A free guide to study and career options for high school students Years 12-13 October 2026 | ISSUE #37
CYNTHIA RIES-RUPAPERA BUILDER– PAGE 6
LEO WYNYARD-PALMER POLICE OFFICER – PAGE 5
DEWEI CHEN PILOT – PAGE 8
GEORGIA LLOYD PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER – PAGE 20
MAGGIE HIGGINS PLUMBER – PAGE 14
ASHER JORGENSEN ASSISTANT OPERATIONS LEADER – PAGE 12
LEAVINGSCHOOLNZ WWW.LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
PARATAI PIHAMA ACCOUNTANT – PAGE 10
SAM KISSELL CHEF DE PARTIE – PAGE 7
MOLLY GOODISSON MILK ECONOMICS LEAD – PAGE 19
HUM A N PA P IL L OM AV IRU S (HP V ) VA C CINE INFOR M AT ION
HAVE YOU MISSED YOUR CHANCE TO HELP PREVENT CERTAIN HPV-RELATED CANCERS AND DISEASES, INCLUDING GENITAL WARTS? For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain HPV-related cancers and diseases, including genital warts.
ALEX 17
SOFIA 15
“I just didn’t get round to it”
“I missed out at intermediate school”
Actor Portrayal
VISIT YOUR MEDICAL CLINIC OR PHARMACY TO GET VACCINATED. Vaccination is FUNDED for people aged 9 to under 27.* Ask your doctor if GARDASIL is right for you.
*Funded for males and females aged 9 through 26 years. Providing you get at least one dose before your 27th birthday all following doses will still be free. Non-residents (e.g. people on student visas) are eligible for funded GARDASIL 9 providing they get at least one dose before their 18th birthday. GARDASIL® 9 (Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) is a Prescription Medicine, funded for males and females aged 9–26 years – restrictions apply. Normal charges will apply for other patients. GARDASIL 9 has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if GARDASIL 9 is right for you. For more information about GARDASIL 9, refer to the Consumer Medicines Information available from www.medsafe.govt.nz GARDASIL 9 is a vaccine. In females (9-45 years), it helps prevent: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers; abnormal and precancerous cervical, vaginal, vulvar and anal lesions; genital warts and infection caused by the HPV types in the vaccine. Immunisation does not remove the need for screening for cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers, as recommended by your doctor. Women should still get routine cervical cancer screening. In males (aged 9-45 years), it helps prevent anal cancer and precancerous anal lesions; external genital lesions, including genital warts and infection caused by the HPV types in the vaccine. Each vaccine contains inactive proteins from HPV types (µg = micrograms): 6 (30 µg), 11 (40 µg), 16 (60 µg), 18 (40 µg), 31 (20 µg), 33 (20 µg), 45 (20 µg), 52 (20 µg) and 58 (20 µg). IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION GARDASIL 9 should not be given if you or your child have had an allergic reaction to GARDASIL or GARDASIL 9 or to any of the listed ingredients for GARDASIL 9. Tell your doctor if you or your child has a bleeding disorder, an illness with a high fever, a weakened immune system (e.g. due to medicines, a genetic condition, or human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection), takes or plans to take any other medicines, including those that you can buy without a prescription, or had any vaccines in the last 4 weeks. If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant tell your doctor. You should not get GARDASIL 9 during pregnancy. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS Tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital if you experience wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing; pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin; skin rash, itchiness; or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body. Allergic reactions are rare but serious. Common side effects are pain, swelling, redness, itching and bruising at or around the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Fainting can occur. These are not all of the possible side effects of GARDASIL. If you have side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional. Merck Sharp & Dohme (New Zealand) Limited, Auckland is the Sponsor of GARDASIL 9. NZ-HPV-00062 V1. NP25082. Issued July 2026. INSIGHT 14002 Copyright © 2026 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, and its affiliates. All rights reserved. References: CDC Pink Book. Chapter 11 Human Papillomavirus. April 2024. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-11-human-papillomavirus.html. Accessed July 2026. IMAC. Gardasil 9. Available at: https://www.immune.org.nz/vaccine/gardasil-9. Accessed July 2026.
LEAVING SCHOOL issue #37 / Oct0ber 2026
CONTENTS
04 GIS ANALYST | NORRISSALEE NGATAI-HARBOUR
Mapping the future: How to turn a love of geography into a career in GIS.
05 POLICE OFFICER | LEO WYNYARD-PALMER
From dog squad to search and rescue: There’s something for everyone in the police.
06 BUILDER | CYNTHIA RIES-RUPAPERA
On the ice: Meet the apprentice builder heading to Antarctica for the summer.
07 CHEF DE PARTIE | SAM KISSELL
Sure to rise: Rising through the hospitality ranks, one dessert at a time.
MANAGING EDITOR
Oliver Lee
SUB-EDITOR Sara Carbery CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Diana Clement, Sara Carbery, Peter White PHOTOGRAPHERS Alan Stevens, Duncan Brown, John Davidson, Maricar Homan, Marty Melville, Chaow Mounlath, MTA, Peter McDermott, Sarah Marshall, iStock, Zach Stark, SIT DESIGN & LAYOUT Mervyn Hurley HNZL 2014 Limited PRINTER Webstar, Auckland PUBLISHER
NORRISSALEE NGATAI-HARBOUR GIS ANALYST PAGE 4
08 AIRLINE PILOT | DEWEI CHEN
Flying high: Making dreams come true at Ardmore Flying School.
10 ACCOUNTING | PARATAI PIHAMA
Qualifying on the job: Learn about CA ANZ’s alternative pathway into accounting.
12 OPERATIONS LEADER | ASHER JORGENSEN
Part of something big: Moving up the ranks with Toyota New Zealand.
13 HEAVY MACHINERY OPERATOR | BAILEY FALCONER
Heavy duty: Meet the machinery operator working his way up in the quarrying industry.
BAILEY FALCONER HEAVY MACHINE OPERATOR PAGE 13
14 PLUMBER | MAGGIE HIGGINS
Earn while you learn: Opportunities for young women in the trades.
16 NOTICEBOARD
Key dates, websites and events to help you navigate life after school.
18 CO-OPERATIVE BUSINESS PARTNER | ADAM WINTER
The future of dairying: Get a head start with Fonterra’s Future Leaders Graduate Programme.
19 MILK ECONOMICS LEAD | MOLLY GOODISSON
From food science to Fonterra: The many different pathways into the dairy industry.
CHARLOTTE YOUNG AUTOMOTIVE SPRAY PAINTER PAGE 24
20 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER | GEORGIA LLOYD
Making a difference: Guiding and supporting children to grow and learn.
22 REGISTERED NURSE | MARK CONDINO
A love of nursing: How a pre-nursing course at SIT sowed the seed for a rewarding career.
T: +64 274 599 503 E: oliver@oliverlee.co.nz W: oliverlee.co.nz ISSN 2463-3380 (Print) ISSN 2463-3399 (Online) 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.
23 ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN | SAM ROSEMAN
A tailormade pathway: Finding the purpose behind the numbers.
24 AUTOMOTIVE SPRAY PAINTER | CHARLOTTE YOUNG
Panel painting perfection: A choice of trades in the auto industry.
MARK CONDINO REGISTERED NURSE PAGE 22
26 ELECTRICIAN | JOSHUA HAMER
Trading starboard for switchboard: A champion rower becomes a switched on sparky.
27 HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISOR | HANNAH CROWLEY
From pasture to plate: A variety of pathways to choose from at Silver Fern Farms.
28 PODIATRIST | ANDREW KIM
Best foot forward: How a love of PE led to a career in podiatry.
29 TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME WORKERS | Know your rights and responsibilities. 30 STUDY KNOW-HOW | Set yourself up for success with these study and wellness tips.
HANNAH CROWLEY HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISOR PAGE 27
3
GEOSPATIAL ANALYST 4
FROM GEOGRAPHY TO GIS
AN INDUSTRY FOR CURIOUS PROBLEM-SOLVERS writer PETER WHITE photographer ZACH STARK
NORRISSALEE NGATAI-HARBOUR is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst with engineering company BECA in Auckland. GIS are designed to capture, store, analyse and manage all types of geographical data. GIS also indicate where features and places are, how they relate to each other and how they can change over time – including information about property boundaries, traffic and people, weather, health issues and hazards. Norrissalee is in the first year of BECA’s two-year Graduate Development Programme. She completed a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science),
complemented by a Higher National Diploma in Science, at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). “I wanted to do something in GIS as it was the only part of my degree I hadn’t worked in yet and I wasn’t sure where GIS roles were. I met people who directed me to BECA and their GIS team. I found out a lot of engineering firms have GIS teams,” says Norrissalee. “I love learning. It doesn’t matter what stage of your career you are in, you are always learning because the technology is always developing, new things are coming out, and you have to keep up with the industry.” Norrissalee hails from Ngāruahine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hineuru iwi. She was homeschooled in Year 13 and enjoyed Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and English.
She decided she would figure out what she wanted to do while at AUT, where she got an ecology internship, which she says widened her mind to science being more than just atoms and periodic tables. “It helped me see things with more of a connection within te ao Māori, connect back to people and see all the relationships, which is what I fell in love with. When I went into my degree, I found GIS and thought ‘I did Geography, let’s do this’. “I found I can do that working with technology and see how I can make a difference and help out.” Norrissalee has loved maps from a young age which helped drive her passion for GIS and the career she enjoys today. “I live in Auckland but I whakapapa back to Napier and Taranaki. I used to take my dad’s maps – he was a truck driver – and map my way back to our marae.” Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is the main government agency for property and location information for the country. Norrissalee says they are important for many reasons. “We get a lot of our data from them, and they support the community through events and scholarships. They also do a great job of getting more people interested in GIS. “They run webinars, have resources for schoolteachers to help teach their kids. “I used to tutor schools with Pūhoro STEMM Academy, and it was cool to find out some were using GIS as well.” Norrissalee says students who are curious and good at problem-solving are well suited for the GIS industry.
‘‘
I USED TO TAKE MY DAD’S MAPS — HE WAS A TRUCK DRIVER — AND MAP MY WAY BACK TO OUR MARAE. NORRISSALEE NGATAI-HARBOUR
“You are always going to come across problems to solve and being curious is good, to not just accept things at face value.”
’’
KEY FACTS ■ NORRISSALEE NGATAI-HARBOUR IS A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) ANALYST WITH ENGINEERING COMPANY BECA BASED IN AUCKLAND. ■ SHE COMPLETED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE), AND A HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN SCIENCE AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (AUT). ■ NORRISSALEE SAYS STUDENTS WHO ARE CURIOUS AND GOOD AT PROBLEM-SOLVING ARE WELL SUITED TO THE GIS INDUSTRY. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
ONLINE For more information For more information on page sponsor on career with Plumbing World Toitū Te Whenuaopportunities Land Information New Zealand, visit visitwww.linz.govt.nz www.plumbingworld.ac.nz/careers for further details on plumbing and for more information onwith studying apprenticeships geographic information systems (GIS) with ATT, visit www.att.org.nz with various tertiary providers, scan the QR code
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN THE POLICE writer PETER WHITE // photographer SARAH MARSHALL “People who enjoy serving their community and helping people would find working for the police an awesome job,” says LEO WYNYARD-PALMER. Leo (22) is a front-line, public safety team officer based at the Whangārei Central Police Station. He started as a probationary constable in August 2025. His core responsibilities include emergency response, general policing, incident management, crime investigation and prevention, and community support. “We respond to 111 calls whenever they come in. There is massive variety with all of those. You never know what each shift is going to be like, which is something I really enjoy too. “When you are young, people always have that idea that you need life experience before you join the police. I feel there are lots of positives being young within the culture of the police. “From a younger person’s point of view, you can come into situations with maybe a fresh set of eyes and not have preconceived ideas how things might turn out. That is a benefit of coming into the job a bit younger.” Leo previously spent two years teacher training and then worked as a school rugby development officer with Northland Rugby. He is a highly rated referee who was selected for New Zealand Rugby’s prestigious national referee development programme in February 2024. The decision to join the police came after he was approached by Sergeant Joe Te Ao while he was working out at City Fitness Whangārei. Leo said he found the training and starting salary appealing for his new career path. Leo graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College in July 2025. He was awarded the Commissioner's Award for Leadership and the Patron’s Award for the second-highest overall student in his wing. “The course was intense but enjoyable,” says Leo. “You have all the study where you learn about law and legislation, plus all the physical training to keep yourself safe, your workmates safe, and just to keep yourself fit as that is part of the job as well.”
Leo says his supervisors and colleagues offer real support and help with his development in the role.
“Once you are out of your probation period of 18-24 months, you can apply for different teams and specialist squads. There are so many career paths within the police. “There is pretty much something for everyone, from the armed offenders and dog squads, police negotiation team, search and rescue, and so many more teams you can join.”
“I love the team that I work with. Everyone has got your back and you are all there to help serve your community and help people on their worst days. “That can be a challenge at times, but you see it alongside your colleagues, so you build up a very tight bond.”
POLICE OFFICER
SERVING THE COMMUNITY
5
Leo attended Whangārei Boys' High School, where he served as Head Boy. In Year 13, he took English, PE, Biology, Drama and Health. He says there are good, long-term career options in the police for school leavers.
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EVERYONE HAS GOT YOUR BACK AND YOU ARE ALL THERE TO HELP SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND HELP PEOPLE ON THEIR WORST DAYS. LEO WYNYARD-PALMER
’’
KEY FACTS ■ LEO WYNYARD-PALMER IS A PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM OFFICER BASED AT THE WHANGĀREI CENTRAL POLICE STATION.
■ HE GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND POLICE COLLEGE IN JULY 2025.
ONLINE For more information on careers with the New Zealand Police, visit www.newcops.govt.nz
■ SELECTED FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY’S PRESTIGIOUS REFEREE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN 2024, LEO IS ALSO A HIGHLY RATED REFEREE.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
BUILDER 6
‘‘
AVING AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME WITHIN THE H COMPANY MADE ME THINK, ‘THIS COMPANY WILL BUILD GOOD CARPENTERS’. CYNTHIA RIES-RUPAPERA
’’
FROM ARMY BASES TO RESEARCH STATIONS
BUILDING GOOD CARPENTERS writer SARA CARBERY // photographer PETER McDERMOTT Not many apprentice builders get to work in Antarctica, but it’s something CYNTHIA RIES-RUPAPERA can include in her CV for years to come. Working with a small team from L.T. McGuinness Ltd, Cynthia leaves for Antarctica in November to spend the summer putting down ground piles – part of the redevelopment of New Zealand’s Scott Base research station. “It will be a challenging environment to work in but an experience I’m really looking forward to being a part of,” she says. Cynthia is almost two years into her apprenticeship with L.T. McGuinness, working towards a New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry Level 4 through BCITO. She really enjoys the hands-on, practical side of her work – “it’s physically and mentally challenging, which I enjoy” – but admits the theory side can be hard. “BCITO run free night classes to help with the theory which helps a lot.” After 14 years as a combat driver and representative rugby player with the New Zealand Army, Cynthia joined L.T. McGuinness after doing a Level 3 carpentry course at UCOL, to learn about the industry and see if she’d enjoy it.
“I was always into making things and doing a hands-on job; I just didn’t know how to get started when I was younger.” When looking for an apprenticeship, Cynthia had an interview with the regional manager for L.T. McGuinness who explained what the company is about – “a family-owned business who takes pride in their projects”. She also liked that the company has its own training school with a dedicated instructor and allocated training days to ensure apprentices get to work on a variety of projects. “Having an apprenticeship programme within the company made me think, ‘this company will build good carpenters’,” she says. “At the moment we have a Compassion Housing project in Levin where we go once a fortnight to work on residential blocks, which is very helpful towards my apprenticeship.”
Cynthia is still in the Army Reserves, based in Linton, and takes part in training weekends once a month. “It keeps me current in what I have already learnt, and I can give back to other soldiers in that space with my knowledge.” Her advice for young women considering a building apprenticeship is, “Be brave and confident. It can be daunting but there are lots of networks to create good relationships to help you in your journey.” Her advice to all school leavers is to have an open mind when choosing your career path. “Be prepared to work hard, to learn along the way. Mistakes happen when learning but don’t shy away from them, take it in your stride. “And enjoy the journey and make good friends along the way.”
In a happy coincidence, the main job Cynthia has been working on since joining the company is a supply warehouse for the New Zealand Army. “We have been working on this job for 21 months now, starting from the foundation to the steel structure, and now into the finishing product.”
KEY FACTS ■ CYNTHIA RIES-RUPAPERA IS ALMOST TWO YEARS INTO HER APPRENTICESHIP WITH L.T. McGUINNESS, WORKING TOWARDS A NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN CARPENTRY LEVEL 4 THROUGH BCITO. ■ AFTER 14 YEARS WITH THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY, SHE DID A LEVEL 3 CARPENTRY COURSE AT UCOL BEFORE JOINING L.T. McGUINNESS. ■ CYNTHIA IS SPENDING THE SUMMER IN ANTARCTICA WORKING ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SCOTT BASE RESEARCH STATION. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
ONLINE For more information on career opportunities with L.T. McGuinness, visit www.ltmcguinness.co.nz/careers/ training-pathways For more information on starting an apprenticeship with BCITO, visit www.bcito.org.nz
A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Growing up helping his Nan and Mum in the kitchen, SAM KISSELL has always loved cooking and baking. “I enjoy how aspects of cooking and baking can be so different from each other,” he says, “how baking can be very methodical and then with cooking you can lean more into intuition as you get more confident. “But with both, I love being able to be creative and learning new techniques and methods.” For the past year, the 21-year-old has been working as a Chef De Partie at the Voyager Estate winery in Margaret River, Western Australia. “I recently moved to the pastry section, where I’m responsible for breads, the dessert course, pre-dessert course and petit fours. “I’m really excited to be more involved in the menu and am currently helping to create a new dessert for the menu.” After finishing Year 13 at Verdon College in Invercargill, Sam enrolled in Hospitality at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), where he completed two New Zealand Certificates in Cookery (Levels 3 & 4), before graduating with a New Zealand Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) in June 2025. “I really enjoyed my time at SIT. Not only are the tutors really knowledgeable about food and hospitality, but they are so willing to share their knowledge with students and really want to see us succeed.” Sam enjoyed taking part in different events while studying, including catering for the Rakiura Challenge on Stewart Island, and helping out at different fundraising events. “I got to meet and connect with some of New Zealand’s best chefs and learn from them, connections I still look back on to this day and lean on for advice sometimes.” During his time at SIT, Sam was encouraged to enter a number of competitions, including the Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Award. In 2025 he won the South Island regional competition and competed in the finals in Sydney, walking away with three gold medals. Representing SIT, he also took part in the ‘Proud to be a Chef’ mentorship programme, a four-day programme in Melbourne where he got to experience different hands-on activities and master classes and compete in a cook-off.
“Experiences like these, and the support from the tutors along the way, have definitely been some of the best memories from studying at SIT and made the journey even more rewarding.” Of the subjects he took in Year 13, Sam says Home Economics and Maths have been the most helpful.
His advice to school leavers is to pursue something you’re truly passionate about, and really lean into it.
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writer SARA CARBERY photo credit SIT
If you’re considering Hospitality at SIT, his advice is to take advantage of the tutors and how much knowledge they have to share. “Listen to what they have to teach you and make sure you ask lots of questions. “If there are any events going on and you have the opportunity to participate and learn from other chefs, really take advantage of it and start creating great industry connections.”
CHEF DE PARTIE
INVERCARGILL HAS ALL THE INGREDIENTS
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I GOT TO MEET AND CONNECT WITH SOME OF NEW ZEALAND'S BEST CHEFS AND LEARN FROM THEM, CONNECTIONS I STILL LOOK BACK ON TO THIS DAY AND LEAN ON FOR ADVICE SOMETIMES. SAM KISSELL
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KEY FACTS ■ SAM KISSELL IS A CHEF DE PARTIE AT THE VOYAGER ESTATE WINERY IN MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
■ HE STUDIED HOSPITALITY AT THE SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (SIT), GRADUATING WITH TWO CERTIFICATES IN COOKERY (LEVELS 3 & 4), AND A DIPLOMA IN COOKERY (ADVANCED). ■ SAM COMPETED IN THE NESTLÉ GOLDEN CHEFS HAT AWARD IN 2025, WINNING THE SOUTH ISLAND COMPETITION BEFORE GOING ON TO WIN THREE GOLD MEDALS AT THE FINALS IN SYDNEY.
ONLINE For more information on studying Hospitality and Cookery with SIT, visit www.sit.ac.nz/Courses/ Hospitality
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
writer PETER WHITE // photographer ZACH STARK
FLYING HIGH AT ARDMORE PILOT
PILOTING DREAMS INTO REALITY
8
“What I love about flying is just the freedom and the feeling when you are in control of an aeroplane. There is nothing else like it,” says DEWEI CHEN. Dewei has been a full-time flight instructor and programme administrator at Ardmore Flying School in Papakura since early 2024. In this role, he trains students working towards their Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), and Diploma in Aviation qualifications, preparing them for careers as professional airline pilots. He grew up in China where his favourite subjects were Physics, Chemistry and Calculus. Dewei came to New Zealand after high school and enrolled in a foundation course to help meet university entry requirements. “After finishing the foundation course, I did one year at the University of Auckland studying business. My family wanted me to do a business degree, which is a common dream for most Asian parents, but I realised it was not my thing, so I quit the course.” Dewei attended a cookery school for two years in Auckland, followed by two more years working as a chef full-time.
“I then started slowly building up my flying hours and got my private pilot licence after I did 60-70 hours. I started flying because of a trial introductory flight to see if I loved it or not – and it turns out I did!”
“
What excites me…is seeing so many of my fellow Ardmore graduates…flying for different airlines all over the world. I can’t wait to run into them at airport terminals across the globe.
”
DEWEI CHEN
Dewei decided to pursue full-time flying training because he wanted to be an airline pilot. In September, that goal became a reality when he received a job offer from Hong Kong Express Airways to fly Airbus A320s and A321s. “It marks the perfect completion of my flying school journey and is truly a dream come true, as becoming an airline pilot is the ultimate goal for most of us. “What excites me even more right now is seeing so many of my fellow Ardmore graduates – both former students and instructors - flying for different airlines all over the world. I can’t wait to run into them at airport terminals across the globe.” Looking back on his multi-career path, Dewei credits Ardmore Flying School for turning his passion into reality. “Ardmore Flying School gave me everything I ever hoped for when I first entered aviation – from building solid operational skills to gaining valuable
“The environment here is truly unique. At Ardmore Airport, we can see a wide variety of airplanes taking off and landing every day, ranging from classic warbirds to sleek business jets.” For school leavers wanting to become pilots, Dewei says attitude is the most important thing. “If you have a good attitude, you can pretty much succeed in anything in life. But aviation is not easy. You have to do the flight hours, pass lots of exams and flight tests to get your licence.
JOB TITLE PILOT
instructional experience and ultimately reaching the airline flight deck. It proved that with the right environment and attitude, any aviation dream is within reach.
9
“You need to put in the hard work. Students need to have a solid foundation in Maths, Physics and English to start their flight training.” Aviation opens doors to careers around the world and offers long-term opportunities in an industry where human judgement, leadership, and situational awareness remain indispensable, even in highly automated flight environments.
KEY FACTS
ONLINE
■ DEWEI CHEN HAS BEEN A FULL-TIME FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND PROGRAMME ADMINISTRATOR AT ARDMORE FLYING SCHOOL SINCE EARLY 2024. ■ HIS GOAL OF BECOMING AN AIRLINE PILOT BECAME A REALITY IN SEPTEMBER 2026 WHEN HE RECEIVED A JOB OFFER FROM HONG KONG EXPRESS AIRWAYS TO FLY AIRBUS A320s AND A321s. ■ DEWEI GAINED HIS AVIATION LICENCES AND QUALIFICATIONS THROUGH ARDMORE FLYING SCHOOL.
OPEN DAY - SAT 31 OCT 2026
Learn more about Ardmore Flying School’s aviation training programmes, www.ardmore.co.nz Join us at our Open Day on Saturday 31st October or email enrolments@ardmore.co.nz with any queries.
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A PILOT?? Discover how to turn your passion for flying into a career. For more than 60 years, we’ve been helping students learn to fly and build careers in aviation. Now it’s your turn.
Free A320 Simulators
BBQ
Half Price Intro Flights Ice Cream
And Much More!
For more info, contact us: T: +649 298 5055 E: enrolments@ardmore.co.nz
ardmore.co.nz
AN ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY INTO ACCOUNTING
ADVISOR
QUALIFYING IN REAL-TIME 10
writer PETER WHITE photo ZACH STARK
PARATAI PIHAMA is building her accounting career in real-time – working full-time with KPMG New Zealand while studying towards her accounting qualification through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). Paratai went to Western Springs College. In Year 13 CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ she took Business Studies, Economics, Maths, STUDENT MEMBERSHIP English and Māori Studies. Explore the accounting and finance world and receive valuable information The 21-year-old joined KPMG New Zealand in Auckland and resources to broaden your skills and understanding. You will be invited to straight from school in April 2024 as a Junior Advisor networking and careers events and have access to exclusive employment and was promoted to Advisor a year on. opportunities. What are you waiting for? Sign up to be a Chartered “Being an Advisor at KPMG New Zealand is incredibly Accountants ANZ student member today. rewarding, offering a perfect balance between work, study, and opportunities to participate in impactful projects,” says Paratai. While working, Paratai completed one year of a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Auckland CA ANZ before switching to CA ANZ’s CA Fundamentals and INTRODUCED CA Foundations pathway. THESE NEW CA Fundamentals program is designed for recent high school graduates with less than two years FUNDAMENTALS of work or study experience. The program builds AND FOUNDATIONS foundational knowledge in accounting and PATHWAYS FOR business, while developing the study, workplace PEOPLE WANTING and professional skills needed to succeed in an accounting career. TO BECOME For Paratai, it was also the start of a journey towards ACCOUNTANTS achieving a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting. … IT CUTS DOWN “I started off doing my BCom, and then CA ANZ THE TIME AND introduced these new Fundamentals and Foundations COST TO GET pathways for people wanting to become accountants, so I jumped onto that. QUALIFIED. “It is an alternative pathway towards gaining a PARATAI qualification and designation to become a Chartered Accountant. I am on the CA ANZ pathway now, and PIHAMA it cuts down the time and cost to get qualified.” Balancing full-time work with CA Fundamentals Alongside her studies and work, Paratai values the work and study. The pathway has allowed her to has been a significant step up from high school, Paratai says, but it has also helped her grow quickly role of culture, identity and representation in shaping earn while learning, build workplace confidence, her career journey. She is grateful to have been part and keep progressing towards her long-term working in a professional environment while of the Kiwa Programme, run by KPMG New Zealand accounting goals. studying simultaneously. for young Māori and Pasifika tertiary students. “There is a forum on our portal where you can ask “With the help of my employers and CA ANZ, “On my father’s side, I am Waikato-Tainui and on my questions, and my tutor in my first year was very I have been able to find a way forward. The first mother’s side I am Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Kahu. responsive whenever I emailed her. There is plenty year of study was a bit of a mission, but I have of support available. definitely found the pathway that works for me. “Being part of networks like Kiwa is definitely a big thing for me to show brown students that there are “Most of my time I dedicate towards studying “Every time someone asks me why I undertook the brown faces in these types of environments.” in the weekends and leave the work week to CA ANZ pathway – I tell them, if you are determined just solely focus on work. But I still have my personal Paratai says the practical support from CA ANZ and to do accounting, then for me CA ANZ is a life as well.” no-brainer.” her employer has been central to managing both
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KEY FACTS ■ WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME AS AN ADVISOR WITH KPMG, PARATAI PIHAMA IS STUDYING TOWARDS HER ACCOUNTING QUALIFICATION THROUGH CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (CA ANZ). ■ SHE JOINED KPMG STRAIGHT FROM SCHOOL AS A JUNIOR ADVISOR AND WAS PROMOTED TO ADVISOR A YEAR LATER. ■ PARATAI TOOK BUSINESS STUDIES, ECONOMICS, MATHS, ENGLISH AND MĀORI STUDIES IN YEAR 13 AT WESTERN SPRINGS COLLEGE. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
ONLINE To learn more about accounting careers and alternative pathways into the profession, visit www.MakeEpicThingsHappen.com
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ASSISTANT OPERATIONS LEADER 12
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG MOVING UP THE RANKS WITH TOYOTA writer PETER WHITE // photographer PETER McDERMOTT At school, ASHER JORGENSEN knew he wanted to work for Toyota New Zealand. Now, nearly four years into his career, he is proud to be part of the team that supplies parts nationwide from the massive warehouse in Palmerston North. Asher (21) attended Cornerstone Christian School in Palmerston North. In Year 12 he took English, Maths, Digital Technology (DigiTech) and Business Studies. His goal then was to be a mechanic so after leaving school he went to UCOL in Palmerston North to study for a year. After doing work experience at a workshop, he finally landed the job he wanted. “I kept an eye out on the available job listings at Toyota and saw one pop up. I felt it might suit me so I applied and here I am,” says Asher. “I like that I am working for such a big company. The best thing is they really do like to care for their employees, no matter what it is. If you need time off for something that’s happened outside of work, you got it.
“When I started here, I realised no matter what I was doing, I wanted to stay with Toyota.” Asher says higher management often come to the warehouse to talk to the staff. “They often tell us we have done a great job and they like what is happening. They give us business updates. There is a lot of communication across the office team and the warehouse team.” Asher’s workplace is the central distribution hub supplying genuine Toyota parts to dealerships and service centres across New Zealand. The warehouse covers 35,000 square metres of total floor space. “It’s not small! When I first started it felt really big and daunting but now it has sort of become my second home. The scale of it never ceases to amaze me and just how much we have here.” Asher was recently promoted to be an assistant operations leader for the afternoon shift. “I manage the team’s workloads, depending on how many orders we have coming in, and I also oversee
the training of new employees. I am proud of where I have got to so far. It has been a good journey.” The key things that helped Asher move up the ranks at Toyota New Zealand are being diligent, putting his head down and just getting on with the work. “It is very easy to get caught up in the chatting and the dramas but if you work hard, the managers do notice and that goes a long way.” The future for Asher is likely to be more focused on the management side of the company. “Ideally, I would like to move into the office, hopefully landing in some sort of media or marketing role. “I recommend working for Toyota to anyone. The key is to have integrity. “Your work is always going to affect someone – a customer or the next person behind you at work – so someone who looks out for the next person is a massive plus.”
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I LIKE THAT I AM WORKING FOR SUCH A BIG COMPANY. THE BEST THING IS THEY REALLY DO LIKE TO CARE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. ASHER JORGENSEN
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KEY FACTS ■ ASHER JORGENSEN IS AN ASSISTANT OPERATIONS LEADER WITH TOYOTA NEW ZEALAND, PART OF THE TEAM THAT SUPPLIES PARTS NATIONWIDE FROM A MASSIVE WAREHOUSE IN PALMERSTON NORTH. ■ HE KEPT AN EYE ON JOB LISTINGS WITH TOYOTA WHILE STUDYING AT UCOL AND GAINING MECHANICAL WORK EXPERIENCE IN A WORKSHOP JOB. ■ IN THE FUTURE, ASHER WOULD LIKE TO MOVE INTO A MANAGEMENT ROLE WITH THE COMPANY, POTENTIALLY IN MARKETING OR MEDIA. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
ONLINE For more information on the career opportunities with Toyota New Zealand, go to www.careers.toyota.co.nz
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HEAVY MACHINERY OPERATOR
BIG GEAR OPERATION
writer PETER WHITE photographer ALAN STEVENS
GROWING CAREERS FROM THE GROUND UP BAILEY FALCONER is a heavy machinery operator/plant operator with J. Swap, based at the Taotaoroa Quarries near Matamata. It was the company’s first hard rock quarry and is still their largest and busiest quarry. “When I first started here, I was on a 20-ton dump truck for the first two, two and a half years, and then I got experience driving the big 50-ton dump trucks,” Bailey says. “We have product that comes out from under our screens that go into hoppers and once they are full, you can drive the small dump truck underneath. You load them by opening the doors under the hopper and then tip the truck into the stockpile and repeat the process until the hopper is empty.” Bailey (22) likes driving the bigger 50-ton trucks that go down in the pit and are loaded by large diggers. He recently also began operating the diggers, ranging from 10-tons to 90-tons. “There is nothing quite like operating a big bit of gear. It is quite thrilling. It can get repetitive, but it is still very enjoyable. We have a very good crew to work with out here. Everyone knows what they are doing which makes everything easier every day.” Safety is the number one priority at all times working in the quarry. “There is a little bit of everything involved with working here. There is danger but there are measures in place to keep everything safe. Commonsense is a big part of it and obviously training is a big thing too.” Bailey attended Morrinsville College, where he took English, Maths, PE, Woodwork and Metalwork in Year 12. He admits he had no idea what he wanted to do at that stage, but a random conversation turned out to be the turning point. “I left school at 16 and did not have a full process of where I wanted to end up. Everything just kind of aligned. I met an older guy who was working for J. Swap, and he asked me if I would be interested in going into the quarrying division. “I agreed to give it a go and have been here coming up five years now.” Bailey’s hard work and tenacity have paid off. Long-term prospects with the company are looking
good. Last year he started studying for his B Grade Quarry Manager CoC (Certificate of Competence). He is preparing for the final interview now he has completed the paperwork. “I still feel I have a decent way to go but for the time I have spent working here, I would say it has been rewarding. With the experience that comes with doing the job, it does get easier.” For school leavers, Bailey says there are plenty of jobs in the industry. “The key things to succeed are having a good attitude, being a team player and having a hard work ethic.
“When I left school, I didn’t have many of those attributes. Hands-on learning was my thing and you do get better as you continue on through the industry.”
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HERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE OPERATING T A BIG BIT OF GEAR. IT IS QUITE THRILLING. BAILEY FALCONER
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KEY FACTS
ONLINE
■ BAILEY FALCONER IS A HEAVY MACHINERY OPERATOR/PLANT OPERATOR WITH J. SWAP, BASED AT THE TAOTAOROA QUARRIES NEAR MATAMATA. ■ A CONVERSATION WITH A COMPANY EMPLOYEE FIVE YEARS AGO PROMPTED HIM TO GIVE QUARRYING A GO.
For more information on career opportunities in the aggregate and quarry industry, visit www.aqa.org.nz
■ AS WELL AS OPERATING DUMP TRUCKS AND DIGGERS, BAILEY IS STUDYING FOR HIS B GRADE QUARRY MANAGER CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
PLUMBER
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LOOKING BACK AT THE END OF MY APPRENTICESHIP AND EVERYTHING I HAVE ACHIEVED, I COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF MYSELF.
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MAGGIE HIGGINS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE TRADES
EARNING WHILE YOU LEARN writer PETER WHITE // photographer DUNCAN BROWN
MAGGIE HIGGINS is determined to be a role model for other young female tradies to follow. The 22-year-old is just a few months away from completing her four-year Plumbing and Drainlaying apprenticeship through EarnLearn. “The thing I would say to young women who want plan was to become a psychologist, but she suffered “They do really, really care about your success.” to start an apprenticeship in the trades is just do it,” from dyslexia, which made Maths, Science and English Maggie is proud to have been honoured by says Maggie. difficult subjects to master. NAWIC (National Association of Women in “It can be quite a daunting leap to take but you always Maggie did some work experience with a local Construction NZ) at the Excellence Awards held in have a support system behind you. There are people plumbing and drainlaying company and has never August. The awards celebrate women making a who care and that makes all the difference. significant impact across New Zealand's looked back. construction and trade industries. “All that work does pay off. It takes time and “I am a very hands-on person, and a lot of my determination, and it takes grit, but now looking She received a Special Merit Award in the Wahine friends were interested in plumbing, so I thought back at the end of my apprenticeship and everything why not give it a go? I went on site to see what it Toa Tradeswoman category and previously won the I have achieved, I could not be prouder of myself.” NAWIC Apprentice Excellence Award. was all about and fell in love with it. I thought this is exactly where I want to be.” Maggie works for Laser Plumbing and Electrical in “The feeling of even just being nominated and Napier. She says they have a very family-orientated winning those awards has made all the effort I have Maggie’s apprenticeship is through EarnLearn, who culture. put in so worth it. All my hard work has not gone support apprentices as they learn on the job and unnoticed and makes me feel proud to be in this “It is really key during your apprenticeship, especially work towards becoming qualified. industry.” as a female, to have that support from not just your “I don’t have a bad word to say about them. My bosses but your colleagues you work with every Owning her own business is Maggie’s long-term account manager, Julia, has seen me go through single day.” goal – but with a twist. a lot of ups and downs and has never once let me At Iona College in Havelock North, Maggie took down. They have always had my back, from helping “I want a female-only company that is a safe place Design, Photography, Fabric, Dance, English, Maths me find a job, supporting me and giving me the push for women to use their skills. There is such a niche and Economics in Year 12. She says her immediate that I needed to get things done when I needed to. market for women in the trades.”
KEY FACTS ■ MAGGIE HIGGINS IS JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY FROM COMPLETING HER FOUR-YEAR PLUMBING AND DRAINLAYING APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH EARNLEARN. ■ SHE RECEIVED A SPECIAL MERIT AWARD IN THE WAHINE TOA TRADESWOMAN CATEGORY AT THE 2026 NAWIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS, AND PREVIOUSLY WON THE NAWIC APPRENTICE EXCELLENCE AWARD. ■ MAGGIE WORKS FOR LASER PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL IN NAPIER AND HER LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO RUN HER OWN FEMALE-ONLY COMPANY. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
ONLINE For more information on Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying (PGD) apprenticeships through EarnLearn, visit www.earnlearn.ac.nz/careersand-courses/plumbing-gasfittingdrainlaying
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Get paid to build your future. Earn while you learn with an EarnLearn apprenticeship in Electrical, Plumbing, Gasfitting or Drainlaying. You’ll build real skills on the job, work towards a nationally recognised qualification, and get personalised support every step of the way. Explore EarnLearn’s apprenticeship programmes today! earnlearn.ac.nz 0800 327 648 (0800 EARN IT)
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FEELING DOWN?
Leaving school is one of the biggest transitions we make 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.
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TAHATŪ CAREER NAVIGATOR A person who
never made a mistake never tried anything new. Albert Einstein
JOB HUNTING These websites will help you find a job! Allied Work Force – www.awf.co.nz Trade Me Jobs – www.trademe.co.nz/jobs JobSpace – jobspace.co.nz Student Job Search – www.sjs.co.nz Do Good Jobs – www.dogoodjobs.co.nz Work and Income – findajob.msd.govt.nz Seek – www.seek.co.nz
Michelle Obama
SECONDARY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2026/27 Term 4 holiday 2026: No later than 19 December 2026 through to no earlier than 28 January 2027 Term 1 holiday 2027: 9 April –27 April 2027 Term 2 holiday 2027: 2 July –19 July 2027 Term 3 holiday 2027: 24 September –11 October 2027 Information sourced from Ministry of Education, visit www.education.govt.nz
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Get honest, unbiased, tailored advice from a current student who’s actually living it right now.
There is no magic to achievement. It’s really about hard work, choices, and persistence.
Are you interested in a career in the Primary Industry Sector? Visit www.agribusiness.school.nz for more information.
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 2026.
Sign up for info at www.studylink.govt.nz
www.nextchats.co.nz
SCHOLARSHIPS There is a free-to-use comprehensive list of Year 13 scholarships available to 2026 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
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
Theodor Seuss
NCEA
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
The NCEA Exams start on Tuesday 10 November 2026 Visit…
www2.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea for everything you need to know about the 2026 exams and timetable
For more information on careers with the New Zealand Police, visit www.newcops.govt.nz
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? available 24/7 0800 942 8787 www.whatsup.co.nz ALCOHOL DRUG HELPLINE 0800 787 797 available 24/7 www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz
Volunteering can provide you with opportunities to develop your skills in new and interesting ways as well as providing valuable real-world experiences – all important attributes to your CV when applying for your first job! For more information, visit: www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/ volunteers/finding-volunteer-roles/
We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. George Bernard Shaw
DRIVE has everything you need to get ready for your learner, restricted and full licence tests www.drive.govt.nz
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.
Visit www.keytolife.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? Visit vote.nz
UNIVERSITIES NEW ZEALAND LEARN TO DRIVE
IMPORTANT NOTICES
VOLUNTEERING
If you are thinking about studying at one of the eight universities in New Zealand in 2027 visit: www.thinkingaboutuni.nz which has all the information at your fingertips.
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or leading to do. Pelé
CAREERS IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY If you are interested in career opportunities within the dairy industry, visit www.godairy.co.nz
Maya Angelou
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
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CO-OPERATIVE BUSINESS PARTNER
writer PETER WHITE // photo credit FONTERRA
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THE FUTURE OF DAIRYING
RISING THROUGH THE RANKS OF FONTERRA “There is no company in the country that provides the breadth and depth of opportunity that Fonterra does,” says ADAM WINTER. Adam (26) is a Fonterra co-operative business partner for the North Canterbury region, based out of the Christchurch office. He has risen quickly up the corporate ladder at Fonterra since he began working as an intern before his final year of a Bachelor of Management Studies (Hons) degree in Economics and Agribusiness at Waikato University. Adam joined Fonterra through their Agribusiness Graduate Programme, which has since evolved into the Fonterra Future Leaders Graduate Programme. This enhanced two-year programme brings together a range of career pathways, including agribusiness, engineering, finance, technical, data & AI & P&C, creating greater opportunities for collaboration, learning, and leadership development. Adam completed four six-month placements in 2022 and 2023, gaining both on-farm and off-farm experience. “I began in the service centre in the performance and insights team in Hamilton, then went to the on-farm excellence operations team. I moved to the Canterbury sustainable dairying team before shifting to Auckland and into the commercial intelligence team. “I rolled off the programme to be a farmer support advisor for Canterbury, Tasman and Marlborough, helping farmers with their compliance and digital journeys through a Fonterra lens. “I was able to get out in a farmer-facing rotation, then into our markets’ teams and head office – and everything in between – so I got so much breadth of how Fonterra and the industry work in a short time.”
Adam says the main learnings he gained from being part of the programme, that have helped him make such a successful start to his career with Fonterra, are all centred around building relationships with people. “It is all about learning about people, working with people, managing stakeholders and getting different outcomes for different people – that is key especially when you are moving after six months of each placement. “You have to learn pretty quickly and build your relationships quickly.” He says being adaptable was also a key skill after coming from a school and university background where learning is very structured. “Once you finish the four placements, the adult corporate world is very different, and you have to be able to learn to organise yourself.” Adam went to Napier Boys’ High School. He took Agriculture as one of his subjects from Years 9 -12 – which began his interest in the primary industry – then Calculus, Chemistry, Biology, English and Economics in Year 13. He says the Fonterra Future Leaders Graduate Programme is open to graduates from varied backgrounds. “It probably is a misconception you need to be a farmer’s son or daughter to get on it – I am certainly not. There is no one background of people. The Future Leaders programme is looking for the right people, not the right degrees. “They are looking to employ future leaders of the company. They look a lot more holistically now.” Adam’s advice for school leavers – be inquisitive, take your opportunities, build strong relationships, and be consistent and authentic in how you deal with everyone. “You get out of it what you put in.”
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THE FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAMME IS LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE, NOT THE RIGHT DEGREES. THEY ARE LOOKING TO EMPLOY FUTURE LEADERS OF THE COMPANY. ADAM WINTER
KEY FACTS ■ BASED OUT OF FONTERRA’S CHRISTCHURCH OFFICE, ADAM WINTER IS A CO-OPERATIVE BUSINESS PARTNER FOR THE NORTH CANTERBURY REGION. ■ HE BEGAN WORKING AS AN INTERN AT FONTERRA BEFORE HIS FINAL YEAR OF A BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES (HONS) IN ECONOMICS AND AGRIBUSINESS AT WAIKATO UNIVERSITY. ■ ADAM GAINED VALUABLE ON-FARM AND OFF-FARM EXPERIENCE VIA THE FONTERRA FUTURE LEADERS GRADUATE PROGRAMME. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
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ONLINE For more information on Fonterra’s Future Leaders Graduate Programme, scan the QR code or visit https://careers. fonterra.com/careers/ Future-Leaders-Programme
CREAM OF THE CROP
FONTERRA’S FUTURE LEADERS GRAD PROGRAMME MOLLY GOODISSON describes her time on the Fonterra Future Leaders Graduate Programme as “full-on fun”. The Graduate Programme provided a well-structured introduction to the dairy industry, giving Molly the opportunity to gain experience across different areas of the business and build a strong foundation in dairy science and manufacturing. Molly applied for Fonterra’s technical graduate stream while completing a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Food Science at the University of Otago. “I was lucky enough to have a qualitative topic interviewing fruit growers in Central Otago, which was where I fell in love with the hard work and passion of the primary industries.” She says the biggest skill she learnt on the graduate programme was how to talk to people (“Tip: everyone is human, and everyone wants to be treated with
respect”) and one of the highlights was gaining “15 new best friends”. Molly’s first job after completing the programme was working as a Process Lead at Fonterra’s Te Awamutu manufacturing plant, where she had “a fantastic boss”. “So, for me, transitioning off the programme was easy.” She moved from there into Fonterra’s South Island distribution centres team, where she learnt a lot about managing people and projects. Molly (25) recently started her third role off the programme, communicating the Fonterra milk supply and base commodity price forecast to the business – “A very central and exciting space to be in.” In Year 13 at Woodford House, Molly took Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, Geography and Home Economics (Food Tech). It was her home economics teacher who suggested studying food science as an option for university.
“I loved Otago,” she says of her four years at uni. “I made some fantastic friends, got into the ski club, volunteered for a student-led mental health movement, lived out at the beach in fourth year, and worked the weekends at Beam Me Up Bagels.” For her degree, Chemistry was the most useful subject she took at school, while for work, Calculus has been “surprisingly” helpful. She says Accounting or Statistics would also have been helpful. Molly’s advice for school leavers is, “You don’t have to have it figured out. “What you are studying, what grades you get and what you think you want to do with your life is not permanent. “The only thing that matters is that you care, and you are curious.”
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YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE IT FIGURED OUT … THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU CARE, AND YOU ARE CURIOUS.
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MOLLY GOODISSON
KEY FACTS ■ MOLLY GOODISSON TOOK PART IN FONTERRA’S FUTURE LEADERS GRADUATE PROGRAMME. ■ SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS IN FOOD SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO. ■ IN HER CURRENT ROLE AS MILK ECONOMICS LEAD, MOLLY COMMUNICATES THE FONTERRA MILK SUPPLY AND BASE COMMODITY PRICE FORECAST TO THE BUSINESS.
ONLINE For more information about Fonterra’s Future Leaders Graduate Programme, scan the QR code or visit https://careers. fonterra.com/careers/ Future-Leaders-Programme
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
MILK ECONOMICS LEAD
writer SARA CARBERY // photographer ZACH STARK
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PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER 20
A REWARDING PROFESSION
GUIDING AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN TO GROW writer SARA CARBERY // photographer MARTY MELVILLE “The most rewarding thing about working as a teacher is that I get to support young people to discover their passions and learn that they can do difficult things,” says GEORGIA LLOYD. “Being able to support children to experience success in their own way is really cool.” Unsure what she wanted to do when she left Upper Hutt College, Georgia worked as a teacher aide before enrolling in a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) through Te Rito Maioha when she was 26. “I wish I had done it sooner!” says the 29-year-old. Studying online meant she could continue to work as a teacher aide and fit her studies around work, family, and sports commitments. “The support I received from Te Rito Maioha is what helped me to be successful in my studies. “I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to work and write at a high enough academic level to be able to get good grades or be successful, but I felt well supported with this, and the lecturers were only a message away if I ever needed support with anything.”
Georgia graduated last year and is now teaching a Year 5/6 class at Tōtara Park School in Upper Hutt, where she completed her final field-based placement. Although she loves her job – “guiding students and supporting them to grow” – she admits it’s a busy role and keeping up with changes to the curriculum can be challenging. “It has been hard learning a new curriculum to teach when throughout my studies these were constantly changing. “It has also been difficult to manage the time pressures and expectations to get all of the things you need to do done, but the classroom experiences that Te Rito Maioha gave me has meant I can use the experiences I had on these days to guide my own teaching and to develop my classroom’s environment.” In Year 13 at Upper Hutt College, Georgia studied Health, English, Tourism, Community Sport and Leadership, and Classical Studies. “Having good skills in English and a basic knowledge of maths has helped,” she says, “but having knowledge across health and physical
“I genuinely felt like the people around me cared about me and wanted me to be successful in my teaching journey.” - Georgie Llyod Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)
Become part of our local Primary or ECE teaching whānau
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I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD BECOME A TEACHER, BUT NOW I COULDN’T SEE MYSELF DOING ANYTHING ELSE. I CAN ALREADY SEE THE DIFFERENCE I’M MAKING FOR THE KIDS IN MY CLASS!
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GEORGIA LLOYD
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KEY FACTS
ONLINE
■ GEORGIA LLOYD TEACHES YEAR 5 AND 6 STUDENTS AT TŌTARA PARK SCHOOL IN UPPER HUTT. ■ THROUGH A BLEND OF ONLINE AND IN-CLASSROOM LEARNING, SHE COMPLETED A BACHELOR OF TEACHING (PRIMARY) THROUGH TE RITO MAIOHA WHILE WORKING AS A TEACHER AIDE. ■ IN YEAR 13 AT UPPER HUTT COLLEGE, GEORGIA STUDIED HEALTH, ENGLISH, TOURISM, COMMUNITY SPORT AND LEADERSHIP, AND CLASSICAL STUDIES.
Te Rito Maioha offers diploma, bachelor, graduate diploma, postgraduate and master’s programmes in early childhood and primary education. To find out more information, visit www.ecnz.ac.nz/study-options
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WWW.LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER
education and experience in community sports and leadership has really helped me to connect with the kids and support them in a way that they value.” Georgia has advice for anyone considering a career in teaching. “If you want to be able to make a difference in the lives of young people, just take the leap and do it. “I never imagined I would become a teacher, but now I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I can already see the difference I’m making for the kids in my class!” And her advice to all young people: “Don’t be scared to ask for help when you need it. More often than not, people want to see you be successful!”
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REGISTERED NURSE 22
PROGRESSING THROUGH SIT FROM CAREGIVER TO REGISTERED NURSE writer SARA CARBERY // photographer MARI HOMAN MARK CONDINO’S interest in nursing began when he started working in aged care while he was still at school. “I realised I enjoyed the combination of science, problem-solving and, most importantly, working with people.” At the same time – Year 13 at South Otago High School – Mark was completing a pre-nursing course through the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). “Spending one day a week at SIT gave me an idea of what nursing involved and helped me decide that it was something I genuinely wanted to pursue.” Mark (22) completed a Bachelor of Nursing at SIT in 2025 and now works as a registered nurse at Heritage Lifecare’s Clutha Views Lifecare in Balclutha. His role involves providing clinical care to residents, administering medications, monitoring changes in their condition, and working alongside the wider healthcare team. “There is a lot of coordination and clinical decision-making involved. You have to be able to recognise when something has changed, work out what needs to happen next and communicate that clearly to the people involved.”
The relationships he has with residents is the part of the job Mark enjoys most. “In aged care, you get to know people over time. You learn their personalities, routines, histories, and the things that are important to them. That makes the role about much more than simply treating an illness or completing a task.” Another highlight has been reflecting on his progression from caregiver to nurse. “It’s quite rewarding to look back and realise that the small decisions you make along the way can eventually add up to something much bigger.” Mark was born in the Philippines and moved to Balclutha when he was 10. As well as the pre-nursing course, he took English, Maths, Chemistry, Geography and Outdoor Education in Year 13. While Chemistry, Maths and English have been particularly useful, Mark says Geography and Outdoor Education taught him different ways of thinking, how to work with people and adapt to unfamiliar situations. “I think having a mixture of subjects was useful because nursing itself requires quite a broad range of skills.
“Biology probably would have been useful, but I wouldn’t let not taking a particular subject put you off nursing. I didn’t have the perfect combination of subjects, and I was still able to make the transition successfully.” SIT’s Zero Fees scheme was an attractive drawcard for Mark – “It reduced the financial pressure of tertiary study and allowed me to put more of my focus into my education and clinical learning” – and he was also drawn to SIT’s practical approach to learning. “The clinical placements were a major highlight because that’s when the things you learn in class start to come together. You’re no longer just learning about a condition or treatment – you’re applying that knowledge with real people and working as part of a healthcare team.” If you’re considering nursing as a career, Mark recommends getting some exposure to healthcare, if you can. “Most importantly, choose nursing because you actually want to work with people,” he says. “The qualification is only one part of the career.”
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‘‘ KEY FACTS
THE CLINICAL PLACEMENTS WERE A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE THAT’S WHEN THE THINGS YOU LEARN IN CLASS START TO COME TOGETHER. THE CLINICAL PLACEMENTS WERE A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE
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THAT’S WHEN THE THINGS YOU LEARN IN CLASS START TO COME TOGETHER.
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MARK CONDINO
■ MARK CONDINO DID A PRE-NURSING COURSE THROUGH THE SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WHILE HE WAS IN YEAR 13, BEFORE ENROLLING IN A BACHELOR OF NURSING. ■ HE GRADUATED FROM SIT IN 2025 AND IS WORKING AS A REGISTERED NURSE AT CLUTHA VIEWS LIFECARE IN BALCLUTHA. ■ BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES, MARK MOVED TO NEW ZEALAND WHEN HE WAS 10, AND ATTENDED SOUTH OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
MARK CONDINO
ONLINE For more information on studying nursing at Southern Institute of Technology, visit www.sit.ac.nz/Courses/NursingHealth-Science
FINDING THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE NUMBERS Not many people working in the accounting field have a master’s degree in architecture – but SAM ROSEMAN is certainly forging his own path in the industry. Sam (24) is an assistant accountant with leading healthcare provider ProCare in Auckland. He has been with them for more than six years in part-time and full-time roles. “I handle full accounts for three companies. Two of them are small general practices in Auckland and the other is a not-for-profit organisation that takes the pressure off hospitals,” says Sam. “Alongside those full set of accounts, I hold the receivables portfolio for ProCare, which basically handles all of the funding between the government and all our member practices – representing approximately more than 640,000 patients in Auckland.” Sam has a Bachelor of Architecture and Future Environment from Auckland University of Technology and a Masters in Architecture from the University of Melbourne. He worked 20 hours a week for ProCare for more than five years during his full-time university studies.
“CA ANZ offers a professional pathway into the Accounting Technician (AT) Program, which I became eligible for through working at ProCare during my university studies. The Accounting Technician Program also provides a pathway to the Chartered Accountant Program.” Sam says the AT Program is such a good introduction, particularly for those who have come out of high school without an accounting background. “The course started last October. I think it is a really worthwhile course. Through doing that, and with
some guidance and workplace experience, you are able to do a full set of accounts and understand how a business is run.” In Year 13, Sam took Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry and Graphics at Botany Downs Secondary College. “I didn’t see accounting coming back then but I have really enjoyed it. Accounting does not just have to be about making money or keeping everything reconciled.
JOB TITLE ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN
A TAILORMADE PATHWAY
writer PETER WHITE photo ZACH STARK
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“From my perspective, there is a lot more strategy and purpose behind it.”
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT MEMBERSHIP 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 member today.
Sam says the technical side of architecture is actually closer to accounting than a lot of people would think. “I fell into accounting a little bit coincidentally. I like the purpose behind the numbers. We are in the healthcare space so a lot of the work we do is not so much around how the numbers work but how do we make healthcare accessible to Kiwis. “We are sort of navigating a tricky space since Covid of what does general practice look like at the moment. A lot of the work I am doing around the budgeting and the running of those practices day-to-day is how can we best utilise our funding to support as many patients as possible.” Sam is studying the Accounting Technician (AT) program to obtain his AT designation from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). “I didn’t have a clear pathway to chartered accountancy out of university because architecture is not particularly close to accounting in terms of papers we can transfer for credits.
KEY FACTS
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I LIKE THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE NUMBERS… A LOT OF THE WORK WE DO IS… HOW DO WE MAKE HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBLE TO KIWIS. SAM ROSEMAN
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■ SAM ROSEMAN IS AN ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PROCARE IN AUCKLAND. ■ HE WORKED 20 HOURS A WEEK FOR PROCARE FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS WHILE STUDYING ARCHITECTURE AT UNIVERSITY. ■ SAM IS STUDYING THE ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN (AT) PROGRAM TO OBTAIN AT DESIGNATION FROM CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (CA ANZ).
ONLINE For more information on studying to become an Accounting Technician, visit https://www.charteredaccountantsanz. com/become-a-member/memberships/ accounting-technician
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
AUTOMOTIVE SPRAY PAINTER 24
A CHOICE OF TRADES IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY
PANEL PAINTING PERFECTION writer PETER WHITE photograph MTA
“I am proud to be representing women in the industry and showing that we are just as competent as men,” says automotive spray painter CHARLOTTE YOUNG. “There is absolutely nothing holding females back from doing well. We are just as smart, just as strong, just as capable.” The 20-year-old would love to see more female school leavers consider a career in the trades. “I think it is a pathway that is not assigned to women as much as it should be. “I think anyone has the ability to enjoy it and I would love more women to be doing it. I am thankful it is something I chose to do.” Charlotte left Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt aged 16 after Year 11. She enjoyed Art, Maths and Science but was not sure what she wanted to do. Her parents insisted she do a course, so she selected automotive refinishing. “I really enjoyed it but before I finished the course, my dad’s friend – who owned a panelbeaters – offered me an apprenticeship in Paraparaumu.”
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THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HOLDING FEMALES BACK FROM DOING WELL. WE ARE JUST AS SMART, JUST AS STRONG, JUST AS CAPABLE.
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CHARLOTTE YOUNG
Charlotte has worked at MTA member Maidstone Panelbeaters in Upper Hutt for the last two years. She finished her apprenticeship in February 2024 and is proud to have her New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Refinishing (Levels 3 and 4)
and New Zealand Certificate in Collision Repair (Non-Structural Repair) (Level 3). “I like that you can work to your own schedule. It was easy enough to contact people if I had questions because the apprenticeship covers a lot more than you would do day-to-day working. “I even fitted a tow bar which I have never done since.” Most of Charlotte’s work centres around sanding, masking, priming and painting repaired car panels. There is a level of artistic license that Charlotte likes. “One of my favourite things about the job is just seeing the whole process. I really enjoy seeing something leave the place looking pretty. I definitely enjoy that aspect of it a lot.” The job comes with plenty of challenges that Charlotte faces every day. “Painting is very intricate. There are a million and one things that could possibly go wrong and a whole list of things you have to constantly make sure you are doing right. “It is very technical. Prep is always very important as it makes the paint job easier.”
AUTOMOTIVE SPRAY PAINTER
SUPPORTING CAREERS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY MTA represents more than 4,000 automotive businesses across New Zealand, including repairers, service stations and dealers. MTA is committed to helping young people build rewarding careers within it, just like Charlotte. There are exciting opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Whether you are interested in working with the latest vehicle technology, solving practical problems, or building a hands-on career, MTA has long promoted attracting and supporting people to the workforce, working with training body MITO to achieve these goals. MTA is a proud member of Women in Automotive, an organisation dedicated to encouraging more women into the industry and supporting workplaces to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
KEY FACTS <webtag>: ■ CHARLOTTE YOUNG IS AN AUTOMOTIVE SPRAY PAINTER AT MAIDSTONE For more information on IN visit UPPER HUTT. For more informationPANELBEATERS on studying at Telford, www.sit.ac.nz/campus/ studying at Telford, ■ SHE FINISHED HER APPRENTICESHIP IN FEBRUARY 2024 AND HOLDS A Telford visit www.sit.ac.nz/campus/Telford NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN AUTOMOTIVEand REFINISHING (LEVELS 3on AND for more information the 4) AND A NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATEGrassroots IN COLLISION REPAIR (NON-STRUCTURAL Dairy Graduate Management REPAIR) (LEVEL 3). Programme, visit www.dairygrads.co.nz
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ONLINE For more information on career opportunities in the automotive industry, visit mta.org.nz
■ CHARLOTTE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE YOUNG WOMEN CONSIDER A CAREER IN THE TRADES.
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ELECTRICIAN
HIGH ACHIEVER TRADES ROWING FOR WIRING
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SWITCHED-ON SPARKIES writer PETER WHITE // photographer JOHN DAVIDSON JOSH HAMER reached the pinnacle of secondary sport at school – now he is chasing the goal of becoming a qualified electrician. Josh (20) works for Christchurch Electrical and is three years into his electrical apprenticeship through EarnLearn. In 2023, he was part of the first rowing crew at St Bede’s College to win the prestigious Maadi Cup since 1991. “That was a top achievement. It definitely put my name forward and got me a job a lot easier,” says Josh. “The previous owner knew that rowers tend to have a good work ethic and discipline, so he took me on.” Josh moved from another company he started his apprenticeship with so he could do more contracting work. “We do more commercial stuff like schools and electrical charges. It just seemed more interesting than residential. It is bigger work. “We just did Ryman Healthcare’s new building and finished an upgrade at Spencer Park holiday park.
“We do lots of EV charging stations for cars. I work with big cables, high current and more outdoor stuff. I just think it is a lot more fun. There is so much variety. Some days I am at a school doing a new classroom block or a new switchboard upgrade.” Working on a bigger scale presents challenges which Josh loves to take on. “There is a lot of planning behind the scenes before you can go in and get started.” Josh appreciates the support he has had from EarnLearn during his apprenticeship. There are clear expectations, regular check-ins and practical guidance from people who understand the trades. “They have been really good. No regrets going with those guys. AJ [from EarnLearn] is pretty cool, and he came out the other day and went over my on-site jobs with me. He brought donuts! “He is super friendly and goes behind the scenes to make sure you are getting along well and helps you out in case you get stuck.”
For every apprentice, the balancing act between working during the day and keeping up with bookwork after hours is always a challenge. Josh admits it is not easy but with his rowing background, he is used to doing extra hours to reach his goals. “There is a lot of work to do but you just have to take it step by step and try and focus on one paper at a time, to slowly chip away at it. It is not as easy as some people may think.” In Year 13 at St Bede’s College, Josh took PE, Sports Performance, Science, Study and Maths. Josh says he started off doing work experience as a builder before deciding to go down the electrical path. Now, he is less than a year from becoming qualified. He says there are always opportunities for school leavers to join the trades with good career prospects. “I would love to move up to a project management role or even look at having some of my own guys under me at some stage. That would be the main goal eventually.”
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THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT STEP BY STEP AND TRY AND FOCUS ON ONE PAPER AT A TIME, TO SLOWLY CHIP AWAY AT IT.
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JOSH HAMER
KEY FACTS ■ JOSH HAMER WORKS FOR CHRISTCHURCH ELECTRICAL AND IS THREE YEARS INTO HIS ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH EARNLEARN. ■ HE ENJOYS WORKING ON LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, HOLIDAY PARKS AND RESIDENTIAL VILLAGES, AND CHANGED JOBS TO GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA. ■ JOSH SAYS THE WORK ETHIC AND DISCIPLINE HE DEVELOPED AS A COMPETITIVE ROWER AT ST BEDE’S COLLEGE HAS PREPARED HIM WELL FOR HIS APPRENTICESHIP. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
ONLINE For more information on electrical apprenticeships through EarnLearn, visit www.earnlearn.ac.nz/electrical
A VARIETY OF PATHWAYS TO CHOOSE FROM
HANNAH CROWLEY loves working as a Health and Safety Advisor for Silver Fern Farms, based at the Finegand site in Balclutha. In many respects, it is her absolute dream job. “I really enjoy the work environment. I find it fascinating and everything that ties in with it from environmental, to health and safety, to quality and production, but also all the people,” says Hannah. The 23-year-old started working part-time at Silver Fern Farms just over four years ago while she was doing a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and Geography, from the University of Otago. Those roles at the Waitane and Finegand plants set in motion a desire to work for Silver Fern Farms that has never left her. She wanted to work with people and make a difference to people's safety. “I also enjoy problem-solving so to be given projects to go away by myself and work through was a really cool opportunity. I really thrived in that environment.” Hannah has been in her current role since last November. “My role is quite versatile. I like that I am constantly being able to work out on site as well as in the office. No two days are ever really the same. You are constantly challenged. “I really enjoy getting out talking face-to-face with people about how we can make improvements. A lot of my work is also looking at all the health and safety documentation and helping to come up with proactive solutions to issues that arise.” Hannah also works on instant response and investigations, ensuring that systems are working, and behaviours are correct. “I like walking around departments, talking to the leaders and seeing if there is anything I can help with, and just monitoring all our health and safety controls as well.” Gaining her Diploma in Health and Safety is Hannah’s next goal. She has completed one year of the two-year course – all straight A’s so far! Hannah attended St Peter’s College in Gore. In Year 13 she took Religious Education, English, Statistics, Chemistry and Biology. She would love school leavers to consider working for Silver Fern Farms, who operate 14 processing sites and four regional hubs across New Zealand.
Her advice is to look at the opportunities and the pathways that you can progress through. She says it is important to delve into whatever interests you and don’t get stuck on just one option. “Silver Fern Farms has so many internal pathways to progress your career. The opportunities in my mind are just endless, from project planners to engineers, electricians, process workers and butcher. “There is so much room for progression and not just in one area as well. Many of the people I work with day-to-day started with jobs working on the chain but are now leading production teams or helping support streamline initiatives.
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“I am working with people from training co-ordinators to project planners – there is a whole range of scope for jobs and growth within the industry. There are so many different pathways to grow into.”
HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISOR
FROM PASTURE TO PLATE
writer PETER WHITE photographer MARI HOMAN
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SILVER FERN FARMS HAS SO MANY INTERNAL PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS YOUR CAREER. THE OPPORTUNITIES IN MY MIND ARE JUST ENDLESS, FROM PROJECT PLANNERS TO ENGINEERS, ELECTRICIANS, PROCESS WORKERS AND BUTCHER. HANNAH CROWLEY
KEY FACTS
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■ HANNAH CROWLEY WORKS AS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISOR FOR SILVER FERN FARMS, BASED AT THE FINEGAND SITE IN BALCLUTHA. ■ SHE STARTED WORKING PART-TIME FOR THE COMPANY WHILE STUDYING TOWARDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE MAJORING IN ENGLISH AND GEOGRAPHY, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO.
ONLINE For more information on the career opportunities with Silver Fern Farms, visit https://careers.silverfernfarms.com/ nz/en/careers
■ HANNAH IS HALFWAY THROUGH A TWO-YEAR DIPLOMA IN HEALTH AND SAFETY.
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
BEST FOOT FORWARD
writer SARA CARBERY photographer CHAOW MOUNLATH
PODIATRIST
HELPING TO MAKE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS
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Growing up with a strong desire to do meaningful work that helps other people, ANDREW KIM was naturally drawn to a career in healthcare. “Podiatry particularly appealed to me because of how broad the profession is. You can work with sports injuries, biomechanics, general foot health, or complex diabetes-related foot disease, and each area requires a different way of thinking.” Andrew (24) is currently working as a high-risk foot podiatrist at Greenlane Clinical Centre in Auckland. In this role he helps manage patients with complex diabetes-related foot problems. “What I find most rewarding is being able to combine clinical knowledge with practical
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problem-solving to help someone move better, recover from an injury, prevent a serious complication, or simply regain some quality of life. “I particularly enjoy working as part of a multidisciplinary team, where doctors, nurses, orthotists, podiatrists and other professionals bring different perspectives to the same patient. “There is something very rewarding about working together towards a common goal and seeing that translate into a meaningful improvement in someone’s life.” Andrew advises school leavers to approach podiatry with an open mind. “Try not to define the profession too narrowly before you have experienced it. If you enjoy science,
HE MOST INTERESTING OPPORTUNITIES T I HAVE HAD HAVE COME FROM BEING OPEN TO AREAS I HAD NOT ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED. ANDREW KIM
KEY FACTS
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■ ANDREW KIM HELPS MANAGE PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX DIABETES-RELATED FOOT PROBLEMS IN HIS ROLE AS A HIGH-RISK FOOT PODIATRIST AT GREENLANE CLINICAL CENTRE IN AUCKLAND. ■ HE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF HEALTH SCIENCE (PODIATRY) FROM AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (AUT). ■ AS A PODIATRIST, ANDREW IS TRAINED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, AND MANAGE CONDITIONS OF THE FOOT, ANKLE, AND LEG. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
working with people and solving practical problems, there are many different directions you can take.” He also reminds students that you don’t need to have your entire career mapped out when you leave school. “I certainly didn’t, and some of the most interesting opportunities I have had have come from being open to areas I had not originally considered.” After leaving Hamilton Boys High School, Andrew enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). “The degree combines academic learning with practical clinical training. One of the highlights was the opportunity to experience different clinical environments and learn from practising clinicians throughout the course. “Seeing how different clinicians approached the same problem was particularly valuable because it showed me that good healthcare is not always about having one fixed way of doing things. It is about understanding the evidence, listening to the patient, and adapting your approach to provide the best care you can.” Of the subjects he took in Year 13 – English, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Education, and Statistics – Physical Education is the subject he has found most useful. “It gave me an early introduction to anatomy, physiology and the science behind exercise and movement, which eventually became relevant to my studies in podiatry. More importantly, it helped me realise that I enjoyed learning about the human body in a practical context. “I would also say, don’t sleep through your Statistics classes! I didn’t realise at the time how useful statistics would become in healthcare, particularly when reading research, understanding evidence and making sense of data.” Looking back, Biology would have been useful, but not necessary. “I think it is important to choose subjects that genuinely interest you, because enjoying what you are learning can be just as valuable as taking what you think is the ‘perfect’ subject combination.”
ONLINE To find out more about podiatry and how to become a podiatrist, visit www.podnz.org For more information about studying podiatry at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), visit https://www.aut.ac.nz/study/study-options/ health-sciences/courses/bachelor-of-healthscience-in-podiatry
TIPS FOR STARTING WORK
writer DIANA CLEMENT photo credit iSTOCK
Starting work is a big step forward. It’s exciting to earn your own money. But there are a few basics to learn about tax and other money deducted from your pay before you get it. This stuff might sound boring, but it affects your money.
HERE’S WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR Whether it’s part-time retail / hospitality work or your first full-time job, you’ll pay tax. Your boss deducts PAYE [Pay As You Earn] tax from your wages and sends it to the Inland Revenue [tax department]. The first $15,600 you earn is taxed at 10.5 cents [10.5%] per dollar you earn. Over that you’ll pay 17.5 cents in the dollar up to $53,500. You will also have 1.75 cents in every dollar you earn taken out for ACC. If you have a student loan and earn more than $24,128 a year, then 12 cents in every extra dollar you earn will be deducted to repay it. Even if you’re still at uni. It’s a very good idea to sign up for KiwiSaver. You save 3.5% of your earnings, but it’s doubled with 3.5% from your employer. That 3.5% + 3.5% is sent to the Inland Revenue, which passes it onto your KiwiSaver provider. It’s not tax. It’s your savings.
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WHAT ARE TAX CODES? For most people, tax deductions are automatic. However, make sure you fill in an IR330 form from your employer when you start work. That tells your boss what “tax code” to put you on. Most school leavers with one job will use the M tax code, which means you pay standard tax rates. If you have a second job, use the S code [for secondary income]. That helps make sure you pay enough tax and don’t end up with a bill later for unpaid tax and penalties. If you have a student loan, your tax should include the letters SL. If you aren’t making correct student loan repayments, you will face penalties later. There are other codes too, like ME if you earned nothing in the last tax year. You don’t need to file a yearly tax return if your boss deducts your tax. But you should check that your tax and KiwiSaver are being paid on Inland Revenue’s website. Although rare, some bosses deduct this money but don’t actually pass it on.
DODGY BOSSES Most bosses are honest. But some take advantage of young workers who don’t know their rights. They might try to pay you in cash without tax deductions. They’ll say you’ll take home more money that way. But here’s the catch: It’s illegal. Both you and the boss could face Inland Revenue penalties. You’ll also be missing out on free employer KiwiSaver contributions. Your boss must give you a written
FIRST-TIME WORKERS
YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
WHETHER IT’S PART−TIME RETAIL/ HOSPITALITY WORK OR YOUR FIRST FULL−TIME JOB, YOU’LL PAY TAX. employment agreement and regular payslips. Even for part-time work. It’s your right.
MINIMUM WAGE Check that your employer is paying the correct rate. The minimum adult wage is $23.95 an hour. If you’re under 19 you may be paid a training or starter wage of $19.16 for a limited period of time. If you’re paid at any of these minimum rates, your boss must pay their KiwiSaver contributions on top of this.
PRO TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME WORKERS C heck your payslip to make sure tax and other deductions look right. Sign up for myIR on the Inland Revenue website to track your tax, student loan, and KiwiSaver. Check your tax code on Inland Revenue’s tax code checker: Tinyurl.com/NZTaxCode or ask your boss. Don’t ignore student loan letters. Unpaid loans mean penalties, especially if you go overseas.
Contact: Employment New Zealand (0800 20 90 20) www.employment.govt.nz or Inland Revenue (0800 775 247) www.IRD.govt.nz Community Law Centres also offer free legal advice. LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37 | LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
HEADING INTO EXAM TIME WELLBEING
GIVING IT YOUR BEST SHOT
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The stress and worry of exam times. 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 and 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 preparations will have you feeling confident, healthy and well-rested on exam day. Cut down on stress – create your own roadmap to success. This will allow you to manage your time and stress levels while getting exam fit. Follow this plan every day. It will give your best shot at success.
FORMULATE A PLAN 1 . Decide what topics need to be covered. 2. Break each subject or project down into smaller, 30–60-minute tasks. 3. 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. 3. Set tasks for each day and assign realistic time frames to them.
BEST PRACTICES ■ Focus on doing the task well but also within the timeframe allocated for it. Remember, both are equally important. ■ Do one thing at a time – this is how you will do your best and most productive work.
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writer KATY QUINN // photo credit iSTOCK
■ 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 ■ As odd as it sounds, 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. ■ If possible, exercise outdoors in nature. Natural spaces, like parks, beaches and lakes are more relaxing for our brains to be in. So make sure to set time aside to disconnect from your desk in nature. Give your brain a break – notice your surroundings. I promise you that you will return to your desk feeling more positive, calm and revived. ■ A morning walk wakes you up and allows 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 (whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta, oatmeal, potatoes and bananas) that provide a slow release of energy that help your brain stay focussed during long study sessions. ■ Snack on brain foods that enhance memory and concentration – 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 (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 eight 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 to focus on being the best that you can be and be proud of your efforts.
REMEMBER TO FOCUS ON BEING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE AND BE PROUD OF YOUR EFFORTS.
LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ | LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #37
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GUMBOOT UP & GET INTO IT NOV 6
Gumboot Friday hooks young people up with counsellors, quickly & for free. That means kids who need someone to talk to can get to that person before
it’s too late. Since 2019 we’ve provided over 170,000 counselling sessions all over Aotearoa, but of course, that takes money, so on November the 6th, we want to mobilise the whole country to get involved. There’s heaps of ways schools, teams or just a bunch of friends can make a tangible difference for young people. Run, swim, read, climb, throw. Whatever. Get sponsored and get into it. Check out what you can do to help at gumbootfriday.com
gumbootfriday.com Free & timely counselling for Kiwis 5 to 25