About POP! Training
Pop! is a registered NZQA-accredited Private Training Establishment (PTE) delivering short, affordable courses in security, hospitality, and workplace health & safety.
We were founded on a simple but powerful belief: People Over Profit. For us, training is not just about ticking boxes. It’s about creating safe, supportive, and inspiring learning environments where everyone feels welcome and every learner has the chance to succeed.
When you walk into a Pop! Training classroom, you’re more than a student. You’re our guest. You’ll be greeted with respect, hospitality, and energy. We adapt our style to suit your needs, so no one is left behind.
Our Kaupapa and Values
Our kaupapa is centred on values that everyone can connect with.
Manaakitanga (care and hospitality)
welcoming you like whānau (family), making sure you feel supported.
Quality over quantity
Small classes, personal attention, better outcomes.
Real-world focus
Skills you can use straight away to stay safe, succeed at work, and grow your career.
People Over Profit
Every decision we make is about supporting learners first.
These values shape every course we deliver, from security and hospitality to workplace safety.
Meet the team
BEN KINGI
Ngati Porou, Ngai Tuhoe
Founder, Trainer and Consultant
Ben is the driving force behind Pop! Training. With more than 15 years’ experience as an adult educator, he’s known for his energetic, people-first teaching style.
Ben’s passion is helping people build confidence, gain qualifications, and get home safe at the end of their shift. Before founding Pop! Training, he worked in public service leadership roles and launched Sapphire Consultants.
A lifelong volunteer and sportsman, Ben brings the same energy, care, and manaakitanga to the classroom as he does to the rugby field.
LESLEY MAXWELL
Trainer and Consultant
Lesley is a highly experienced trainer who delivers short courses in Health and Safety, Employment Skills, CV Preparation, Communication Skills, and Work Ethics.
She’s also at the heart of many of Pop! Training’s business relationships, valued for her broad knowledge, professionalism, and passion for teaching.
A qualified Adult Educator and Workplace Assessor, Lesley is respected across the industry for the positive impact she has on learners and organisations alike.
TONE TE AHURU
Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Hikairo
Training Coordinator
Tone is the friendly voice behind Pop! Training’s freephone and the organiser who keeps everything running smoothly. As Training Coordinator, he manages course bookings, client relationships, and operations on training days.
A qualified Adult Educator and Assessor, Tone is also in charge of one of the most important parts of training, making sure the catering is spot on (always a highlight for our learners!). Known for his warmth and efficiency, Tone is the link between learners, clients, and trainers.
Why We Do What We Do
Pop! Training was created to fill a gap in New Zealand’s training landscape. Too often, learners were treated like numbers, courses were overcrowded, and providers focused on profit over people. We wanted to change that.
By keeping our classes small, our training personal, and our values strong, we’ve built a learning environment that’s truly different. Our success is measured not by enrolments, but by learners walking away confident, qualified, and motivated.
Join the Pop! Training Family
Whether you’re looking to start a new career, gain a promotion, or make your workplace safer, Pop! Training is here to support you.
Let’s make your training POP!