Leiv Bjerga Aviation Tutor
With a remarkable career spanning five decades, Aviation Tutor Leiv Bjerga is now sharing his extensive industry experience with students in NMIT’s Aviation Engineering courses.
Leiv began his career an aircraft engineer apprentice with Air New Zealand (and eventually tradesman) at Whanganui Aerowork. There he worked on helicopters and on topdressing aircraft. These are planes used in agriculture to apply fertilizers over farmland, a technology and practice that was first developed in New Zealand.
“From there I joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as a navigator,” says Leiv. “I spent three years on P3K Orions, became a navigator instructor, and then I went back to Whenuapai in Auckland as Flight Commander on No 42 Squadron and the HS780 Andover light transport aircraft.”
After twelve years with RNZAF Leiv retrained as an Air Traffic Controller with Airways NZ which led to work in the Ardmore and Wellington Towers.
Since 2000, Leiv has dedicated himself to teaching. He spent eleven years at the Christchurch ATC Centre, instructing on Area and Approach radar, before heading to the Middle East for three years to train air traffic controllers. Upon returning to New Zealand, he joined Air Nelson as a technical instructor on the Dash 8 Q300 and as a flight safety specialist.
In 2017 Leiv returned to the RNZAF as an Air Warfare instructor at No 42 SQN, Ohakea then moved to Woodbourne as Chief of Staff before retiring in June 2025.
Now, Leiv is focusing his energy on helping the next generation of aviation engineers succeed at NMIT.
"I have always been passionate about aviation, so to be able to continue to 'give back’ after a career of nearly 50 years is a privilege,” Leiv says.
“I have extensive experience in teaching precision-based skills in navigation, engineering, and air traffic control to young adults,” Leiv says. “I treat them with respect and impart my knowledge and skills in a relaxed manner. I am most keen to see each student succeed.”
Leiv says he is looking forward to the future of aviation and is eager to see the way AI and other emerging technologies will shape its path. He believes that NMIT’s focus on both hands-on skills and innovative tech will prepare learners for the future of aviation.
