Not only do the pair work in the same team at NZ Post in Palmerston North – and have done for the last 13 years – but they’ve also just graduated from the same Education Unlimited training programme, successfully boosting their smarts in reading, writing, communication, digital and money capabilities.

“The training has had a huge impact on me personally,” says Takaro resident and NZ Post team leader Tuki. “I’ve gained so much knowledge, and the benefits of that will be with me for the rest of my life. Even more importantly, it is knowledge that I can pass onto my grandchildren.” 

But that’s not all the former primary school teacher has loved about returning to the classroom.

“It’s been a double-benefit having my daughter Emily on the same course. Both studying together and working on the same team has been huge for me. I’ve been at NZ Post for 20 years and my daughter started here as a little school girl 13 years ago. Now she’s a mum of five and she’s still at NZ Post!”

‘Level Up’ is a 10-week workplace literacy (communication) programme recently rolled out to NZ Post staff across New Zealand, including a group of seven employees at NZ Post in Palmerston North. Delivered by workplace training provider Education Unlimited, it provides 2.5 hours off the job each week for staff to “level up” their skills and help the organisation build a future-ready workforce. 

It's designed to boost financial literacy, digital literacy, communication skills, confidence, problem solving and critical thinking skills and Emily reckons it has been a game changer.

“When I first heard about Level Up I thought to myself, maybe this will be a good brain refresher,” says Emily, who works as a Process Freight Sorter and lives in Fielding. “I left school at 16, so without much knowledge in numeracy and literacy.  I took a lot away from this training – financially, physically and emotionally. The lessons have really lifted up me and my family.”

And best of all, the skills and capabilities Tuki and Emily have gained will now be shared with their whānau, playing a powerful roll in uplifting and empowering future generations.

Adds Emily, “We are going to take what we have learnt and pass it on to our loved ones, so that they can carry it on in the next generation.”

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