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About Us
Puatala is a 100% Pacific-owned training provider delivering high-impact programmes across Aotearoa. We combine cultural intelligence with proven business and leadership practice to build capable people and strong organisations to thrive in today's modern workforce and environment.
We partner with businesses, government organisations, and secondary schools to develop leadership capability, team performance, work-ready skills and future-ready skills. Programmes are flexible, tailored, and delivered onsite, online, or through blended formats by experienced facilitators with real-world expertise.
Our Story
Meta Tyrell and Lesa Tyrell
Puatala began with a simple but powerful insight. It's name is rooted in a popular Pacific Legend and stands for "The Place of Transformation".
While running their recruitment agency, Meta and Lesa saw that many Pacific and Māori people had the work ethic to succeed, but not always the qualifications, confidence, or connections to step into their dream careers. In fact, 40–60% of their time was spent helping people gain the right skills, qualifications, and confidence to bridge that gap and secure sustainable employment.
They realised that access to the right training and support was the real barrier – and that inspired them to create Puatala. What began as helping individuals get the right training naturally grew into a full-fledged organisation, dedicated to equipping people with the confidence, capabilities, and connections they need to succeed in the real world.
At Puatala, it’s more than training – it’s about unlocking potential, nurturing capability, and creating opportunities to improve our communities. Through partnerships with schools, workplaces, and government organisations, we provide meaningful experiences and connections that open doors to education, employment, and growth.
Everything we do is grounded in culture, connection, and real-world impact, helping people thrive in their communities, workplaces, and beyond.
Our Vision
We Improve Skills, To Improve Communities.
