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.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.6% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.7% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.7% Other - I will share below!
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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