About Us

People Central provides a fast, efficient and robust psychometric testing service New Zealand wide.

We empower clients to identify, recruit, and develop top talent and teams that drive exceptional performance.

CONTACT US

Why Work with Us?

We help you achieve business success by understanding your unique talent challenges and delivering tailored psychometric solutions. Our assessments provide deep insights to identify and unlock individual and team potential.

We offer a broad range of Psychometric Assessment Tests published by global leaders in workplace assessment. You are not limited to the closest fit from one provider’s toolkit. Our testing partners include Psytech International, Podium, Selector, Belbin, Hogrefe and others.

We deliver staff recruitment, selection, assessment and development solutions that range from simply adding a psychometric test to an interview, to managing large scale team assessment projects and every step in between.

Because we’re not tied to one supplier or publisher, we can offer you the assurance that the advice we provide is based on the best solution for you rather than the closest fit from just one provider’s toolkit.

People Central delivers results for a diverse range of clients including large corporates within agribusiness, the finance, retail and primary industry sectors, law firms, real estate, tourism, recruitment agencies, management consultancies, not for profit organisations and public sector bodies.

Our Mission & Values

“Our goal is to be the most respected testing, assessment and development company in New Zealand. We will accomplish this by exceeding the expectations of our customers every time and by making a positive difference to the professional development of every person who comes into contact with us ”

Adding Value

We only engage in work that will add tangible value to our clients business. This will enhance the effectiveness of their staff, enable them to make strong recruitment decisions and raise their reputations as employers of choice

Professional

Every customer will receive a service exceeding their expectations. We commit to our professional development to ensure clients have cutting edge people management tools at their finger tips.

Quality

All our services will be tailored to the customers’ individual needs, and delivered using only tried, tested, reliable and valid methods and tools. Psychometric assessments and tests, and other people assessment exercises must be recognised as having passed strict criteria by Occupational Psychology bodies before being used or recommended by us.

Transparent

Every person that comes into contact with us receives valuable transparent communications to aid their career development. We ensure that our clients receive clear and accurate information on our services, capabilities, price and service delivery.

Adding Value

We only engage in work that will add tangible value to our clients business. This will enhance the effectiveness of their staff, enable them to make strong recruitment decisions and raise their reputations as employers of choice

Professional

Every customer will receive a service exceeding their expectations. We commit to our professional development to ensure clients have cutting edge people management tools at their finger tips.

Quality

All our services will be tailored to the customers’ individual needs, and delivered using only tried, tested, reliable and valid methods and tools. Psychometric assessments and tests, and other people assessment exercises must be recognised as having passed strict criteria by Occupational Psychology bodies before being used or recommended by us.

Transparent

Every person that comes into contact with us receives valuable transparent communications to aid their career development. We ensure that our clients receive clear and accurate information on our services, capabilities, price and service delivery.

Our Driving Force

At People Central we have a rock solid ‘Why Behind the What” we do.

We help our clients succeed - we help discover, select and develop great talent that promotes business success.

We strive to be New Zealand’s leading and most trusted psychometric solutions provider.

Adding Value

We are driven by your success, delivering testing solutions that create real business impact. Our assessments support smarter hiring, culture alignment, talent development, increased productivity, and a stronger employer brand.

Professional

We uphold the highest standards of professionalism, using only validated, reliable psychometric assessments from leading international publishers. Our practices align with globally recognised ethical and professional testing standards, ensuring accuracy and integrity in everything we do.

Client-Centric

We immerse ourselves in your business, providing precise testing solutions and expert guidance at every step. Known for our exceptional service, we guarantee a 24-hour turnaround on test results and consistently go the extra mile to exceed expectations.

Innovation

AI is revolutionising psychometrics, enhancing accuracy, accessibility, and fairness. We leverage AI to match candidate results to role requirements, ensuring the best fit. Our test providers utilise cutting-edge, cloud-based platforms for seamless, secure, and user-friendly assessments.

Adding Value

We only engage in work that will add tangible value to our clients business. This will enhance the effectiveness of their staff, enable them to make strong recruitment decisions and raise their reputations as employers of choice

Professional

Every customer will receive a service exceeding their expectations. We commit to our professional development to ensure clients have cutting edge people management tools at their finger tips.

Quality

All our services will be tailored to the customers’ individual needs, and delivered using only tried, tested, reliable and valid methods and tools. Psychometric assessments and tests, and other people assessment exercises must be recognised as having passed strict criteria by Occupational Psychology bodies before being used or recommended by us.

Transparent

Every person that comes into contact with us receives valuable transparent communications to aid their career development. We ensure that our clients receive clear and accurate information on our services, capabilities, price and service delivery.

The People Central Team

The People Central team consists of Managing Partner Ron McLuckie, Logistics Partner Penny McLuckie, Professional Advisory Partner Laurence Paltiel (Founder and Managing Director of Psytech International) and a team of associate consultants. Our team members are highly experienced people management professionals, specialising in testing and assessment in the recruitment, leadership, career and team development domains.

Laurence Paltiel

Laurence Paltiel – People Central Professional Advisre

Founder & Managing Director – Psytech International
Chartered Psychologist | Associate Fellow, British Psychological Society

Laurence Paltiel is a Belgian Chartered Psychologist with over 30 years of global experience in psychometric assessment and occupational psychology. Educated in South Africa, Belgium, and the UK, he brings an international outlook to workplace assessment design.

He founded Psytech International to pioneer computer-based assessment tools, building it into a global provider. His earlier consultancy was sold to ManPower in the 1980s.

Laurence is the lead author behind most Psytech tools and has collaborated with notable psychologists including Hans Eysenck and Paul Barrett.

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and certified EFPA assessor, he remains active in professional committees and conferences. He currently leads Psytech’s research and development strategy and oversees global operations.

Ron McLuckie

Ron McLuckie has devoted his career to the human side of business, empowering individuals, teams, and organisations to achieve their fullest potential. He specialises in psychometric assessment across all aspects of talent acquisition, management, and development, and is passionate about leadership development and coaching.

Ron holds both graduate and postgraduate degrees in industrial psychology, human resource management, and business administration, along with numerous certifications in psychometrics, coaching, leadership development, NLP, action learning, and neuroscience. He is particularly interested in the emerging role of AI in psychometrics.

With a wealth of experience, Ron has held senior executive, lecturing, entrepreneurial, and consulting positions across South Africa, the Middle East, India, and New Zealand, where he now resides. He has completed significant consulting assignments in ten countries. As of October 1, 2024, Ron is the Managing Partner of People Central, focusing on business leadership, exceptional client service, and future growth. He also manages Psytech New Zealand, the exclusive distributor of the highly regarded Psytech assessments in the region.

A proud Rotarian and devoted family man, Ron enjoys outdoor adventures, travel, reading, and discovering new experiences.

Penny McLuckie

Penny McLuckie brings a rich background in human sciences and specialised qualifications in psychometrics and behaviour analysis to her role.

After a successful start in radiography, Penny transitioned to human resources consulting, where she focused on learning and development and took charge of training administration. She later became a certified Professional Action Learning Coach, facilitating group problem-solving and leadership development.

Since returning to New Zealand in 2020, Penny has served as the Logistics Partner and shareholder at Psytech New Zealand and People Central. In this role, she coordinates administration, logistics, and client support, ensuring seamless operations.

Penny has garnered valuable international experience working with consultancies in South Africa, the Middle East, India, and New Zealand, enriching her expertise.

Outside of work, Penny is a dedicated family person who enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and organising various projects.

Ready To Up Your Hiring Game?

The average cost of bad recruitment is 140% of the salary for the role*. That’s a $70,000 mistake on a $50,000 a year job.

Save time, money, stress and your reputation with our online testing processes.

CONTACT US

*Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) Study