ZEDUCATION

Simione Uhatafi came to Auckland with a farming background, a traffic control job, and a dream of becoming a social worker. He had no qualifications, no experience, and a family depending on him. Here is how he went from volunteer translator to Clinic Coordinator at Langi Malie Tongan Health Association.

We sit down with Mavaega Mupo — a 66 year old Samoan migrant, qualified electrician, and Voyage to Success graduate — to share the story of what persistence, community, and one extraordinary phone call can do. Mavaega Mupo did not come to New Zealand looking for an easy life. He came in 2018 after a career spanning decades as a qualified electrician in Samoa. He had retired at 55 in Samoa, and eventually made the journey to New Zealand for a better future for his family. New

Marima Lay joined the very first Tūrama Pathways cohort as a rangatahi stepping into one of Aotearoa's most competitive industries. Today, she has been promoted to Assistant Lead at Spark Takanini. This is her story.

Joseph Gaee spent four years as a stay-at-home dad, dedicating his time to raising his young son. When his son started primary school, Joseph decided it was time to return to the workforce. What followed was a challenging period of relentless job searching.

Born in Samoa and raised in Aotearoa since 1984, Robert has worked most of his life as a machine operator at Colorcote. He will tell you straight, money used to come in and go out just as fast. Loans, fees, obligations. “Back then I wasn’t educated about money,” he says. “Money come, money go.” After completing Auckland Council's Money Confidence programme with Zeducation , that story changed at home, at work, and inside himself as a husband and father. Here is Robert, in h

Basily Palu shares how simple routines turned into real results. After leadership and money confidence training, he swapped takeaways for home cooking, set a weekly family menu, and saved with purpose. Those choices helped this Fletcher Reinforcing 2IC buy a five bedroom home in Huntly. A practical story of mindset, whānau, and everyday leadership.

Mauora joined the Te Whānau o Waipareira Employment Hub shy and unsure. Through Zeducation’s practical workshops she built confidence, learned time management and real-world budgeting, and stepped outside her comfort zone—gaining the habits and direction to move toward work or further study.

Avi, 18, entered tech via Spark Foundation’s five-week Turama Pathway with Zeducation’s Voyage to Success support. Practical soft-skills training turned first-day nerves into confidence—part of a programme where 5 of 8 participants secured tech roles.

After spotting the Makatuliki programme on Facebook during Covid, widow and sole parent Laila Ah Lam-Tufue enrolled with her niece. The Pacific-focused course helped her cut debt, stabilise her budget and stick to a five-year plan—achieved in four—thanks to pastoral care check-ins. Last week she settled on her first home, proof that small, consistent steps work.

After 39 years at Fulton Hogan, Jim Paul knows the value of hard work. But it was a Zeducation programme tailored for Pacific and Māori workers that opened his eyes to what’s truly possible. By meeting learners where they are, and delivering training with cultural understanding, Jim found his voice — and now uses it to lift others.

Shane Moka manages 30,000 birds a year. But it was a quiet conversation with his wife that changed how he manages his time. Discover how one simple Excel course with Zeducation gave him a major edge—and why he’s now smiling from ear to ear.

He thought he was just taking a workplace course—until it changed his family’s entire approach to money. How Robert turned one financial literacy programme into a $4,500 savings win for his daughter (and why his story is inspiring employers across NZ).

After moving to Auckland, Simone Uhatafi struggled to find work—until a TikTok video led him to Zeducation’s Voyage to Success programme. Now, with renewed confidence and the right tools, he’s ready to turn challenges into opportunities.

From safety leader to confident communicator—Fuiva’s story shows the true power of investing in wellbeing. A proud graduate of Zeducation’s Project Ikuna training, his growth is a win for the workplace, his family, and Auckland’s future.

Woxy, a proud Fletcher Reinforcing employee, found his voice through Zeducation’s Future Ready training. From budgeting better to bonding with his daughter, this story shows how workplace learning creates life-changing impact.

Kumi, a mother of seven, struggled to find work—until she joined Zeducation’s Voyage to Success programme. With 1-on-1 support and a community of learners like her, she’s now confident, connected, and career-ready.

Missy didn’t enjoy talking to people or sharing how he felt—until he joined Zeducation’s Conflict and Resolution course. What started as a personal journey became a powerful example of how learning to resolve conflict can uplift individuals, strengthen teams, and boost workplace performance. Recent New Zealand research shows why these skills are vital now more than ever.

Jane didn’t know her annual salary, lived paycheck to paycheck, and had no roadmap for the future. Then she joined Zeducation’s Makatuliki Programme—a 10-week course designed for Pasifika people in New Zealand—and everything changed. Today, she’s debt-free, owns her first home, and has secured a future for her mum. This is more than a success story—it’s proof that the right support can change generations.

Meet John, a QC Assistant at Juralco Aluminium, who took part in Zeducation’s Future-Ready Money Confidence Programme. Through budgeting and saving, he’s creating a brighter, more secure future for his children—one dollar at a time.

Discover how Pauline Fonoifua transformed her mindset through the Future-Ready Wellbeing Programme—funded by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to uplift Pacific workers across Auckland. A story of balance, growth, and leadership.