How Skills Update is securing young lives
If you're aged between 16 and 19 and have ever considered a job in security, the National Certificate in Security qualifications at Skills Update could be the stepping stone to exciting job prospects in a high-growth industry. With the Auckland economy booming, there is an ever growing requirement of qualified staff in a number of roles that include event security, patrol security, retail security, community security, bar door work or employment as a bodyguard.
What's more, the Levels 2 and 3 programmes are free to eligible teenagers under the Youth Guarantee scheme and you'll get a travel allowance as well.
Zaya from Henderson is among those students who have taken advantage of the course to brighten their job prospects. The 20 year old says Skills Update is just what she needed to get her life back on track. "This is way better than school," she explains. "It's more like a family where you can relax and study at your own pace. Our tutor explains everything in an easy to understand manner and the course is flexible so I can juggle studies and family commitments."
Zaya is currently exploring a number of options before she enters the job market.
Quinton Te Ahu from Sunnyvale shares Zaya's positive outlook. "Initially I found the going hard, but with support from my tutor I carried on. I now enjoy coming to class because I know I'll have a great job at the end of it," says the 17 year old.
Tutor Garry Miller agrees both Zaya and Quinton have become more confident, disciplined and focussed individuals compared to when they started. "It doesn't matter what shape they come in, when they leave they are transformed individuals," he says.
A retired police sergeant who joined the Police in 1969, Garry currently volunteers with the Maori, Pacific and Ethnic Services division, training tomorrow's police recruits through the Auckland Safety Community Patrol.
He says the course is challenging and that's why the students love it. "Plus they know it's a good industry to be in."
And he assures: "If they show the dedication to succeed, I can guarantee them a job."
To learn more about the programmes, call Skills Update on 0800 00 00 55. Visit www.skillsupdate.co.nz.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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58.9% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.3% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.8% ... It is complicated
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???
“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.
On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.
[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.
Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.
Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”
Full article: www.theguardian.com...
If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.
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