Taster Days - FREE! | Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)

Monday 15 - Friday 19 June 2026

Nelson, Richmond and Marlborough Campuses

Experience what student life is all about with interactive workshops for anyone aged 15 and over – all are welcome.

Taster Day girlv2 2 Column 1470x980px — Taster Day participant getting stuck into changing a tire - so many options to try out!

Wondering what to study after you finish school? Or, looking to upskill in your current job or even change careers?

Our two-hour taster workshops give you the opportunity to undertake a fun, hands-on activity, talk to tutors, and learn more about the programme on offer.

These workshops are tailored for individuals aged 15 and above. If you are younger than this, please reach out to our Secondary Tertiary Pathways team at youth@nmit.ac.nz.

Timetable

Please note: Taster Days are in-person at NMIT campuses, not online.

Time	Monday 15th June	Tuesday 16th June	Wednesday 17th June	Thursday 18th June	Friday 19th June
10 am - 12 pm	Nursing Nelson	Aviation Nelson	Business and Accounting Nelson	Aquaculture and Marine Conservation Nelson	Automotive Marlborough
	Nursing Marlborough	Boating and Maritime Nelson	Cookery Nelson	Mechanical Engineering Nelson	Sport and Exercise Nelson
	Adventure Tourism Nelson	Conservation and Horticulture Richmond	Civil Engineering Nelson	Beauty Nelson
	Adventure Tourism Nelson	Conservation and Horticulture Richmond	Hairdressing Nelson	Counselling and Social Work Nelson
1 pm - 2:45 pm	Automotive Nelson	Automotive Nelson	Animation/CGI Nelson	Arts and Media Nelson	Aviation and Mechanical Engineering Marlborough
		Building and Construction Richmond		Computing and IT Nelson
		Music Nelson
		Viticulture and Winemaking Marlborough

Taster Descriptions

Taster Programme	Description
Adventure Tourism Monday 15th June 10 am -12 pm \| Nelson	Dive into Adventure Tourism! Discover what it’s like to work in this thrilling industry and explore the skills and experiences that make a career in adventure unforgettable.
Animation/CGI Wednesday 17th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Nelson	Step into the world of Animation and CGI and bring your ideas to life in 3D! Try your hand at digital sculpting, think of it like shaping clay, but in a virtual world. You’ll get a feel for the tools artists use to create characters, creatures, and everything in between.
Aquaculture and Marine Conservation Thursday 18th June 10 am -12 pm \| Nelson	Step into the world of Aquaculture and experience the science behind it. Get hands-on with real industry techniques. You’ll practise safely sedating and weighing a goldfish, observe artemia, and take a closer look under the microscope. Plus, see the fascinating early life stages of Greenshell mussels up close.
Arts and Media Thursday 18th June 1 pm - 2.45pm \| Nelson	Unleash your creativity in our hands-on Art and Media studios. Experiment with printmaking and design techniques, explore new ways of creating, and leave inspired, with your own artworks to take home!
Automotive Monday 15th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Nelson Tuesday 16th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Nelson Friday 19th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Marlborough	Get under the hood and explore the world of Automotive. Learn about different types of vehicle maintenance and gain a hands-on introduction to what working in the automotive trade is really like.
Aviation Tuesday 16th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Take to the skies and discover the world of Aviation. Explore what it takes to keep aircraft running safely, learn about different types of aircraft maintenance, and get an inside look at this high-flying, hands-on trade.
Aviation and Mechanical Engineering - Marlborough Friday 19th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Marlborough	Step into the skies and the workshop! This combined Taster splits into sub-groups for simulators, workshop tours, and a practical activity where you’ll create your own engraved aircraft aluminium bag tag.
Beauty Thursday 18th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Step into self-care and see what life as a Beauty Therapy student is all about. Enjoy a relaxation facial or hand and nail treatment, delivered by our Level 4 and Level 5 students, and learn more about the programme through a Q&A with our friendly tutors.
Business and Accounting Wednesday 17th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Bring your business ideas to life! In this session, you’ll create your own small business concept from planning a budget, exploring potential revenue, designing a marketing campaign, and building your own brand from the ground up.
Building and Construction Tuesday 16th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Richmond	Step into the workshop and explore the world of Carpentry. Learn about the skills, tools, and techniques used to create and build, perfect for anyone interested in a hands-on trade.
Civil Engineering Wednesday 17th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Curious about how cities are built? Step into Civil Engineering and get an introduction to the programme, and learn about the skills behind designing and constructing real-world infrastructure.
Computing and IT Thursday 18th June 1 pm - 2.45pm \| Nelson	Curious about a future in tech? Nau mai, haere mai to NMIT’s Computing & IT Taster Day! Get hands-on with coding, AI, and the tools shaping today’s digital world, and see how these ideas are used in real tech careers.
Conservation and Horticulture Tuesday 16th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Richmond	Love nature and the outdoors? Discover Conservation and Horticulture at NMIT, learn how to care for plants, support the environment, and explore exciting career pathways.
Cookery Wednesday 17th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Sushi Making: A Taste of the NMIT Kitchen Step into the kitchen and learn the art of sushi in this fun, hands-on session. Build your knife skills, master rolling techniques, and explore flavour balance, then take home your own freshly made sushi. A great taste of what it’s like to train in our culinary programmes.
Sport and Exercise Friday 19th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Want to turn your passion for fitness into a career? This hands-on workshop gives you a taste of the sport and exercise industry while trying out real techniques and activities.
Hairdressing Wednesday 17th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Learn, style, and create! Watch a long-hair demo from one of our tutors and then practise your skills on mannequins in this hands-on session.
Boating and Maritime Tuesday 16th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Set sail into the world of Maritime! Try our simulators, see a liferaft in action, and take the helm on different boats. Discover the career opportunities waiting for you at NMIT.
Mechanical Engineering Thursday 18th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Explore Mechanical Engineering in this interactive session. Try your hand at MIG welding in our workshop and get a taste of the skills used in the industry.
Music Tuesday 16th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Nelson	Tune into your passion for music and experience life in NMIT’s Music programme. Tour our state-of-the-art facilities, try out recording and performance spaces, and take part in a hands-on group musical activity.
Nursing Monday 15th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson Monday 15th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Marlborough	Thinking about a career where you can make a real difference? Step into the world of Nursing and get a feel for what it’s like to care for others. Explore the skills, environments, and pathways that could lead you to a rewarding future in healthcare.
Counselling and Social Work Thursday 18th June 10 am - 12 pm \| Nelson	Make a difference in people’s lives! Explore the Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Counselling at NMIT and discover how you can support young people, whānau, and communities. Learn about the roles social workers play, the pathways a social work degree can open, and the rewarding impact you can have on wellbeing.
Viticulture and Winemaking Tuesday 16th June 1 pm - 2.45 pm \| Marlborough	Uncork your potential with a hands-on look at Viticulture and Winemaking. Tour our facilities, meet our expert tutors, and discover if a career in this vibrant industry could be for you.

What to expect on the day

Nelson campus

Please meet at the NMIT Library, located in M Block off Alton Street.

Morning Taster session registration 9.30 am.
Afternoon Taster session registration by 12.30 pm.

Once registration has been taken, your taster group will be taken to class.

Richmond campus

Make your own way to the Richmond Campus (390 Lower Queen Street).

Marlborough campus

Taster sessions are held at 85 Budge Street, Blenheim.

How should you prepare for your workshop?

Please wear closed shoes
Hair tied back, if longer than shoulder length
Long trousers
Minimal Jewellery
Comfortable clothes – they may get dirty.

If you cannot make it on the day, email enrolments@nmit.ac.nz as soon as possible.

“The carpentry taster was really hands-on... I got to work on a real house with NMIT students!”

Hannah, Year 13

Timetable

Campus Maps