, English and Media Studies – before studying at Victoria University of Wellington. She graduated with a conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts degree that reflects her love of English Literature as well as Accounting.
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
TURNING PASSIONS INTO CAREERS
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i LIKE THE PROBLEM-SOLVING ASPECT OF IT AND HOW YOU REALLY GET TO LEARN ABOUT HOW BUSINESS IS RUN – YOU CAN DEFINITELY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT ACCOUNTING. LUANA STEERE
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT AFFILIATE Explore the accounting and finance world and receive valuable information and resources to broaden your skills and understanding. You will be invited to networking and careers events and have access to exclusive employment opportunities. What are you waiting for? Sign up to be a Chartered Accountants ANZ student affiliate today. “I wanted to see where the two pathways would take me. I actually started at KPMG when I was 18 – which showed me what I did like about accounting and that I could enjoy the role. “I have really enjoyed my time up until now. It is a good stable career that can take you in many pathways. I have seen people become entrepreneurs from it because they already have that base knowledge of business or move into consulting.
“I like the problem-solving aspect of it and how you really get to learn about how business is run – you can definitely be passionate about accounting.” Luana encourages school leavers to consider studying accounting at university. She says that with an accounting qualification there are many different career paths to go down – with real prospects and the ability to make epic things happen.
KEY FACTS ■ LUANA STEERE IS A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT WORKING AS A SENIOR BUSINESS ANALYST AT TE MĀTĀWAI IN WELLINGTON. ■ SHE IS TAKING TE REO CLASSES AND LOVES WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY DO FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. ■ LUANA HAS A CONJOINT BACHELOR OF COMMERCE AND BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE FROM VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON.
For more information on careers in Accounting, visit www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/ become-a-member/memberships/ student-affiliates/high-school
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR 36
writer PETER WHITE // photographer TEGAN CLARK
MOVING UP THE RANKS MEAT INDUSTRY CAREERS “Having a good attitude is probably the main thing – if you have a poor attitude, you are not going to get very far. You have to want to improve yourself and be willing to put in the hard work,” says JESS SHEEHAN. The 24-year-old has been working for ANZCO Foods in Ashburton for seven years. She started as a packer on the meat production line a year after finishing high school and since then she has worked in the office as a receptionist, as a personal assistant, and in her current role as a finance administrator. Her rapid rise up the ranks is the result of plenty of hard work, the support of her co-workers and the desire to keep expanding her horizons. “I love learning new things. Finance is my long-term goal for a career so to be given the opportunity to learn more around the finance space has been something I am incredibly grateful for.” Jess has made use of the many training opportunities offered by ANZCO to develop her skills and knowledge. “There is some training that is compulsory as part of our processes – but there are other great opportunities that are available to those who
want to pursue them. For example, I am going on an accounting course in October which I am really looking forward to. “Within ANZCO, developing its people is really important. It is important to the company to see
IT IS MORE ABOUT THE ATTITUDE OF THE PERSON RATHER THAN GENDER. JESS SHEEHAN
their people develop their careers – and be given opportunities and chances.” What Jess loves most about working for ANZCO is how everyone feels really valued. “The most important thing is there is so much opportunity to grow. “In a smaller company, there probably would not be the chances to expand your career – and keep moving up the ladder – but here in such a big company there are so many more opportunities.” Jess went to Roncalli College in Timaru. In Year 13, she took English, Statistics, Outdoor Education, Religious Education, and Food and Hospitality. Her goal at school was to take a gap year and go travelling. She started working at ANZCO to fund her travel and liked working there so much that she went back to ANZCO when she returned home – and has been there ever since. Jess encourages school leavers to consider working for ANZCO and also in the wider meat industry. She says there are far more females working in the industry than ever before.
WHAT’S YOUR REASON? Whether you’re looking for career diversity, new challenges, or opportunities for advancement, ANZCO Foods offers great prospects for growth and development. For more information on the range of career opportunities on offer and how you can earn money while you learn a new skill or trade, visit our website:
anzcofoods.com/our-careers/career-opportunities/
JOB TITLEADMINISTRATOR FINANCE
Follow on body copy 11/12 Myriad Pro Light Cond
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“We are seeing more females within the industry, but the industry as a whole is more male dominated. With this next generation coming
through, I think gender is far less important – it is more about the attitude of the person rather than gender.
“The key thing for anyone leaving school is to never pass up an opportunity and always have a positive attitude.”
KEY FACTS NAMESHEEHAN HAS A DEGREE FROM ■ JESS WORKS AS ATHE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR ANZCO FOODS IN ASHBURTON. TERTIARY INSTITUTION. ■ HER RAPID UP THEAND RANKS IS THE RESULT OF PLENTY OF HARD WORK, NAME TOOKRISE COURSES COURSES. SUPPORT HER JOB CO-WORKERS ANDOF THE DESIRESECURITY TO KEEP EXPANDING ■ THE NAME WORKS OF IN THE DESIGNATION A LARGE FIRM IN HER HORIZONS. COMPANY NAME IN COUNTRY. ■ JESS TOOK ENGLISH, STATISTICS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND FOOD AND HOSPITALITY IN YEAR 13 AT RONCALLI COLLEGE IN TIMARU.
For more information on career opportunities with Plumbing World on career opportunities visit www.plumbingworld.ac.nz/careers with ANZCO Foods, visit with for further details on plumbing www.anzcofoods.com/our-careers/ apprenticeships with ATT, career-opportunities visit www.att.org.nz
Become an apprentice today! Electrical |
Plumbing |
Gasfitting |
Drainlaying
0800 187 878 | att.org.nz
PLUMBING APPRENTICESHIPS
writer PETER WHITE photographer NICOLA WILHELMSEN
PLUMBER
ALL GO FOR FEMALE TRADIES
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“I like providing the amenity and just doing a good job, making things look nice and also safeguarding people – especially those who are disabled, ” says TEIGAN JOPSON. “I suppose that’s the whole point of plumbing and I think that is important.” Teigan is nearing the end of her five-year Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying apprenticeship through Masterlink. She has been hosted throughout her time by the University of Otago’s Property Services Division. Doing the Gateway programme – in her final year at high school – was the kick-start to her getting an apprenticeship when she left school. “It was great. Gateway put me with a company to get some experience for a week and that is how I got my first taste of the trade. It is really cool that we have all the different trades working in together here at the university. There is a lot of communication between jobs – which makes it easy – and I work with a lot of older guys here so I have learned lots of valuable information.” The work Teigan does at the university is different to the normal domestic and commercial plumbing work – and she likes the variety. “It is a different box of frogs really compared to house plumbing. There is quite a large range of work, from uni flats, to all the halls of residence, to all the labs.” Last year, Teigan was honoured to be highly commended in the Apprentice Category of NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) NZ Excellence Awards.
She was quite surprised to get the award – it has given her confidence a huge boost to know that she can achieve high goals. “It is not just because I am a female. I just like doing the job and not having the gender involved really. It was great to be commended for my work.” Teigan has also taken a great deal of confidence from winning a Masterlink Outward Bound Scholarship this year and attending a Building Leaders course. “It was an awesome experience and I am very grateful for it.
“I learned more about myself and just being able to grow in a safe and supportive environment – which is also important for a female in the trades.” Teigan attended Taieri College in Mosgiel. Her favourite subjects in Year 13 were Oil Painting, Photography, English, Biology and Advancement, which helped her learn to study and take notes. There are far more females working in the trades than ever before – which
Teigan says is a positive thing. She says school leavers should consider following her path into an apprenticeship. “It is good that more girls are getting into it because we can do it. Your sex has nothing to do with anything – if you can do a good job, that is what matters. When I was at school, I just wanted to get out there, get handy, get on the tools and make some money. I took the opportunity and ran with it.”
It IS GOOD THAT GIRLS ARE GETTING INTO IT because wE can do it. YOUR SEX HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING – IF YOU CAN DO A GOOD JOB, THAT IS WHAT MATTERS. TEIGAN JOPSON
KEY FACTS ■ TEIGAN JOPSON HAS NEARLY COMPLETED HER FIVE-YEAR PLUMBING, GASFITTING AND DRAINLAYING APPRENTICESHIP IN DUNEDIN THROUGH MASTERLINK. ■ SHE WAS HONOURED TO BE HIGHLY COMMENDED IN THE APPRENTICE CATEGORY OF NAIWC (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION) NZ EXCELLENCE AWARDS. ■ TEIGAN TOOK OIL PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, ENGLISH, BIOLOGY AND ADVANCEMENT IN YEAR 13. THE GATEWAY PROGRAMME WAS HER INTRODUCTION TO A TRADES APPRENTICESHIP. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on apprenticeships in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying through Masterlink, visit www.masterlink.co.nz
writer PETER WHITE // photographer LOGAN WEST
IGNITING A SPARKLING CAREER NATHAN CASSIN knew he wanted to get into the trades and originally wanted to be a builder – but he switched to a career as an electrician and has never looked back. Nathan is proud to be fully qualified. He finished his electrical apprenticeship working at Down to Earth Electrical Services in Auckland three months ago. His apprenticeship was arranged by the Apprenticeship Training Trust (ATT). Nathan, who turned 27 in early October, is so pleased he contacted ATT. He says it is so much harder to try and find a company that will hire an apprentice without going through ATT. “They were awesome to deal with. Once I signed up with them, they found me a job at Down to Earth within a couple of weeks. The area manager – the one who looked after me – he was really good, just always there if you needed support,” says Nathan.
“They got in touch with me every two weeks – but they were always available if you had any concerns or needed help with anything.” The early stages of doing an apprenticeship can have a few challenges but Nathan says it is important just to listen when shown how to do things. “You have to get used to everything – all the tools and stuff. You don’t want to be standing around doing nothing so just thinking ahead is important. Paying attention – and having a good work ethic – are the main things.” Nathan loves the variety of work he deals with as an electrician, especially with all the heat pump work his company does. “We do ventilation work as well. At the moment I am working on a three storey-building and underground car park. We are wiring up the whole building and doing the air conditioning as well. “The thing I love the most about my job is the final fitting stage – like fitting the power point switches,
lights – it just makes me proud. All your hard work pays off when you see the finished product.” But you never finish learning as an electrician – even after qualifying. “I am left in charge now so I am taking on more responsibility – there is a bit more stress but you get used to it. Pretty much what I am learning now, is around what jobs to prioritise and stuff like that.” Nathan attended Mangere College. In Year 13, he took English, Maths, Statistics, Sports Science, Chemistry and Biology. He says Maths is very important now in his role as an electrician. The future looks bright indeed for the trades in New Zealand. Nathan says there is a shortage of electricians so school leavers should think hard about starting a trades apprenticeship. “We are always in high demand so if you want to work hard and be rewarded – then give it a go. Hard work is going to help you go a long way.”
ELECTRICIAN
SKILLS IN HOT DEMAND
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WE ARE ALWAYS IN HIGH DEMAND SO IF YOU WANT TO WORK HARD AND BE REWARDED – THEN GIVE IT A GO. NATHAN CASSIN
KEY FACTS ■ NATHAN CASSIN RECENTLY FINISHED HIS ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING TRUST (ATT). ■ HE LOVES THE VARIETY OF WORK AS AN ELECTRICIAN, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE HEAT PUMP AND VENTILATION WORK HIS AUCKLAND EMPLOYER, DOWN TO EARTH ELECTRICAL SERVICES, DOES.
For more information on electrical, plumbing and drainlaying apprenticeships through Apprenticeship Training Trust (ATT), visit www.att.org.nz
■ NATHAN TOOK ENGLISH, MATHS, STATISTICS, SPORTS SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY, AND BIOLOGY IN YEAR 13.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
BUILDING APPRENTICE
BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE CAREER CHANGE AHEAD
writer PETER WHITE // photograph ALAN STEVENS
I REALLY ENJOYED GATEWAY. IT GOT ME INTO WORKING AND WAS A GREAT TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK.
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LISA GUITE
LISA GUITE began her three-year building apprenticeship at the start of 2023 – and she is loving every minute of it. The 18-year-old works for Frame Homes in Paerata, South Auckland. She says learning all the different skills – and new things she has not done before – are the highlights so far. “We do a lot of foundations, all the concrete work and set up the slab, plus we do the framing, cladding, insulation, finishing lines – all of it really,” says Lisa. “It is definitely different to what I am used to but it is a good environment to work in – and everyone is really nice and willing to teach me.” But becoming a qualified builder is not the only goal for Lisa. Once she has sufficient experience working in the industry, she wants to go to university to study to become an architect. It is a goal that she has cherished for many years. Now her building apprenticeship is under way, she can see a timeline ahead to fulfil that goal – but not for some time yet.
“I knew by Year 8 that I wanted to be an architect. I have always been very hands-on with what I have done and have always been interested in the look of buildings and the process of them. “I found that many architects make weird designs that aren’t realistic so I want to be able to make better designs – but I want to be a builder first then think about getting my architecture qualification.” Lisa has recently shifted her apprenticeship provider from BCITO to Builders Academy NZ. She appreciates the extra visits she gets on-site to monitor how well she is doing. “They are a lot more hands-on with the learning, a lot more involved and they are teaching me a lot. “They make sure I am actually working properly and not given bad jobs. They want to know what I know – and the process of what I am doing. I do one night a week at night class as well.” In Year 13 at Tuakau College, located near the Waikato River, Lisa took Maths, Calculus, Woodwork, Design Visual Communication and a Gateway course.
Gateway is what really kick-started her building career. She was able to do on-job training with Frame Homes once a week – before they offered her a fulltime apprenticeship after her Gateway course ended. “I really enjoyed Gateway. It got me into working and was a great transition from school to work – as it is the same company I am working for now. Gateway gave me the opportunity to get this job. “I got a taste of what it was like working for a building company and they got to see me. It made me realise exactly what I wanted to do when I leave – and I thought it was a really good opportunity.” Lisa recommends students enrol for a Gateway course because of the real life work experience involved. “Then when you get a job – just try your hardest and always ask questions.”
KEY FACTS ■ LISA GUITE BEGAN HER THREE-YEAR BUILDING APPRENTICESHIP AT THE START OF 2023. SHE WORKS FOR FRAME HOMES IN PAERATA, SOUTH AUCKLAND. ■ SHE IS DOING HER APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH BUILDERS ACADEMY. ■ LISA DID A GATEWAY COURSE AT HIGH SCHOOL. SHE SAYS IT GOT HER INTO WORKING AND WAS A GREAT TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
For more information on apprenticeships through Builders Academy, visit www.buildersacademy.co.nz
PART-TIME JOBS
writer DIANA CLEMENT
Bring on the summer holidays. A holiday job Holiday jobs help build your CV (Curriculum Vitae) boosts your finances as well as benefiting – which employers want to see when hiring. Even your future career. holding down a job in a takeaway bar looks better on a CV than not having worked. Doing the same job The summer holidays are a great time to find for a year or more is even more valuable – it shows temporary work. Many organisations – ranging you have sticking power and a work ethic. from shops such as Noel Leeming to bars and cafés Even humble work in hospitality helps. – need extra workers over the summer. They may offer overtime hours as well which are a good “It shows you’ve got a great grounding in some financial boost. of the fundamentals of what people look for Let’s be honest. The main reason most students take when they’re hiring,” says McDonald’s spokesman on holiday jobs is money. Course fees, textbooks and Simon Kenny. living expenses add up to a lot of money. A holiday “Experience at Macca’s generally means you’ve job helps you cover these costs – and hopefully learned about time keeping, customer service, reduce your reliance on student loans or financial learning procedures and working under pressure. assistance from family. Often the on-the-job training also gives you skills that are transferable to other industries.” But money is not the only benefit of a holiday job. Students develop essential life and professional skills One of the most common ways to get a job in New from holiday jobs that help towards getting a real Zealand is via contacts – holiday jobs can help with job after uni. That’s because employers prefer to hire building a professional network. The relationships graduates who have already developed work skills – you form during your part-time job can open doors such as effective communication, time management, to future opportunities, mentorships and references. problem-solving and working collaboratively. Take a look at the diverse group of people you work with – they could be helpful in your future career. It can be useful as well to experience being part of That’s a good reason to start a LinkedIn page as soon a team and handling customers or clients. Learning to be reliable andadvert.pdf diligent in your1part-time job can10:47 asAMyou can – and make sure you connect with ITC Recruitment 25/07/22 colleagues and managers. translate into success in your future career.
Some of the best holiday jobs are in industries that you might want to work in after uni – they give you valuable insight into life in your chosen field. If you are studying science, for example, working in a lab over the holidays gives you a first-hand look at the reality of that industry. These experiences can help you make more informed decisions about your career path – and give you an edge in job interviews. As well as looking for jobs online at sites such as Seek.co.nz, be prepared to go out and knock on doors. A lot of organisations hire holiday workers who drop CVs in. It is also worth contacting companies in the field you plan to enter eventually. Even if it is a low-skilled job, you’ll be making contacts with the right people for the future – and getting a feel for your career. Finally, getting any job is better than no job, so don’t be precious – it is a foot on the ladder.
It is a really good idea to write a CV for your holiday job. CareersNZ has a CV builder that can help you get started – go to: www.careers.govt.nz/tools/ cv-builder
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PART-TIME JOBS
PAVING THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE 41
contributor STUDYLINK, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
STUDYLINK
WHO’S GOING TO FUND YOUR STUDY?
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STUDYLINK IS HERE TO HELP What do a genie, Santa and a billionaire’s chihuahua have in common? They’re not going to help fund your study! But STUDYLINK can.
StudyLink is a government agency that can help you pay for study with Student Allowances and Loans. Check out their website – studylink.govt.nz – to find out about the support you can get, how to apply for it and manage it online.
These are the main payments you can get to help you pay for your study:
FEES-FREE STUDY
A payment to cover your first year of course fees. You don’t need to pay it back. You may be able to get it as a New Zealander leaving school soon and studying or training for the first time next year. To check, go to feesfree.govt.nz Even if you get fees-free study for the first year, you may still need help with course costs or living expenses.
STUDENT ALLOWANCE
This is a weekly payment to help with living expenses – you don’t have to pay it back. How much you get depends on: – your income – your living situation – your parents’ income (if you’re under 24).
STUDENT LOAN
The Student Loan can help with study costs. If you can get fees-free you may not need a Student Loan for your course fees, but you may still need to apply for a loan if you need help with course-related costs or living costs. You may be able to get a loan for: – compulsory course fees (check if you can get fees-free first) – course-related costs (help to pay for study materials like books, stationery, tools and computer items) – living costs (help to pay for day-to-day living costs, if you can’t get a Student Allowance). You’ll have to pay this back once you’re earning over a certain amount.
CHECK WHAT YOU CAN GET
It’s never too early to start working out what your study will cost and how you’ll pay for it. Use StudyLink’s eligibility test to work out what kind of help you could get while you’re studying – studylink.govt.nz
APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER AT STUDYLINK.GOVT.NZ YOU DON’T NEED TO WAIT ‘TIL YOU GET YOUR NCEA RESULTS IN JANUARY TO APPLY! IT’S BEST TO APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SORTED WHEN YOUR STUDY STARTS. AROUND 160,000 STUDENTS WILL BE APPLYING, SO THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR APPLICATION IN, THE FASTER IT WILL BE SORTED OUT FOR YOU. DON’T WORRY IF THINGS CHANGE. YOU CAN UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION DETAILS, LIKE YOUR EDUCATION PROVIDER OR COURSE, OR EVEN WITHDRAW YOUR APPLICATION AT ANY TIME. IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR APPLICATION IN ON TIME, EVEN IF YOU HAVEN’T DECIDED ALL THE DETAILS YET.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
HEADING INTO EXAM TIME
writer KATY QUINN // image credit iSTOCK
GIVING IT YOUR BEST SHOT
WELLBEING
The stress and worry of exam time – I remember it well. My advice to you is simple – stop wasting precious time and energy worrying about results. Focus on the process of preparation. Put in an effort that you are proud of – your full potential will follow. If you are to achieve your best, you must be feeling your best – your health and wellbeing are the foundations for your success. Proper preparation will have you feeling confident, healthy and well-rested on exam day. Cut down on stress – create your own roadmap to success – which will allow you to manage your time and stress levels while getting exam fit. Follow this plan every day – it will give you your best shot at success.
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FORMULATE A PLAN ■ Decide what topics need to be covered. ■ Break each subject or project down into smaller, 30–60-minute tasks. ■ Divide the number of tasks that you need to do by the number of days that you have - this is how many tasks you need to complete each day to reach your goal. ■ Set tasks for each day and assign realistic timeframes to them.
BEST PRACTICES ■ Focus on doing the task well but also within the timeframe allocated for it – both are equally important. ■ Do one thing at a time – this is how you will do your best and most productive work. ■ Tick off your tasks as you complete them – this gives you a sense of accomplishment which helps motivation. ■ Limit social media and forget what others are doing – everyone’s best effort looks very different. Walk your own path.
EXERCISE AND BREAKS ■ Breaks make study more effective – they refresh your ability to focus and learn. Set regular break times to work towards – 15 minutes for every hour of focusing. ■ Move your body or go for a walk during breaks – it boosts energy levels and mood. ■ Try to exercise outdoors in nature. Natural spaces – like parks, beaches and lakes – are more relaxing for our brains to be in. Give your brain a break – notice your surroundings. I promise you will return to your desk feeling more positive, calm and revived. ■ A morning walk wakes you up and allows you personal time to gather your thoughts for the day ahead – it sets a calm, happy tone for your
day. Getting up early and out into daylight will also help you sleep that night.
NUTRITION ■ Food is fuel. Do not skip meals – it is not productive. Eat regular healthy, balanced meals throughout the day. Set meal, snack and water reminders in your plan – your brain and body will thank you. ■ Some foods are more energising than others. Prioritise complex carbohydrates – wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, oatmeal, potatoes and bananas – to provide a slow release of energy that will help your brain stay focussed during long study sessions. ■ Snack on brain foods – foods that enhance memory and concentration – like nuts, seeds, yoghurt and berries. ■ Don’t over-complicate things. A great rule of thumb is to ‘eat the rainbow’ – a colourful plate has a variety of fruits and vegetables that provide different nutritional values.
■ 73 per cent of the brain is water – so dehydration and studying don’t make for a recipe of success. Drink between 8–11 glasses or roughly 2–2.5 litres of water each day.
REST ■ Sleep deprivation has the same effect as drinking alcohol on brain functioning – it slows it down considerably – so get plenty of sleep. Aim for 8 hours minimum of sleep a night. ■ In your plan, have consistent bed and wake times and a strict switch-off time to finish the day. ■ Reward yourself for your hard work. Wind down each day with a short routine – this tells your body that it is time for sleep. Shut off all devices and dim the lights. Do something you enjoy – watch TV, do yoga, meditate or read a book. Wishing you lots of luck. Remember – focus on being the best that you can be and be proud of your efforts.
Katy Quinn holds a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Psychology from Maynooth University, Ireland and is currently working in education while also completing a Certificate in Universal Wellbeing. For more information on balanced lifestyle tips and quick healthy recipes, follow Katy’s wellness page on Instagram @all_things_katy LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
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PUTTING YOUR BEST CV FORWARD written by JANET TUCK // graphic iSTOCK
When you want to find any kind of job, you are going to need a curriculum vitae (CV). A CV is important because it gives an employer information to help them choose the best person for a job, and it helps you stand out from other applicants. Your CV needs to include your contact details, a short summary of your skills, any work experience you’ve had and where you are up to with your education. It is also helpful to include a short profile summary. CV STRUCTURE AND CONTENT l Put your name and contact details clearly at the top, and include aa residential address. l Add a short profile – two to three sentences in length – explaining a bit about yourself and what you are aiming for in terms of study or career aspirations. l List your skills as bullet points and explain where you have used each skill. Include things like team work, responsibility, time management, money handling, customer service, written and oral communication, and computer skills. These are what employers are looking for in younger employees. You can use experience from being in clubs and teams, as well as any paid or unpaid work you have done. Don’t forget to include the skills that are mentioned in the job advertisement. l List any previous jobs you have had, along with the name of who you worked for and what you did. l Include an Education section. Provide the year you are in and the subjects you are studying. l List your outside interests. l List the names and contact details of people who will be referees for you. You need people who know you and have worked with you in some way. A WORD ABOUT LAYOUT Use a computer to format your CV clearly, leaving plenty of white space so it doesn’t look cluttered. Choose a font that is easy to read. Use headings for each section and list your skills with bullet points. Make sure all headings line up and the line spacing is the same throughout. When you have finished, ask someone else to proofread it for you before you send it off. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Is it a good idea to get someone else to write my CV for me? No. It is easy to tell when someone else has written a CV because the language is generally more formal and sometimes a bit too sophisticated. Sure you can LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
CV PREPARATION
JOBPREPARATION CV TITLE
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD 44
get someone to help you if you are not sure how to say something, but putting your CV together yourself will mean that you know what is in it and you will answer interview questions using the same style and language. Should I include a photo? As a rule, I generally advise not to. We all like to think that our picture might get us a job, but I think it can introduce the possibility of bias, for whatever reason. Should I use colour or make it look more attractive in some way? The content of your CV is the most important thing. Using a lot of colour and design features can be distracting. Janet Tuck is a Career Specialist and Director of Career Clinic. For more information visit www.careerclinic.co.nz
PRESENT YOURSELF IN YOUR BEST LIGHT
contributor
CAREERS.GOVT.NZ
Have you ever wondered, ‘What is that magical power some people have that gets them a job?’ The answer isn’t magical – the key is that these job seekers demonstrate they have the employability skills employers are looking for. The world of work is rapidly changing. While new jobs will be created in the future, others will disappear or become automated.
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The good news is that you will have many of these skills already. These skills can be learned in daily life by doing work experience or volunteer work, playing sport, helping your whānau, taking up a hobby or taking part in school and community activities.
WHAT ARE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS? Employability skills, or soft skills, are the personal qualities and attitudes you have that make you ready for work, such as getting to work on time or following instructions. Employers tell us they need young people to be work-ready – if you have the right attitude, the technical skills can be taught.
SEVEN EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT Employability skills include:
1. POSITIVE ATTITUDE
image iSTOCK
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Employers seek workers who have the skills, confidence and the ability to adapt to new technologies and other market opportunities.
EMPLOYABILITY TOOLS
THE 7 SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT
A positive attitude is not just about being bubbly. It means showing that you’ll happily do the work asked of you, and you’ll stay upbeat when the work gets hard.
2. COMMUNICATION Good communication skills are when you follow instructions well and ask questions when you’re confused. Being able to explain things clearly is a bonus for employers.
3. TEAMWORK Playing or working well with others is not just a bonus on the rugby ground or during that science project, it’s something employers value.
4. SELF-MANAGEMENT Getting to work on time and dressed appropriately is just one part of selfmanagement. Not getting angry at others when you’re frustrated and managing stress are top skills that will get you a job.
5. WILLINGNESS TO LEARN Learning doesn’t stop once you leave school. Employers want to know that you can learn new technologies or new skills. Being keen to learn is a good bet for getting a job.
6. THINKING SKILLS
Employers rate thinking skills the highest when looking at your CV. Do you like to solve problems? Can you make a good decision? Do you think before you act?
7. RESILIENCE
Have you got grit? When something knocks you down, do you get back up again? This is resilience. Employers need you to have this skill to cope when things go wrong at work.
■ WORK HISTORY List volunteer work or paid work experience in your work history in a way that showcases your skills. ■ INTERESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS SECTIONS What you do in your spare time is a powerful indicator to employers of your range of skills. REMEMBER, if you can show these skills on your CV, you are on the right track to getting an employer interested in hiring you.
SHOW OFF YOUR EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ON YOUR CV Include employability skills in the skills list, work history, interests and achievement sections of your CV to wow employers. ■ SKILLS LIST Bullet point up to five employability skills on your CV, with an example of how you got them.
For more information on employability skills and creating your CV, visit careers.govt.nz
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
LIVING AWAY FROM HOME 46
BE PREPARED AND BUDGET WELL
writer DIANA CLEMENT photo credit iSTOCK
LIVING AWAY FROM HOME Leaving school also means leaving home for many young people. That might mean living in halls of residence at university or flatting – with increased costs, including potentially buying and running a car.
When Sean Brownlow left school, he chose to study at Victoria University of Wellington last year – which meant moving into halls of residence for his first year. He applied for halls in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland while comparing universities. When he chose Victoria University, Sean had already been accepted into Cumberland House – a mid-priced hall. “They usually range between $350 a week and $500,” he says.
As well as his rent, Sean pays $10 a week for half-price public transport fares, $15-$25 for electricity and Wi-Fi, and around $80-$100 a week for groceries. The flatmates had to kit the flat out with furniture and necessities like cooking equipment. If you can’t take beds, bedding, pots and pans and other things from home, then you’ll need to budget a few hundred dollars to buy this all second-hand – or more if you want new. Flatting is more expensive than living at home and attending a local university – but has advantages as well. “We’re closer to the central city where my friends are – and close to campus. There is also a lot of benefit
The cost includes three meals a day, which meant that – over and above course fees, textbooks, public transport and entertainment – Sean’s living costs were covered. Sean was lucky that his father could drive him to Wellington with all of his belongings – which meant he did not need to buy too much when he moved into the halls. “People who live in different parts of the country, have different lengths of journeys to get to Wellington from where they live. I came quite well-prepared. “I had to just buy a few things like lamps, pillows and pillowcases. I just went around Briscoes and op shops and got all that stuff.” At the end of his first year, Sean teamed up with three friends he met in the halls to go flatting in 2023. “Most people I know transitioned from being in halls first year to flatting – but at Vic there are second year [halls],” he says. For young people who don’t have a group of friends to go flatting with, there are websites and groups where they can team up with potential flatmates or find rooms in existing flats. The competition for flats listed on Trade Me and Facebook was tough. Sean and his friends eventually found a suitable flat in Te Aro at the cheaper end of the range for Wellington – it costs $200 a week per person. “I have friends in Wellington who are paying $315 a week – but I have friends in Canterbury who only pay $160 a week.” That cost of flatting plays a big part in choosing a university, says Sean, who is an Environmental Studies student. “Vic has had some quite poor enrolment numbers in the last few years – I think it’s largely due to the cost of living in Wellington.” LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28
in the skills you have to learn and develop, that you wouldn’t have if you lived at home with your parents,” says Sean. One thing to be aware of is most student flats are let on 12-month contracts. This means you need to keep paying the rent even if you go home for the summer. Some students sublet their rooms over their holidays – but that’s not always possible. For more information on renting a house, visit www.tenancy.govt.nz/ rent-bond-and-bills/market-rent
BUYING A CAR 47
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
BUYING A CAR Buying a car – should I or shouldn’t I? You need to get smart to the costs of running a car. That shiny piece of metal will eat a hole in your wallet – unless you can get your parents to pay. When you are starting out in your career and have little money – or are a cash-strapped student – you could save thousands of dollars a year by catching public transport, riding a bicycle, walking or taking lifts with others. If you must buy a car, consider this: An older car is cheaper but will usually cost you more in repairs. Make sure you get your purchase checked by a mechanic. A pre-purchase car inspection will cost around $150-$200 – but could save you thousands of dollars in repairs. Finance is incredibly expensive. A $5,000 loan at 12.95% per annum over five years from a finance company such as UDC will end up costing you $7,572 – that is half the cost of the car again in fees and interest payments. If you buy on finance, you’ll probably need to pay for full insurance rather than third party (which covers damage you cause to other people’s cars, but not your own). Insurance costs a lot – third party insurance costs around $300 a year and you’re likely to pay more than $1,000 for full cover.
writer DIANA CLEMENT // image credit iSTOCK
MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR PURCHASE CHECKED BY A mechanic. A PRE-PURCHASE CAR INSPECTION WILL COST AROUND $150–$200 – BUT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in repairs. You’ll pay from $106 each year to register your car. Your six-monthly warrant of fitness costs around $50 to $60 plus repairs. If your car fails, a new set of tyres could cost several hundred dollars. You’ll be surprised how often you need to replace brake pads and windscreen wipers. Petrol, at say, $40 a week will cost you $2080 a year, which is a good chunk of your student loan.
All this money adds up fast – ask yourself if you can really afford it. Before you buy a car visit the rightcar.govt.nz website – which will tell you information such as your car’s fuel economy, safety rating, and vehicle licensing fee for the year.
GET A LICENCE
Fewer and fewer young Kiwis are getting a driver’s licence – and not everyone who qualifies for their restricted goes on to get a full licence. This is why you should take that step: Plenty of jobs require a full licence. You can drive at any time of the day without supervision. You can carry passengers legally. If you get caught driving without the correct licence, you are likely to face a fine – which is not easy to pay on a student budget. Your insurance policy will not pay out if you’re driving your own or someone else’s car, outside the conditions of your restricted licence. If you do not move up from learner or restricted, to the next stage within five years, you will need to pass another theory test to renew your licence.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #28 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
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