Role models: Dad inspires success to climb career ladder

Kaaeaki, Life Health Foods in Avondale, Auckland

Kaaeaki is an Upskills participant in the Level 2 New Zealand Certificate in Food Processing at Life Health Foods in Avondale, Auckland.

Mauri. My name is Kaaeaki, but my friends and colleagues call me Kaae. I am originally from Kiribati and Tuvalu. I joined Life Health Foods as a Coverstaff temp in 2018. First I was assigned to work at Beano department as a packer for more than a year until I was offered a full-time job in March 2020.

These are some of the jobs that I do:

– Packing different cooked products e.g. burgers/patties, sausages, mince & tofu.

– Sleeving or sealing up packaging after being packed.

How do you find learning online?

I feel that online learning is very helpful and convenient. It is also beneficial to help me better understand my responsibilities and requirements in the position that I am working in. It also gives me access to networking opportunities and I can participate in online discussions with our tutors and course mates.

How will these digital skills help you? At work? At home?

So far I have learned how to get online and use Zoom video calls and I’ve done a lot of research about food safety and health and safety for workers. With these skills, I am able to apply and utilize these at my workplace by checking and monitoring food safety and to make me aware of my safety at work. With this knowledge, it also helps me to live more independently because I am aware of safety in my surroundings and health risks and I know to prevent any situations from happening in my home.

Tell us about one of your role models and why?

One of the biggest role models in my life is my dad, Arioka, My dad is someone who started off his career at the bottom of the totem pole. Although he struggled at the bottom with minimum wage and a family to feed, he never once complained but he was determined to work his way up the totem. He is someone who is exceptionally full of determination, very hardworking and has ambition in his own career but also has time to help others who are less unfortunate. My dad is now a Chief Engineer in one of the fishing vessels here in New Zealand. Even now in his old age he is still excited about learning and has always tried his hardest and never gives up when he puts his mind to something.

Teach us something:

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

-Steve Jobs