Sandra McLauchlan – Garden Manager, Mitre 10 Mega, Blenheim Certificate in Horticulture With a Certificate in Horticulture from NMIT in her qualification tool box, Sandra McLauchlan has become a bit of a garden doctor. “I can diagnose problems at the drop of a hat. When someone brings in a leaf or describes a plant problem I’m confident enough to be able to give them instant advice. It’s a great feeling.” And that’s a skill that comes in very handy in her job as Garden Manager for Mitre 10 Mega in Blenheim. Sandra has been with Mitre 10 for four years and it was her desire to know more to help her customers that inspired her to enrol for the certificate. “I had quite a lot of knowledge but the course really expanded on what I knew. It was a great mix of practical and theory and because of the way it’s structured, it was relatively easy to fit it around my job.” Sandra has always had a passion for plants but it was chefing that was her career until family commitments made that too difficult. She took a job propagating plants at a nursery, which lead to her current job. “Running the garden department means ordering stock, looking after the plants, giving demonstrations, managing the other garden staff and teaching them and customers what I know. It’s a great mix.” Completing the Certificate in Horticulture has added a lot to her job satisfaction and Sandra was grateful to her tutor Don Cross. “He was brilliant. If we were stuck on anything I could always get help and he was really thorough. He was easy to talk to and made it fun.” Giving advice is now one of the best parts of the job for Sandra. “It’s almost like a puzzle you’ve been given which is a major issue to the customer but you can help fix it quite easily and they customers are always thrilled and very grateful. I like that feeling.” Sandra now has the study bug, and she is currently also studying at NMIT for a Certificate in Management and also hopes to study landscaping in the future. “Once you have this passion for gardening it’s hard to restrict it. I would really recommend the certificate because it gives you the basic knowledge to go in lots of directions in terms of working with plants. I’m like an information steam train now – you just can’t stop me passing on what I’ve learnt.” Back to top Olivia Moir - Travel Consultant, Nelson i-SITE and Marketing Assistant, Nelson Tasman Tourism Diploma in Tourism Management Olivia Moir can thank the recession for taking her career on a new and very rewarding pathway. The 19 year old had been accepted into Camp America after she finished school at Nayland College but the recession meant they couldn’t find a placement in the United States. “So I looked around for something different to do and found the Diploma in Tourism Management at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. I enrolled just a week before the course started and it’s turned out to be the best decision I ever made.” Now a travel consultant at the Nelson i-site and Marketing Assistant for Nelson Tasman Tourism, Olivia looks back on her two years studying on the Diploma with a lot of fondness. “The programme was even better than I expected. It was heaps of fun. There were so many field trips and industry visits. And the tutors were really lovely. It was a lot friendlier than I imagined it being. It was like learning in one big family.” Olivia says without the course and tutors she wouldn’t have the job she loves. “The tutors encouraged us to apply and with the respect the course has in the industry made it was easier to get an interview. I was offered two local jobs, and decided the Nelson i-SITE was where I wanted to be.” Working as a travel consultant at i-SITE Nelson uses many of the skills Olivia learnt on the course and recently secured a position as Marketing Assistant for Nelson Tasman Tourism. “I’m grateful that we did a lot of customer service role playing for assessment. I learnt to be empathetic and cater for the customer needs and I use that every day in my job.” Olivia works on the front desk at i-SITE for two days a week where she says you can be doing everything from answering quick queries from tourists, to planning whole holiday itineraries. “I love what I’m doing, but maybe down the track I’d like to branch out into tourism management or marketing. Because the Diploma covered such a range of subjects, I feel prepared to try any role.” Olivia says that’s a huge benefit for anyone who loves tourism and travel but is unsure of what kind of career they’d like. “The tourism industry is so broad and the course matches that. It covers so many different areas that it can take you to whatever you want to do.” She won a scholarship after her first year but she says the real accolade should go to the tourism tutors. “I can’t say enough about them. They made us want to excel because they put so much time and energy into us that you wanted to give it back by doing really well.” Olivia is a living example of the saying ‘when one door closes another one opens’. “I feel very lucky to have been able to complete such a quality diploma right here in my home town, and even now, I still have to pinch myself to realise that my last minute decision gave me such a great career.” Back to top Kayla Crimp-Palmer - Stylist, Streets Ahead Certificate in Professional Hairdressing Kayla Crimp-Palmer had a burning desire to change her career but no idea what to do. Then she saw an ad for Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Certificate in Professional Hairdressing and nothing could stop her. “I read the brochure and literally dived right into it. I had no idea what the training entailed I just turned up. Because of that impulse I’m now in a job I love.” Kayla went straight into hospitality after leaving Nayland College, but decided she wanted to do something that allowed her to express her creativity. The Certificate in Professional Hairdressing proved to be exactly what she wanted. “I remember I arrived on the first day and I didn’t even realise we got a kit with all our own hairdressing gear as part of the course. It was all very exciting and any expectations I had were blown out of the water - it was all amazing!” Kayla is soon to complete assessments that will see her gain the title of senior stylist at Streets Ahead salon. It’s a job she got before she even finished the course, through hard work, perseverance and the backing of her tutors at NMIT. “In this industry you have to prove yourself. I started there doing work experience on the course for one week. I then asked if I could come back and work on my day off. I was just about to finish my course and I said I’d have to leave as I needed to find a job to do my apprenticeship and that same weekend they offered me an apprenticeship. It is fantastic working here and I love every moment.” Kayla has continued to study and has moved up the hairdressing ranks. She loves the job and meeting new people. “It’s combination of being creative and also being good with people. No two days are the same. I love that variety.” Kayla says there are a lot of skills you need to learn to do well. “My bosses weren’t keen to take on an apprentice but because I worked really hard and showed that I had the basic knowledge from the course, it was easier for them. They didn’t have to start training me from scratch. It’s all the little things. Like learning the line of a cut and even how you sweep the floor – there’s a skill even in that task .” Streets Ahead is an apt name for Kayla’s workplace because that’s how she sees her career. She is keen to recommend the course, the tutors and the Salon days where students work on real clients. “NMIT helped me find my passion. If I didn’t do the course I really, honestly wouldn’t be where I am today. It was motivating and it opened my eyes to a different world.” Back to top Tina Van'tslot - Business Owner, Only One Beauty Certificate in Beauty Therapy When Tina Van’tslot laughs and says ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ she means it. At the age of 42 with three children and a variety of jobs behind her, she decided to re-train and start her own business as a beauty therapist. “I really wanted to do things my way for a change. I was keen to set it up the way I wanted to set it up and just be my own boss. That was important to me.” With a vision and a will to succeed, Tina enrolled in the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s introduction to beauty therapy course, where she got a taste of the industry and ended up working in a beauty salon for her tutor once the course finished. After three years, Tina decided to upskill and get the qualification that would allow her to start her business, and ‘Only One Beauty’ was born. Since she started with a home studio in Enner Glyn six months ago, Tina has been building a loyal client base and she says the qualification helped not only with the skills it taught her, but also with credibility. “I think most of my clients appreciate the certificate on the wall. They glance at it and know that I’ve trained professionally.” Tina says the tutor was amazing and right on the pulse and she got the skills and confidence to go it alone. “I was taught a lot of intelligent information. It was challenging enough to be exciting and practical enough to hold the interest as well.” The NMIT Certificate in Beauty Therapy covers areas that Tina describes as from head to toe. “You learn a lot about the anatomy and detailed knowledge about how the skin works, and of course you learn hair removal techniques, nails and massage.” Tina says that one of the biggest skills you need in beauty therapy is the ability to make people feel comfortable.” As soon as you touch them there’s this whole trust thing happening. I’m really conscious of making clients realise they don’t have to worry, that’s it’s just a walk in the park.” It’s a rewarding career and Tina says it’s really increased her sense of self worth, especially as the job is all about making other people feel better about themselves. “Even though you’re putting someone through some discomfort, the end result makes them walk out with a big smile on their face. There’s not one thing you do that doesn’t make them feel better about themselves. That gives me such a buzz.” Tina is the kind of person who is always striving for something new and she says in the future she’d like to employ staff and grow the business. She even has thoughts of training to become a teacher. But whatever the future holds Tina is certain that NMIT will be a part of it. “NMIT sowed the seeds that helped me go in the direction I’d chosen. It was accessible, had great facilities and it was a fantastic environment to learn in. I will be back for more!” Back to top Nik Dellabosca - Chef, Stoneridge Cafe, and MINT Certificate in Professional Cookery Nik Dellabosca had to travel to the other side of the planet before he discovered his passion for cooking. “It was the first job I’d done where I wasn’t watching the clock and waiting to go home. I just love working with food.” Nik grew up in Murchison and went to Nelson College before he tried his hand as a plasterer. But it wasn’t until he did his big OE trip that he found his true career path. “I was in Scotland and needed a job. I went from bar work to kitchen hand and worked my way up. I found that being in a busy kitchen is a really exciting place to work.” When Nik returned to Nelson he went straight into a cooking job at a city restaurant, but he decided he wanted to hone his skills and get a qualification. Nik enrolled on NMIT’s Certificate in Professional Cookery. “It was a drawcard to get a qualification. It really helps you get a job in this industry. It means an employer can trust you have the basic knowledge and they don’t have to start from scratch.” Nik says the course was great. “Fantastic new facilities and even a blast chiller, it was an amazing kitchen to learn in.” He says the tutors were great too. “The course introduced me to a lot of different cooking styles I hadn’t done before as well as giving me a lot of useful organisational skills.” Now that he’s graduated Nik works in two places – MINT fine dining restaurant at night and Stoneridge Café in the daytime. “I like the classic French style of cooking we do at MINT, where it’s real attention to detail.” Nik is in charge of starters and desserts and also helps the owner/chef prepare. He enjoys the variety that chefing offers. “It’s a good mix of café food and then fine dining. There’s always something different to do.” Nik says it’s not an easy profession to work in as there are unsociable hours and it can be challenging. “But I’m up for a challenge. I like that about the job. It’s also very creative.” Nik says the certificate taught him some very practical skills. “One of the things which helped me the most has been learning to cook more than one thing at a time. In the practical sessions we’d have two or three things to cook in a short period and that really helped me learn to juggle lots of things.” With a qualification under his belt, Nik is keen to develop his skills to the point where one day he can own his own restaurant. “That’s a long-term goal for me. I love people loving my food. I get a buzz from the compliments from diners. It makes me feel great – that’s what I do it for.” Back to top Andrew Lee - Duty Manager, Sprig and Fern (Milton Street) Professional Restaurant, Wine and Bar Certificate When Andrew Lee locks the doors at the end of a busy night at the Sprig and Fern bar in Milton Street, he’s thankful to have a career he loves so much. “I can’t wait to go to work. I love all the aspects of my job as Duty Manager but I especially love interacting with the customers. The best part of the job is the people you meet." Andrew achieved his Professional Restaurant, Wine and Bar qualification through Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and he says he wouldn’t be where he is without them. “The tutors and their knowledge were awesome. I learnt so much and they were able to teach us with lots of fun but still serious at the same time.” And it was due to his tutors knowing him so well, that he says they got him work experience in the right place. “I’m more of a casual, boutique bar kind of person rather than fine dining, so my tutor was the one who organised work experience at Sprig and Fern for me and that’s how I ended with the great job I have now and have been in for a year.” Andrew’s passion for a hospitality job started at Nelson College, where he did a food and hospitality course. It was then he realised he enjoyed the service part of hospitality and enrolled for the NMIT Certificate. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else, as I knew from previous graduates how good the course was. The facilities are also new and the topics they taught really ticked all the boxes of things I wanted to learn about – such as cocktail making and wine knowledge to name a few. ” He says the course gave him confidence, a vital tool when dealing with the public. Employers, such as the Mussel Inn in Golden Bay, where he worked for a summer, welcomed the NMIT qualification. “I’d really recommend the course. I’d have been lost if I’d gone straight to working in a bar without the qualification. There are so many different skills and so much knowledge you need.” Andrew proved his passion by earning the Kaimira Estate award for being top of the class, when he graduated. At the age of 20 Andrew is already thinking about his future. “I’d really love to be able to own my own backpacker bar.” But until then he relishes every day, because of the people factor. “You have good old chats at the bar and you end up really caring for them, almost like a relationship kind of thing. No two people and no two days are ever the same, it’s great.” Back to top Claire Ellery - Multidisciplinary Artist and 2010 Toss Wooleston Scholarship Recipient Bachelor of Arts and Media Claire Ellery has three words to sum up her time studying towards her Arts and Media degree at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology - inspiring, challenging and wonderful “all at the same time,”she laughs. Claire came to New Zealand from her native Scotland on a working holiday seven years ago and now she’s a permanent resident with a passion for Nelson and a plan to develop her art into a way of life. Coming to New Zealand was more than just a physical journey, it also changed her life path. “I’d worked in communications and marketing in Scotland but it never really fulfilled me. I’d also dabbled in film and TV in Europe doing fashion and wardrobe work, but in my heart I knew there was more I wanted to do in a creative sense.” Claire’s love of textiles lead to work in New Zealand as wardrobe assistant and set dresser on films such as ‘The Last Samurai’, ‘King Kong’, and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. While that work was exciting, it wasn’t her goal. “It sounds creative, but really, you’re helping to create someone else’s vision. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it just fuelled my needs to do my own thing.” She decided to follow her instincts and she applied to, and was accepted into, several art degree programmes around the country, but she chose NMIT. “It offered a really good grounding in art – not just the practical aspect, but what turned out to be a perfect mix of theory and knowledge alongside developing my own art practice.” Claire is now a multidisciplinary artist with a propensity towards installation and sculpture. “I just knew instinctively that I had to do this and I wasn’t going to be stopped from doing it.” Her works are often large scale such as her giant polystyrene cube, lit from inside, that was shown as part of the final year graduates exhibition. “If you’re going to make a sizable sculpture often you need technical help from an engineer. They have amazing technicians at NMIT and outstanding tutors. There was no way that I could have made some of the large pieces I did without them.” Making a living from art is never easy. Claire also works as a freelance stylist for Wild Tomato magazine and at a pharmacy, but she has a longer term plan to make art more central to her life. While at NMIT Claire won the 2010 Toss Woollaston scholarship and recently she was awarded a ten month art residency at The Refinery Artspace in Nelson. This provides her with studio space and she will be working on a collaborative art project with another NMIT graduate. “Completing the degree at NMIT has inspired me to keep learning and perfecting my craft and I want to do my masters next.” Her advice to anyone who is interested in a career in the arts, is make sure you’re passionate about art because you’re probably going to have to do other things to pay for it. “But it’s worth it! The degree has helped me develop my professional knowledge, skills, attitudes and values about art. I‘ve used the art theory and history I’ve learnt to extend myself as a creative art practitioner. It’s been a fantastic start to my creative journey.” Back to top Sam Edmonds - Recommended by your Mom band member Certificate in Arts & Media (Contemporary Music) When Sam Edmonds says his ambition is to be a rock star, he’s not kidding. He’s a driven 19 year old with a plan for success. “I want to be playing drums as much as I can and making a living. My bigger goal is to be a typical rock star, touring the world and playing in heaps of different bands.” The first stage of Sam’s plan to get that career going was to learn about music through Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Certificate in Arts and Media (Contemporary Music). “Making a living from music, you need to be skilled at your instrument and also know what the band wants and play appropriately. You have to know musical elements and that’s what I learnt heaps about on the certificate course.” Sam has always loved the drums and he’s been a member of teen band ‘Recommended By your Mom’ since he was a high school in Picton. But just gigging wasn’t enough for Sam. He wanted a proper career from his drumming. “It’s not that I need the qualification to get a job as a session musician, but I need the knowledge to go further. This course gave me that along with really great tutors who know where the music industry is at and is going. “ Sam’s fellow bandmates did the certificate too, to improve the band, but he wanted more. “On the course I was always drumming for other people and doing other genres, even if I didn’t like them. Different genres widens your skills, you learn new techniques. If I hadn’t done the course I wouldn’t have played blues, anthem rock or reggae for example.” Sam says as well as technical musical skills it was really useful to find out about making commercial music decisions and how to market yourself using social and traditional media. “Being in a band is not like your usual job, so you do the course to get the knowledge, the experience and with the help of your tutors, the right contacts to get out into the music business.” That’s what his band did, when they were talent spotted playing at the Nelson School of Music as part of the course. That resulted in 'Recommended By Your Mom’ playing warm-up for the popular ‘Kids of 88’ band doing a sort tour stint. “We met all these famous New Zealand musicians on that tour. We’ve got our foot in the door now thanks to that.” Sam hasn’t stopped learning since he graduated and is now furthering his study by completing the NMIT Arts and Media Diploma in Contemporary Music. “If you want to get the most out of these great courses you need to be really open to everything and everyone. It works best if you have your head immersed in music all the time, which is pretty cool if you’re like me and just can’t stop living and breathing music.” Back to top Gary Finn - Current student Diploma in Arts & Media (Graphics and Multimedia) Gary Finn has changed his artistic canvas from human skin to a computer screen. “Designing tattoos was where my art was, but I wanted a career so now I do my designing digitally.” He graduated with a Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Diploma in Arts and Media (Graphics and Multimedia) (Level 5) last year and is now studying for a level 6 diploma, on his way to completing an NMIT degree in Arts and Media. Since leaving school in Blenheim, Gary had always wanted to make art a focus of his life, but he had to do a variety of work from furniture moving to vineyard work just to pay the bills. “When I was about 24 I decided I wanted more. If I wanted to make a career out of creativity I had to study and make some choices about what to do.” So Gary looked into graphic design qualifications and chose NMIT’s Diploma. “I wasn’t entirely sure of the final direction I wanted to take and the diploma teaches across such a broad range of areas that it seemed the most logical choice. It also meant I could be near family and friends if I stayed in the top of the south.” Gary says graphic design is very different to pen and ink design for tattoos or t-shirts. “The only real similarity is that in both cases you work to a client brief of what they want.” And he says computers definitely have a lot of advantages over ink. “If you make a mistake you don’t have to redraw the whole thing you can just erase that particular area.” While he studies, Gary works part-time for Nelson design agency Gusto. ” You need experience, that’s why I’m in an excellent position being able to work for this great graphic designer while I’m finishing my degree. I’m being mentored and learning as I go. I’m very lucky.” He has already had some success with his design work, winning a competition to design the logo for Golden Wings - a new high level air charter company, based in Nelson. “The logo will be on the planes and hangars so that’s going to be a real buzz to see my work displayed like that.” Getting a job after graduation is the focus for Gary, who’s determined to be at the top of an employer’s list. “I’m taking extra IT papers so that I can offer both front end and back end website design services. A lot of graphic designers only do the front end and have to sub-contract the back end design, so I’m hoping by being able to do both I have a competitive advantage.” NMIT’s tutors have impressed Gary with their knowledge and industry experience. “They’ve just reinforced to me that you need technological skills as well as creativity to do well as designer." Gary has no hesitation about his job choice. “A lot of artists struggle to make a living, whereas graphic design is an avenue for me to still be creative and have a career with a great future." Back to top Libby Rainey - Vitcultural Cadet, Villa Maria NMIT Diploma in Viticulture and Wine Production / Lincoln University Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology
Libby Rainey believes her choice to study wine through Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in Marlborough led to career opportunities that wouldn’t have happened anywhere else. “Marlborough is the heart of the industry so, through the programmes at NMIT, I got to work in vineyards and wineries around the region as part of the course. It was awesome, I was meeting industry people and that’s how I got my current job as viticultural cadet at Villa Maria in Blenheim."
Villa Maria encouraged Libby to further her qualifications and she was able to work and study. She now has an NMIT Diploma of Viticulture and Wine Production, and is just completing a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at the NMIT campus through Lincoln University.
Libby has mixed work and study since leaving Nelson Girls College including a stint working at a winery in the Napa Valley near San Francisco, helping with their sparkling wine vintage. “That’s a big draw-card for this career – being able to do harvests overseas. You could quite easily do two or three a year, so there’s a great opportunity to travel.”
But Libby is more than happy with staying put for a while at Villa Maria. It’s New Zealand’s largest family owned winery, and our most awarded winery over the past 30 years. “I’m learning so much in my cadet role. In fact I still haven’t decided what specific area I’d like to go into – either moving up as viticulturist or into vineyard management but that decision can wait, while I keep on learning.” On a daily basis, Libby liaises between the contract grape growers and Villa Maria’s viticulturalists, gathering technical and growing information to plan the harvests. She says she’s the first person she knew who chose to go into the wine industry. “Actually I was doing art and graphics at school and then one day I got an opportunity to look at the wine research centre in Blenheim and the mix of practical hands-on outdoor work combined with science appealed to me.” Libby weighed up her options for qualifications and chose NMIT “...because the diploma they offered was really practical and you got to get out into the local industry and meet people, which was invaluable.” Another key attracting factor for Libby was NMIT’s vineyard, and the fact she was able to make her own vintages in the NMIT winery. “That was awesome; you don’t get to do that in many other places.” Libby says the tutors and the other students were stimulating. “If you want to be in this industry you need to have a passion for wine, and we all did when we started, but by the end of the diploma it had been fostered even more.” Now 23, Libby says her qualifications combined with work experience have given her the strong focus she needed. “When I left high school I was all over the place and didn’t know what I really wanted to do. Choosing to do the diploma gave me the direction I needed, and led to me gaining my degree and now there’s a wide range of career options all still ahead of me in this evolving, exciting and fun industry.” Back to top Cameron Trott - Cellar Hand, Woolaston Winery Diploma of Viticulture and Wine Production It’s been a busy three years for Cameron Trott. He’s been a stay-at-home dad to two young sons while his wife worked and at the same time has completely changed his career. After 12 years in the hospitality industry as chef and manager, Cameron is now working full-time at Woollaston winery as a cellar hand while completing his Diploma of Viticulture and Wine Production at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. He’s set himself on a path to eventually becoming a winemaker. “When I found out I could stay at home in Riwaka and study online through NMIT for the Diploma, it was very attractive. In fact, I wouldn’t have been able to do it any other way.” When his boys were off to school and day-care, Cameron would log in and study. “The first two years were brilliant. I could fit it around my family life and with the tutor support it all worked really well. I loved it so much that I actually enjoyed sitting down with a cup of coffee to do my required reading. I just soaked it up.” Cameron was keen to get hands on and use the knowledge he was learning. So he made contact with Nelson wineries. “Nelson is much smaller than Marlborough but we have a fantastic range of wineries and wine styles here to learn from. Nelson produces some of the best wines in the country and we have a lot of really established producers, so it’s not a disadvantage staying in Nelson to study.” On an NMIT winery field trip, Cameron was talking to staff at Woollaston about how hard it was to get a full-time job locally. “They said, ‘funny you should say that because a fulltime cellar hand job has just come up’. So I jumped on that really fast.” Now working full-time, fitting his online study around it has been a challenge, especially during vintage, but Cameron says it’s all worthwhile. “It’s an amazing winery to work in.. I get to do so many things that it really helps with my study.. What’s exciting is that the winemaker is really good about making decisions as a team. At tasting or blending trials he’ll bring me in on that – so it’s pretty amazing for me as a cellar hand to be part of those winemaking processes and decisions.” Cameron says it will end up taking him up to four years to get his Diploma but he says it’s vital to get that qualification. “I want to get an assistant winemaker position and eventually end up as a winemaker and to do that you have to have tertiary qualifications. Most job ads for winemakers specify that you need qualifications. It’s the norm now and for bigger wine companies it’s just one of the boxes you’ve got to tick.” Cameron says the flexibility of the NMIT programme meant he was able to change his life. “It’s a really great system because you can move in any direction without having to move away from your home to study or re-train.” Back to top Mike Brown - CEO, Kono Beverages Certificate in Viticulture Since Mike Brown graduated with his Certificate in Viticulture from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology he’s done every job there is in the wine sector culminating in his current job as CEO of Mäori owned Kono Beverages – makers of the iconic Tohu wine label. “I’ve worked in all sectors and I’ve seen every aspect of the industry. Even though I’m a manager now, my passion is still strong for growing good grapes and producing great wines.” Mike realised the attractions of a career in the wine industry in his mid-20’s. “You got to do something different every day. It was working outdoors following the seasons, then the winemaking which is a great combination of art and science. Add on the whole marketing and sales side of the business and it seemed like a really complete job that could make for an interesting life.” To follow his dream, Mike moved to Marlborough to study at NMIT. “It was 1993 and there were only 11 wineries in Marlborough then, things were just starting to take off. The NMIT course was the perfect entry into the industry. Of the 15 of us on that course that year there are quite a few who have gone on to become leaders in the wine industry. We all got our start through the course and the great contacts that gave us.” Mike’s first job in a winery was for Vavasour – at that time the only winery in the Awatere Valley and processing just 100 tonnes. Then it was six years of back-to-back vintages for Mike in New Zealand and overseas – Australia, Chile, Argentina, Spain, France and California. He got his first break as a winemaker in Chile: “I was offered a job at Viña Tarapacá. It was a case of being thrown in the deep end looking after a 1000 tonne crush for them.” Mike worked two vintages before accepting a job for a wine consultancy working for a French wine co-op in Gascony one year and a Spanish co-op in Somantano the following year. “It was good to see that there’s more than one way to make wine. I accumulated what wine makers call ‘battle experience’ – clocking up vintages and learning about harvest, the winemaking involved, and the logistics of that process.” Mike returned to Nelson to take up the position of Waimea Estates’ first full-time winemaker. After two years he was given the additional role of general manager. He stayed for a e stayHdecade, helping to build up that business, before he moved to his current role of CEO of Wakatu-owned Kono Beverages in 2010. “The challenge of managing and growing a business in the current environment is hugely rewarding. Although I’m not Mäori, I particularly like working in a Mäori organisation. There’s an extra layer of complexity that makes this job really worthwhile. I also relate to the way the owners talk about the land and the way they treat people - it’s more like business with somemeaning behind it rather than business for its own sake.” Kono Beverages produces 100,000 cases of wine currently, from vineyards in Nelson and Marlborough. Most of it is exported to the USA, Australia and the Netherlands, but with an increasing emphasis on Asia. In the pipeline are projects to go organic and carbon zero, a dedicated Nelson wine brand, as well as new products including cider, beer and bottled water.” Mike Brown is hugely supportive of NMIT’s viticulture and wine production programme, having taken on students for placements over the years. “I always thought the people coming from NMIT tended to be very practically minded. At the end of the day you want someone who knows one end of a pump from the other, is reliable and can think on their feet, as well as having the basic theory. That’s what the NMIT course gives you.” Back to top Ben McHaffie - Apprentice, Fitzgerald Construction Certificate in Carpentry
After visiting NMIT’s Open Day, 18 year Ben McHaffie came away knowing the Certificate in Carpentry was definitely for him. “I never thought of doing carpentry as a career until I heard about this course and went to the Open Day. It seemed like a cool thing to do as it was well set up; they have got all the tools, and highly skilled tutors. This decision led to me having the best year of my life.”
As a Nelsonian, Ben also chose the course because it was local and would set it him up for a good career. “This programme is great because you don’t have to take block courses later, you can just get on with working.” Now completing a three and half year apprenticeship with Fitzgerald Construction, Ben says the course prepared him well for the job. “It gave me a fair idea of what I would be doing, rather than going in blind. Working in NMIT’s building barn gave me the opportunity to play around with the tools a bit and to know that no one was going to have a go at me for making mistakes.” Ben felt he has gained more than a qualification from NMIT. “One of best parts of this course was the comradeship and my tutors were not just a great help but also good mates and mentors. They also gave us advice for life in general." Back to top Dayveen Stevens - Maori Community Officer, IRD Certificate in Te Tuara me Te Tinana O Te Reo
For both personal and professional reasons Dayveen Stephens realised that she needed to improve her knowledge of the Māori language further. “I had a limited knowledge and use of the Māori language even though I am originally from Huntly, a predominately Māori community. I also have two children who already speak Māori to a higher level than me, plus my job at Inland Revenue requires fluency in the language, so I was thrilled that NMIT offered the Certificate in Te Tuara me Te Tinana O Te Reo.”
As a Māori Community Officer for the IRD and a solo mother it was all about time and place for Dayveen. “My current role expected me to have a basic understanding of Te Reo Māori. Because the NMIT course runs 2 days a week from 9am – 3pm, I was able to continue to fulfil my role as a solo parent and also keep the income coming in. My employer supported me throughout my course by paying me full time.”
On a professional level Dayveen can now communicate more confidently with the knowledge that the people she is dealing with will have a clearer understanding of their tax requirements. “The main part of my role is to educate and advise Māori businesses of their tax obligations to Inland Revenue. With this qualification I am now able to converse to businesses who speak only in the Māori language. This is where the IRD thought NMIT’s Te Tuara me Te Tinana course would be very beneficial.”
Dayveen found the diversity of students and the highly qualified tutors enhanced the learning environment. “Having half the class Māori or of Māori descent and the other half non-Māori made it a really good mixture. And the tutors were of a very high standard, with lots of experience. To deliver this particular course effectively requires great skill.” Back to top Rawiri Johnston - Consultant, Fanselow Bell Certificate in Te Tuara me te Tinana o te Reo Ko Hikurangi te maunga Ko Waiapu te awa Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi Tihei Mauri ora Ko Rawiri Roha Johnston tōku ingoa When Rawiri Johnston stood at his mum’s unveiling and spoke for the first time in reo, an overwhelming feeling overcame him. “I felt proud to be able to fulfil Māori protocol on my marae,” he says. “Years ago I said to my uncle I want to learn te reo and my uncle said ‘one day you will get the calling'.” At the time Rawiri didn’t understand. On attending a tangi back on his marae and not being able to understand or participate, his desire to learn began to grow even more. “I wanted to be able to stand up, to have a voice on the marae.” With children in bilingual units it only seemed obvious to be able to speak and have knowledge to keep up with them as well. For Rawiri his journey to learn began when he chose to enrol in Te Tuara me te Tinana o te Reo at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and it’s been one of the best decisions he’s ever made. He says the methods used to teach were basic and easy to understand which helped set a strong foundation in learning te reo. “The tutors were always supportive,” he says “I’ve been in lots of learning environments through external study etc and the tutors of Te Tari Maori are world class.” The class was made up of many different cultures and Rawiri said they became one whānau and were really protective of each other no matter what background or level they were at. “I’d absolutely recommend this programme to everyone else wanting to learn and live in a Māori way.” As a consultant for Fanselow Bell specialising in people management and processes, and chairperson of the board at Nelson Central School, Rawiri now incorporates what he’s learnt into every aspect of his life. Each board meeting now begins with a mihi whakatau and on several occasions Rawiri has spoken at pōwhiri on behalf of the school. “The knowledge I gained while at Te Tari Māori has helped me to incorporate tikanga into my everyday life.” Not only has learning te reo helped him speak but it’s also added to his confidence, personal mana and helped him see the world from a whole new perspective; his yearning to learn more has also grown. Rawiri graduated in 2010 at a ceremony held at Te Awhina Marae and although his journey with Te Tari Maori has come to an end, his calling into Te Ao Māori or the Māori world has only just begun. Reflecting on his time with Te Tari, Rawiri sums it up in this whakatauki. “He tangata i ākonga ki te whare tūnga ki te marae tau ana. I now can stand tall on my marae!” Back to top James King - Sponsorship and Marketing Manager, Fico Finance Nelson Giants Diploma Applied Fitness
After playing rugby at a high level for over a decade in Hong Kong, Wellington, New Plymouth and here in Nelson for the Tasman Makos, James King began looking realistically at his future and a career outside of rugby.
"After a couple of serious injuries to my knee and hamstring I started to think pretty seriously about looking further ahead," he says. That was when he decided to study at NMIT.
Originally from D'Urville Island, 29 year old James initially only intended to complete a Diploma in Applied Fitness, but decided to continue on to complete a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation taught through NMIT. "After playing sport for so long it is nice to gain knowledge of the body and the marketing and management that goes into a professional team."
Juggling sport and study can be challenging, but James found NMIT and their staff very supportive. "I have had great experiences with my tutors. They were really flexible around work and rugby, having material sent to me. The small classes were conducive to good learning and interactions and overall this course has been good preparation for my current role."
James swapped sporting codes when he was successfully appointed to his current position of Sponsorship and Marketing Manager for the Nelson basketball team, The Giants. "This role is as fantastic as it was advertised to be. The great thing about it is you cover a broad range of aspects in the sporting environment. A lot of my work is organising the design of the season's promotional material, and the coaching in schools programme. The NMIT course has given me more confidence to put forward a professional sponsorship proposal, and the process you go through to achieve this. I have enjoyed getting my teeth into that." Back to top
Shanan Gibbs - Administrator/Personal Assistant, Nelson Marlborough Mortgage Services Certificate in Business Administration Level 4
For a 20 year old, Shanan Gibbs has a lot of qualifications on her CV. Since she left Waimea College Shanan has studied at NMIT and achieved a Level 3 National Certificate in Business Administration and has recently qualified with a National Certificate in Business Administration L4. What’s remarkable is that she has been able to earn at the same time as she was studying thanks firstly to NMIT’s employment scholarship and then the Flexi-Learning programme. “It meant that I could live at home and also work at the same time – no student loan was required.”
Flexi-Learning allows people to study away from the classroom whether at work or home on a part-time or full-time basis. Each student is assigned a tutor and must complete assessment and assignments as required.
Shanan is currently working as an Administrator/ Personal Assistant at Nelson Marlborough Mortgage Services, mortgage brokers. Her day involves processing loan applications, preparing letters and newsletters, doing payrolls and accounts, answering phone calls, making appointments and maintaining client details and files. ”My favourite part of the job is doing the accounting side of things; I have always liked working with numbers.”
Shanan’s career goals include being the Personal Assistant for the Chief Executive of a large company and beyond that she aspires to perhaps becoming a Chief Executive herself one day. She says gaining national qualifications is a vital part of her career path and being able to work without accruing a big debt was important to her.
Shanan says as she was learning the Business Administration programme, she was able to directly apply the knowledge to her job. “In particular, the accounting side of things was very beneficial. It meant I was able to learn the new systems here really quickly.”
Shanan says she can see herself doing more studying in the future to help her career and she recommends flexi-learning for anyone who is driven to improve their skills but doesn’t want to stop working. “These NMIT programmes have definitely given me more experience to fulfill my goals and hopefully it will help to get me there quicker.” Back to top
Sim Berger - Clinical Manager, Lifeline Nelson, and Support Worker, Gateway Housing Diploma in Applied Counselling (Level 7)
When Sim Berger looks back to his first day of the Diploma of Counselling at NMIT he can't quite believe how far he's come. "I do feel proud when I stop and think about it. I've come a long way; I certainly never thought I'd be where I am today."
Sim splits his time between two jobs. He's Clinical Manager at LifeLine Nelson and a support worker for Gateway Housing, which helps people with mental illness. "Both jobs complement each other really well. It gives me a nice balance to be able to take off the management hat and then get down to the grass roots level of helping people."
Sim first thought about counselling as a career after going through some traumatic life experiences. "That opened my eyes to making informed choices about my life and not being a walking statistic."
Sim chose the NMIT the Diploma because he says it was a perfect mix of learning and hands-on practice. "It set me up really well, both professionally and personally. My sense of who I am, where I stand in the world and how I am with other people is totally different from when I started. I'm a lot more accepting of myself and other people now."
Sim had to complete 100 hours of counselling to pass the course and he became a LifeLine volunteer to do that. "You have to be dedicated to want to do counselling as a career," says Sim. "It's not an easy path to chose, but if you focus and are determined it's the most fulfilling job I could imagine."
As a Clinical Manager, Sim oversees up to 50 volunteers and he's responsible for the quality of the counselling service. It's now five years since Sim moved his family down from Taupo to do the Diploma. "I can't believe the career and professional opportunities I've had since graduating. Would I do it all again? Yes! It's a no-brainer." Back to top Tania Craig, Mental Health Support Worker, Te Kahui Hauora O Ngati Koata Certificate in Mental Health Support Work
Tania Craig has always been intrigued by the complexities of the mind, so when the chance to study the Certificate in Mental Health Support Work at NMIT came up there was no turning back. "I am very grateful for the opportunity to study at NMIT, because I have always been interested in how the mind works and what it makes us think and do. This certificate reinforced my career choice."
Tania has been working as a Mental Health Support Worker for Te Kahui Hauora O Ngati Koata for the last 20 months, and says her study and this new job enabled her to evaluate her own personal values and have the confidence to take on this new role. "For me, having a sense of belonging is very important so when the chance came up to work in a Māori organisation I jumped at it."
Tania is full of praise for the NMIT training and would recommend the Certificate in Mental Health Support Work to anyone considering this line of work. "This course is not only great for you personally, but for me it is the Tangata Whaiora as well, since they need to know they are being supported by people who have the tools and skills to really make a difference."
As Tania has discovered, our linkages from our Tipuna (ancestors), align our Tikanga (customs and protocol), which are extremely integral part of who you are and where you come from. "These are the foundations that are part of life's journey and play a huge part in the recovery process. At Te Kahui Hauora O Ngati Koata we have an open door policy and respect all cultures and ethnicities."
As Tania has found this kind of work is very demanding, yet rewarding. "It helps to have a good understanding of mental illness, patience, tolerance, empathy and most of all a good sense of humour." Back to top
Dawn Daley-Coers and Scott Walker - Guides, Kaiteriteri Kayaks Diploma in Adventure Tourism
As Sea Kayak guides for Kaiteriteri Kayaks, Dawn Daley-Coers and Scott Walker couldn’t ask for a better job. They spend their days in the sun, doing something they love. “Being really interested in the outdoors and getting paid for it is pretty cool,” says 19 year old Dawn.
A real passion for the outdoors and living in the ideal place, led them both to study the Diploma in Adventure Tourism at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. “Doing this Diploma, “says 21 year old Scott, “gave me the ability to travel and to do something that gives people a real good time. I learnt so much at NMIT, a lot more than I thought I would.”
Dawn says doing the diploma was an awesome experience. “We got to see wicked places around NZ while we were studying, such as, a 5 day mission kayaking around D’Urville Island in extreme weather, a couple of weeks surfing the kayaks in big swells, some chose 10 weeks in the snow and there was rafting in Murchison for 2 months.”
The pair started working for Kaiteriteri Kayaks straight after graduating from NMIT, and found the risk management, rescue training, learning to kayak, and customer communication aspects of the course really set them up for this role. “When we are dealing with clients from overseas, it really helps to be able to communicate properly. Clients need to understand what you have told them and you have to know how to act around them – what’s appropriate and what’s not,” says Scott.
The Operations Supervisor of Kaiteriteri Kayaks, Kelly Wood, enjoys having them as part of the team. “They have both moulded into the job really easily. What is great is that they come with all the skills, plus loads of energy, in fact bursting at the seams to get into it.” They are both full of praise for NMIT and the Diploma in Adventure Tourism saying their tutors provided plenty of industry experience and are highly qualified, which gave them the confidence to guide visitors in adventure activities throughout New Zealand and overseas. Back to top Carolyn Wincer - Astronaut Sales Director, Virgin Galactic Certificate in Travel
Carolyn Wincer’s job isn’t rocket science, but it comes close! After being appointed as head of astronaut sales for Virgin Galactic, Carolyn had to brush up on her physics and scientific knowledge before beginning to market and sell the world’s first commercial space travel packages.
The former Nelsonian and NMIT Certificate in Travel graduate is now based in London where she heads up a small team selling space flights at a set price of USD $200,000. The first trips are likely to begin sometime during 2010 – 2012 and despite the hefty pricetag, there is already a long waiting list of interested parties.
After studying travel at NMIT in the early 1990s, Carolyn headed off to London for a five month stint before returning to Nelson where she worked at the Nelson Visitor Information Centre and then for an inbound travel company. She was headhunted for a travel and tourism tutoring role, which she did for a few years before heading back to the UK in 2000 with no idea of what she wanted to do.
However after arriving in London, Carolyn found herself inundated with job offers thanks to her extensive travel and tourism qualifications and experience and eventually accepted a role with Virgin Limited Edition, part of the Virgin group, selling luxury holidays to some of Richard Branson’s private hotels.
Following the World Trade Centre bombing of September 11, 2001 and the downturn in the aviation and travel industries, all of the 12 staff working for Virgin Limited Edition were made redundant. However one job remained – sitting in Richard Branson’s office and selling travel packages to a private island. Carolyn applied for it, got the job and was soon promoted. She gained experience in public relations, marketing, hosting press trips and running events and together with the managing director, was instrumental in helping to build that part of the company back up post 9-11. When Virgin Galactic was established in 2004, Carolyn was asked to head up the sales team, as she was one of the few staff with experience selling travel packages with premium pricetags.
While she would like to return to live in New Zealand some day, Carolyn says the career opportunities with Virgin Galactic are simply too good to pass up. “Virgin is a great company to work for, its very laid back and there are lots of opportunities.
“Because it’s a small company, you’re exposed to lots of different things. Its also very relaxed and informal – I can wear jeans to work!”
“When I was studying travel at NMIT, I would never have imagined that I’d end up selling the world’s first space travel packages! It just goes to show that a qualification from NMIT really can take you anywhere!” Back to top Ngareta Campion - Whanau Worker, Family Start, Nelson Diploma in Social Work
Ngareta Campion is passionate about people and seeing them flourish in every area of their lives which is why she returned to NMIT to complete the Diploma in Social Work she started several years ago. “My passion for healthy families, and encouraging whānau and great tutor support enabled me to continue to pursue my goal of becoming a qualified social worker.”
After graduating in 2009, Ngareta began working as a Family/ Whānau worker at Family Start Nelson, an agency that provides an intensive home based early intervention programme focused on improving social, health and education outcomes for children. Her day-to-day work includes activities includes home visits, delivery of the Te Ahuru Mowai/Born To Learn parent education programme, which helps parents to learn about their child’s development and promotes parent-child attachment, encouraging well-child checks, breastfeeding, immunisations and advocacy and linking to other support agencies.
Ngareta is also involved in assessments and working with families to set and meet their own goals and plans. “It is a very satisfying job and I feel privileged to be welcomed in to work with the family in their own home. I believe that families are the cornerstone of society and that we all need to actively participate in keeping our children safe, loved and nurtured because they are the next generation and will continue to perpetuate the cycles they have learnt whether positive or negative”.
Originally from the North Island but brought up in Nelson, Ngareta was pleased she was able to study locally. “I didn’t want to leave Nelson so it was great having this course available at NMIT. The course provided me with a core understanding of social work theory, models, approaches and also challenged some of my preconceived ideas and opinions which I found stimulating.” Ngareta says she really appreciated the tutors who were knowledgeable, approachable and very supportive. “I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that really made a difference.”
Ngareta is certain about her career path and enjoys working within the social services and plans to study psychology in the future. “I’d love to take on an educator role within the social work field and train others”. Ngareta is full of praise for NMIT and their staff and highly recommends the course to others. “The world needs more well trained social workers and you can get that training at NMIT.” Back to top
Paul Gabites - IT Systems Engineer, Blueberry IT Nelson
Bachelor of Information Technology
When you’re married with three children, changing careers can be a tough decision. Paul Gabites went from being a baker to an IT systems engineer through the Bachelor of Information Technology at NMIT and, while it was hard, he has no regrets. “I could have simply found another job, but I really wanted to start building a career that meant something to me. It was my wife’s suggestion to go back to studying and without her I wouldn’t have done it.”
Paul has swapped his dough hook for a job at Blueberry IT where he works with hardware, software and infrastructure and he loves it. “I’ve had an interest in technology since I got my first PC aged 13. It’s the new technology that really appeals to me. You get a fairly good handle on the existing technologies but it’s the new ones that keep you on your toes and excited.”
Blueberry IT is a Nelson based company and Paul feels he was lucky enough to get an internship with them while he was completing his degree. Once he graduated he was offered a job. “I really like it. No two days are ever the same. I’m so glad I made the choice to go for this career.”
Paul admits his knowledge of computers was limited before he went to NMIT. “But the tutors there were great. They did a very good job of pacing the learning. It started off slowly and ramped up as we progressed throughout the programme.”
Paul was also impressed by the facilities and IT resources at NMIT. He says the biggest struggle was finding time to complete assignments and being a father and husband at the same time. “Time constraints were my biggest enemy, but I just had to be willing to work hard when it was possible. My family’s pride in me when I graduated made it all worthwhile.” Being able to get a respected degree, a great job and not uproot his family was a huge bonus. He even collected a student leadership award along the way. “I think that being more mature and going into tertiary education can be really helpful. I appreciated the tuition and I saw how it was going to contribute to my employability. That meant I definitely started to feel more confident in my abilities as the degree progressed.” Back to top Daniel Casey - Programmer & Analyst, Core Transport Technologies (CTT) Bachelor of Information Technology
Daniel Casey has been able to get an IT degree and a job with an international technology company without leaving Nelson. He was snapped up by emerging software systems company Core Transport Technologies (CTT)as soon as he’d completed his Bachelor of IT(BIT) from the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). “I was recruited straight out of my degree. I got work so fast I had to take time off for my own graduation!” CTT is run from Nelson and Florida, USA. They provide IT systems for world leading companies such as Continental Airlines, US Postal Service and Delta airlines. With a $1.2m turnover and growing fast, this dynamic company allows Daniel to explore a variety of work in his role as a developer. “My main area of work is programming and data analysis for the US Postal Service (USPS) and the major airlines which carry their mail. While checking data and responding to inquiries is a big part of the job, it’s always interesting and there’s plenty of freedom to come up with imaginative solutions.” CTT IT Development Manager Annette Schleiss says Daniel’s grounding at NMIT made him work-ready straight from the degree. “Nelson’s a small town, relatively speaking, and we’ve been lucky to have such a fantastic resource as NMIT right here and great graduates like Daniel, who is a strong academic. He’s very bright, picked up the business rules very quickly and is a valuable team member. “ Daniel, who won awards for having the top marks ever on the NMIT BIT, says he’s always enjoyed computers. “ I started programming simple computer games when I was 11 and never really stopped. Studying IT at NMIT was the natural next step in turning an interest into a career.” He knew he wanted to study IT and NMIT was the obvious choice. “I didn't see the need to travel away since NMIT offered everything I wanted right here in Nelson. The other attraction was the half a degree for free programme - who wants to come out of study with a big student loan?” Daniel says he’s happy to now have such a great job working for clients all over the world. “My IT degree from NMIT is about as close as you can get to direct preparation for the work I’m doing now. I was provided with a learning environment where I could develop my skills to the level required in the work force.” Daniel says at NMIT it's the people that make the place and he enjoyed the small classes where he had close interaction with the tutors and other students. “In short, I'm 20 years old, I have a degree in hand, a good job, interesting work and a career ahead of me. I'll always be the first to recommend NMIT to anyone considering a career in IT.” Back to top Katie-Jane Johnston - Graduate Accountant, WHK Nelson
Bachelor of Commerce (Professional Accounting and Management major)
Katie Johnston can’t believe she’s been so fortunate. Not only does she have a commerce degree from NMIT and a great new job in a big firm, but she’s been able to do it all without having to leave Nelson. The 22 year old is a graduate accountant at WHK in Nelson. “I’ve always been interested in economics and business so I thought if I built a career in accounting it’s kind of the financial base for all business.” Katie loves her job as a graduate accountant and being part of WHK who have around 77 staff. “It feels good to be in a big firm. I could have moved to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch but WHK is actually as big as many of the firms in those centres anyway”.
Katie also values the range of specialised expertise within the company. There’s a tax dept, an audit dept and three accounting departments. She’s in the small business unit, doing tax returns, financial statement and letters. “I’m working with different businesses every day. It could be a plumber one day and the next someone whose business is fishing or waste management so it’s interesting to see how different businesses run.”
Initially, the main reason Katie chose to do her degree in Nelson, after leaving Nelson College for Girls, was because it was going to save her a lot of money. She did the ‘Half a degree 4 free’ and was able to live at home. “NMIT set me up. I started my working life with no debt! That’s very different from friends who left town to do their degrees, some of them have $50,000 debts and I’ve got pretty much nothing. It’s put me ahead in life.” She had even decided to transfer to Victoria University for her final years. “But when it came to it, I was enjoying it so much at NMIT and learning so well, I just didn’t want to leave.” The smaller class sizes, the attention from the tutors and the comradeship of her classmates were all more than she’d expected when she started. “The tutors were world class. They were amazing. They all had practical knowledge in their field, with many having worked internationally. Their expertise was really valuable.”
Katie says because her NMIT Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in professional accounting and management, was so practical and used real-life examples, it was easy to use the knowledge in her job. “It gave me confidence. Then, when I started work I went "right – I can do this!" and threw myself into it."
Katie’s next career move is already underway. “I’m aiming to become a chartered accountant while I work, so the studying hasn’t stopped, but thanks to NMIT I’ve learnt how to study properly and get results, so the degree was even more worthwhile than I ever thought it could be.” Back to top Lynda Mitchell - Company Accountant, Aotearoa Seafoods Bachelor Of Commerce (Marlborough) In just 12 years Lynda Mitchell has gone from working on Aotearoa Seafood mussel processing factory floor to being the company accountant with five staff reporting to her. “I suppose you could say I’ve grown up with this company. I started working here during school holidays, never dreaming I’d end up as an accountant with a business degree.” But it was determination that got her where she is. Lynda liked accounting at school and decided to aim for a career. She completed a Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology New Zealand Diploma in Business while working part-time at Aotearoa Seafoods. Then an accountant position came up in the company. “I didn’t have enough experience for that role, but they brought me as a temporary measure to help them out – and I never went back to the factory.” Lynda stayed on preparing financial reports, then accounts payable and finally learnt to prepare the management accounts. But when she found out a colleague was enrolling to do the Diploma of Business she couldn’t resist the challenge. “I decided to go one better and enrolled for the Bachelor of Commerce at NMIT. I didn’t want to do it by correspondence. I liked the fact that NMIT had just started their video-link from the Nelson campus, which meant I could attend interactive classes in Blenheim. It was weird at first but we all got used to the fact that we could talk and be on camera with our fellow students in Nelson.” The degree was so up-to-date and relevant that Lynda found she could apply the things she learnt in class immediately in her job. “I can remember learning about some tax issues and thinking ‘fantastic, I’ll need to use this shortly.” Lynda loves accountancy. “I’ve always liked the way it’s so logical. It has specific rules and regulations around it and you have to follow those rules. I suppose I relate well to the structured nature of the job. "In spite of perceptions, Lynda says it’s an incredibly challenging career. “Things seem to change all the time and I’m constantly being given new tasks. It’s definitely not boring!” Aotearoa Seafoods, which is owned by Wakatu Incorporation, has around 220 staff and Lynda says because it’s a growing business there are many facets to the company, making the accounting side very varied. And she says the company was very supportive of her while she studied, giving her some study time. Now that she’s graduated Lynda says she misses NMIT. “Studying had become a habit, so much so, that after graduation the following February I couldn’t help thinking that I should have been going back to class. NMIT had become such a part of my life that it was very strange not going back there.” Lynda says her colleagues and the tutors were really supportive, and she loved the atmosphere in class. “That’s why I chose NMIT in the first place. I wanted the structure and interaction with other students and directly with tutors.” Courses in NMIT’s Bachelor of Commerce have been approved by the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) as fulfilling their academic requirements and Lynda is already on a mission to become an Associate Chartered Accountant and is looking forward to the future. “I’m up for more challenges so I’ll see where that takes me.” Back to top Ann Wells - Owner/Operator, Nelson Boat Care Ltd New Zealand Diploma in Business Nelson Boat Care Ltd owner operator Ann Wells is so fiercely independent it was this drive and determination which lead her to enrol part time in the New Zealand Diploma in Business online study option through Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. “I wanted to ensure I am managing my own business efficiently and effectively with the hope of managing other businesses in the future”, says Ann. Nelson Boat Care Ltd was opened in 2007 and looks after all aspects of boat care in the Nelson/Tasman region. “I have always enjoyed roles where I have been in charge; to manage my own day, planning, organising and setting timelines for myself to get things done.” For others the thought of studying online may seem daunting but returning as an adult learner, managing her own business and with family commitments Ann enjoys the freedom of being able to study in her own time at her own pace. “The online option is easy to structure my day around and get everything done. I like the fact I have to be responsible for my own learning.” Ann says the tutors have been great, helpful and enthusiastic and she’s never been stuck when she’s needed extra help or clarification. Completing courses while managing her own business has meant she has had to learn to be even more organised but it’s also had its benefits as she is now incorporating skills learnt immediately in her business including the purchase of a new computerised accounting package. “The courses have been useful in terms of knowledge on how a business can run better. It’s a good basic starting point for anyone wanting to see what area you may want to specialise in.” Courses from within the New Zealand Diploma in Business, a level 6 qualification can be credited towards the NMIT Bachelor of Commerce programme and there is now an option to study face-to-face in class. Ann is hoping to carry on and study towards the degree and with the new skills she’s learning she’s not only taking care of other people’s boats she’s taking care of her own business. “I enjoy responsibility so in doing the New Zealand Diploma in Business it is enabling me to make better decisions around managing my own business effectively and efficiently.” Back to top Amanda Tainui - Surgical Nurse, Wairau Hospital Bachelor of Nursing
When Amanda Tainui, whose iwi is Ngai Tahu, found out she could get half of her nursing degree fees paid for her she couldn’t believe it.
“I’d already applied for the degree at NMIT, I really wanted to do it and when they sent me information about the ‘½ a degree 4 free’ scheme I was blown away that it could save me so much money.”
The scheme pays half the fees on a degree at NMIT to students coming straight from a local school. Amanda graduated last year and now works in her hometown of Blenheim at Wairau Hospital as a surgical nurse.
“I love the job. I loved doing the degree and also living in Nelson. It was really good fun flatting and meeting new friends.”
Amanda received a student allowance, she did part-time work at a rest home and she also had a student loan. “I have a little bit of debt but not as much as some of the others to study there. Some people I know have over $30,000 owing in a student loan when they finish studying - I had just $13,000 and that’s all thanks to ‘½ a degree 4 free’.”
Amanda urges school leavers to consider the benefits of getting a degree locally with ‘½ a degree 4 free’. “I’d urge anyone at school considering nursing to really go for it with NMIT. You get a well-respected degree, great job opportunities and it really takes the stress off you financially.” Back to top
Theo Chapman - Conservation Ranger, Nelmac Trainee Ranger Certificate His love of nature and his desire to make a ‘difference’ to our environment led Theo Chapman to Nelson to complete the Trainee Ranger Certificate. Born in London, Theo and his family moved home to New Zealand four years ago to live in Auckland but it was a strong desire to undertake a career in conservation that led him to Nelson to complete the Trainee Ranger programme at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). “I had a background in landscaping and gardening and got into conservation by doing volunteer work. NMIT has the only Department of Conservation affiliated Ranger programme in New Zealand; and that’s why I chose it over the other options,” says Theo. “I’ve always been a keen conservationist and that’s why this programme appealed to me, to be able to make a positive difference to the environment..it’s my dream job.” Theo graduated in 2010 and now works as a Conservation Ranger for Nelmac in Nelson. From weed control, track maintenance and construction to a diverse range of re-vegetation projects Theo says the job is varied and no two days are the same. “I work in a team of two and we have seven full time workers altogether in the Nelmac Conservation department who look after a huge range of areas owned by Nelson City Council, each team has their own areas that they are responsible for.” Nelmac is owned by Nelson City Council and has been serving the region for over 14 years. The company is committed to leading the way in environmentally sustainable practice. Its conservation service focuses on the maintenance and development of the NCC reserve land in the hope of achieving a well balanced biodiversity future for the city; which suits Theo a great deal. “I like the fact we’re doing something positive for the environment.” Theo said the programme prepared him well for his role with Nelmac, he enjoyed the great experiences and variety of learning plus the bonus of making friends who share similar interests and goals. “The tutors were great, classmates were fantastic and the facilities at the Brook were good for hands-on learning. I would definitely recommend this programme to anyone wanting to pursue a career in conservation.” Theo felt well positioned to be able to approach Nelmac before the programme finished for employment. In fact Theo had submitted an application to DoC to take on a cadetship after the programme finished but withdrew his application and has no regrets. “I left the course knowing I already had the job”. Theo says he will continue to forge ahead with his career in conservation and work his way up the ranks but he’s very happy for now. For Theo Chapman his office is the great outdoors and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Back to top Michael Robb - Conservation Ranger, Department of Conservation (Doc) Twizel Certificate in Trainee Ranger Michael Robb graduated from the Certificate in Trainee Ranger in June 2010 and is now working for Te Papa Ātawhai (Department of Conservation) in Twizel. Born of Māori and Pākehā heritage in Brisbane, Australia Michael had previously been a student at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology studying Te Reo Māori and Māori Art before enrolling in the Trainee Ranger programme. Prior to joining the programme Michael had done some volunteer work for Te Papa Ātawhai on Maud Is (a significant place to his Ngāti Kuia iwi) in the Marlborough Sounds. Michael said “I chose the Trainee Ranger programme because I wanted to know what working for Te Papa Ātawhai was all about. I had always wanted to work with endangered flora & fauna in areas that are significant to the iwi and myself.” Michael said “I first became interested in the mahi of Te Papa Ātawhai when I was young. With the support of both my iwi I thought I’d finally do something about it and its been the best decision I have ever made.” His goal is to oneday become part of a team helping to save rare and unique species of Aotearoa as well as work alongside iwi. Michael tells how he found the programme. “I found the programme great and getting to meet awesome as people from all over NZ. The mahi can be full on sometimes. The summer placement was awesome and I made great friends again on the West Coast, Franz Josef working with the Okarito brown kiwi.” When asked what support services he used he said “I used help from tutors, Te Tari Māori and the Kaitakawaenga. The tutors were good, the new Waimarama facilities have been great and classmates were all great people.” “I recommend this programme to all rangatahi, those who are keen to see how DOC works and those who want to do something they love.” Back to top
Mike Hayes - Pilot, Southern Lakes Helicopters Diploma in Aviation Science Not many helicopter pilots can also boast of a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing degree. But Mike Hayes is not your average pilot. The 23 year-old recently graduated from Garden City Helicopters (a member of the NMIT Aviation Network) with his CPL and will now join his father Hannibal Hayes’ helicopter company, Southern Lakes Helicopters in Te Anau. Some might think being the boss’s son might mean a position at the top table. But Mike is keen to start at the bottom and learn the business from scratch. “It’s really my apprenticeship. I’ll be learning how the company works by working in the office and in the hanger. I don’t expect much flying to start with.” With a relative in the business, Mike knew what he was looking for when seeking out a training provider earlier this year. “Garden City Helicopters do the theory as well as the flight training, it’s all incorporated here. I knew they had a good reputation and I liked the idea of going somewhere smaller, where you get more one-on-one with the instructors.” Being able to secure a student loan through the NMIT Aviation Network also helped. “It’s an expensive course. Without a student loan it wouldn’t be possible.” A year ago Mike completed his B.Com degree at the University of Canterbury and says his newly-acquired marketing and business skills should help in the aviation environment. “It’s given me a much better understanding of how things should operate.” While many people perceive flying as a “glamorous industry”, Mike is all too aware the reality is a lot of hard work and long hours for those who want to succeed. And being motivated and committed to the industry is integral. “It comes down to attitude at the end of the day. That’s what differentiates one pilot from another.” Back to top Melissa Ward - Pilot, Air Nelson Diploma in Aviation Science Moving to Wellington to work for Air Nelson flying a Dash 8 was the perfect early Christmas present for Melissa Ward. The former senior instructor from Mainland Aviation (a member of the NMIT Aviation Network) counts herself extremely fortunate to have landed a job with one of Air New Zealand’s regional airlines. Six years ago Dunedin-born Melissa began flight training with Mainland. “I’d always had an interest in aviation and when I went for an interview there I liked the fact it was a smaller school and you got paid a bit more attention. Their Chief Flying Instructor is really experienced and I like the family environment.” Having the ability to take out a student loan through the NMIT Aviation Network meant the 26-year-old could eventually train full time. “Which means you can get your training done quickly and get on with your flying experience.” After finishing her training, Melissa joined Mainland as an instructor, quickly moving up to senior instructor and senior charter pilot for the company. This involved flying medical staff to Invercargill and Alexandra for weekly clinics and tourists for scenic flights and undertaking patient transfers. "It’s good to have that variety. It keeps things interesting. Mainland was a great wee company to work for.” Melissa is looking forward to learning about the Dash 8 and says she expects to stay with Air Nelson for the next few years. “I like to think of aviation as a career that has got continuous steps and challenges and you keep learning new things.” Her advice to other aspiring pilots is to develop a strong work ethic. “You’ve got to put in the hard work, helping out where you can. Most graduates from Mainland get some sort of flying work. But you can see the ones that finish and get right into it, cleaning planes and so on. They are the ones that you want to take on.” Back to top Theo Brennan - Apprentice Engineer, Air Nelson Certificate in Advanced Aircraft Maintenance Theo Brennan’s apprenticeship with Air Nelson shows that perseverance delivers results. The former Waimea College student sought out work experience with the company as a teenager following a fascination with things mechanical. Four years later, Theo is now an apprentice engineer for Air Nelson after graduating from the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s (NMIT) Aviation School at the end of 2009. The 21-year old is full of praise for the skills his two-year Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Aircraft Maintenance) gave him. “The teaching from the tutors was spot on. If you didn’t know how to do something they would soon show you. There is a lot of hands on work. It’s not just ticking the boxes. They help you get the skills you need to pass the course.” Being located at the RNZAF’s Base Woodbourne is also a bonus, says Theo. “You couldn’t get a better place. There’s pretty much everything there, all the equipment you need.” Theo looked at other training options before choosing NMIT’s Aviation School and says not being keen to wear a uniform or march was part of the motivation. “I’d heard good things about it. It’s also a two-year course (rather than one year) so you get better training.” Theo is keen to stay with Air Nelson to finish his apprenticeship but thinks he may head overseas down the track given the global demand for aviation engineers. To be successful as an aviation engineer, Theo says you need good hand skills, to pay attention to detail and be hard working. “It also helps if you are into mechanical things and are pretty switched on.” As a former recipient of an Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) scholarship, Theo was identified as a promising tertiary student in the aviation, tourism and travel area in 2009. Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology aviation and tourism students were awarded four of the nine National Scholarships awarded that year by the ATTTO. Back to top Tim Wedekind - Aircraft Engineer, Aeromotive Hamilton Certificate in Advanced Aircraft Maintenance When Tim Wedekind completes his study at the end of this year, he will be one of only three licenced aircraft engineers at his Hamilton workplace out of 35 engineering staff. For the 22-year-old that will be quite a coup. He credits the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology's (NMIT) Aviation School with giving him a head-start. Studying online with NMIT Aviation School this year prepared Tim for the rigorous exams that make up his engineering licence. "The courses line you up for what you have to study. I've found them really helpful. You can talk to the tutors by email and call them up if you need to." At 17-years old, Tim left the Bay of Plenty to study full-time with NMIT Aviation School graduating after two years from its Aircraft Engineering Maintenance programme. Landing a job straight away with Hamilton-based Aeromotive, Tim has relished getting his hands dirty and learning on the job. But an ambition to progress further in the industry encouraged him to return to study after three years on the hangar floor. "It's quite a big step but then I can move up. There's not too many licenced engineers. At my company there are three out of 50 staff." In four courses taken so far, Tim has achieved good results. Sometimes students need to resit the exams but says he has been so well prepared by the online courses that he has passed every single one the first time. He was encouraged into aviation engineering by a school counsellor who recognised his skills from an after-school job with a motorcycle shop. "They suggested I check out the NMIT Aviation School and it started from there. Aircraft wasn't my first priority but when I studied, I got into it. We do a lot of test flights which are great fun.” When Tim finishes his licence (in one more exam) he plans to carry on working for Aeromotive. “I’m still quite young and I want to get some more knowledge and aircraft ratings under my belt so I can work on bigger aircraft and have more of a variety in engineering.” “If you are into engineering, being an aircraft engineer is a great way to go. There's a lot more opportunities, you can travel and with study you can progress.” His results have inspired some of his colleagues around him to also take on online study with NMIT Aviation School and he firmly believes “more courses/study mean better jobs”. Tim’s advice to other students thinking of entering aviation engineering is to start early on your licencing requirements. “It’s a lot easier to sit your exams when you are already studying.” But if you are in the industry, studying online with NMIT Aviation School is the next best thing. “They make it so easy for you.” Back to top