Artesha Matiu - Health and Wellbeing

NorthTec Ākonga

“I was very clear that I wanted to go to uni and study psychology but I didn’t get uni entrance from school so was looking at the best bridging study to get there when I chanced across this course. I was here for Orientation to support my partner and when I mentioned what I wanted to do to his tutor, she said this health and wellbeing course was perfect.”

“I was very nervous and quiet when I started because I come from right up north and was the youngest in the class, but my advantage was that I was straight out of school so I was used to study and written structure. I’m finding my grades are really good so that has helped my confidence and the course helps with communication and making presentations. It’s a really open environment here and all the students and tutors are genuinely supportive.”

“I’m realising since leaving home that my Dad is my inner voice encouraging me to be my best self. I’m really surprised here how strong the Māori aspect of the course is. I’m Māori but our parents didn’t speak te reo and I had to learn where I came from to give my pepeha here.”

“I can truly further my education by doing this course. I’m keen to upskill and want to absorb as much as possible to better my confidence, communication and motivational interviewing. I’ve already started applying to Auckland University where my sister is studying to be a doctor. My path will be a Bachelor of Arts with a Psychology major and my family’s end goal is to open a clinic up north for our own people. My Mum has her social work degree, my Dad is studying social work, my sister will have her medical degree, and I’ll have psychology.”

“I’m one of the oldest of ten children and all of us know how much need there is for education and up-skilling in our region. We as Māori are a small percentage of the population but the statistics in prison, mental health, and limited education are high. Together we can help with this. As youth, we all have capability to lift ourselves but a lot of us don’t realise we can do that by studying at NorthTec in a supportive system and staying in the area.”

Alec Burnett - Mechanical Engineering

NorthTec Ākonga

“It’s really important that we get to spend time working in the industry while we study. I spend two days a week working with Archwell Engineering, and three days in class at NorthTec. It’s a good balance. By doing this I know what I’m aiming for and it prepares you for employment after study – it shows me exactly what I’ll be doing in the real world.”

Clarone Hooper - Foundation

NorthTec Ākonga

“My mate did the Sport and Rec programme in Whangarei and suggested I do the level 3 and 4 Career Preparation Certificates because I was into health and fitness. I had dropped out of school and was depressed from doing nothing, so this has woken up my motivation again.”

“I’m enjoying the anatomy and nutrition subjects the most which really surprises me, but I struggle a bit with some of the academic study so am getting support for that. I’m also doing a personal training certificate online, plus I have a couple of trial boxing clients in Kaikohe so keeping things balanced is a big of a juggle.”

“Being with the other students is pretty cool and I’m getting more confident now to stand up and make presentations. I’m the only one in this level 4 course wanting to get into NorthTec’s Sport and Rec programme, but this option means I can then apply for AUT’s Bachelor of Sport and Recreation or physiotherapy training.”

“Getting a good understanding of the basics is essential to improve so that I can later have enough knowledge and experience to do my dream job of coaching athletes.”

Evan Thom - Environmental Management

NorthTec Ākonga

“It’s so important that as students we have the first-hand experience of the pollution in our region - sometimes you can’t see it until you look for it and it creates more awareness about the problem. We get to go on various field trips and talk to people in the conservation industry that are making a difference, and it is just that invaluable experience of being able to say I have experienced this myself first-hand that is crucial as an Environmental Management student.”

Codi Harris - Automotive

NorthTec Ākonga

“I love cars and grew up around them because my dad was a mechanic and they were always my hobby. But I had my first child at the age of 16 which held me back a little bit. Then in 2018, I started running the Northland team for the Suicidal Car Club in Whangarei. At that time the suicide rate was through the roof and we were keen to set a club modelled on one that my sister-in-law had set up in Auckland. It is a youth-orientated automotive space where at-risk youth can hang out and learn general automotive skills to give them something cool to do to keep them occupied.”

“The need for this finally gave me the courage to sign up for the automotive course. I saw the progress some of my friends and family were making in other NorthTec courses and I knew the quality of education, the facilities, and support were amazing. Now that I’m on board here, every course day is a great day for me, I learn something new, and I have a great time doing it.”

“Engines in general are a challenge to me especially remembering the names and what goes where but that's what doing this course is all about. Every new journey in life is a challenge but challenges are what make you who you are.”

“I’m really surprised at how my confidence and time management skills are blooming here. I’ve had to learn how to be in a workshop environment and be job ready, and my health and safety strategies when working on vehicles have also dramatically improved now that I’ve learnt the right way to do things. Another surprise is realising how much welding is involved in automotive and finding that I really enjoy it and am pleased to gain that skill.”

“Our tutor is very inspiring, educational and supportive and always pushes us to strive for our best. All of the tutors and staff at NorthTec are welcoming, they have great tips and advice, are always involved, and there when you need them.”

“Completing this course will have a massive impact on my life. Having first done level 2, I’m now nearly finished level 3, then I want to get an apprenticeship, then a job and become a fully paid Mama. I have two young children and my family has lived off one income for a very long time so having two working parents will hugely impact our family’s life.”

“My dream is to earn a living as a fully qualified mechanic, as well as to run an automotive-focused youth space to keep our Whangarei/Northland youth occupied, safe and educated in the automotive sense.”

“I want to say a big thanks to NorthTec and our tutor for inspiring not only me but our whole class to do our best in everything we do here so that we can be job ready.”

Kate Skerten - Sport and Recreation

NorthTec Ākonga

“Although my Mum was a physiotherapist, and keeping active was a normal part of life for our family, it wasn’t until I went to St Peter’s College in Cambridge that my spark for this as a career really got lit. I was exposed to a broader range of sports and spent more time in a gym environment I then studied Sport and Recreation (Personal Training) to level 5 at Otago Polytech but returned to Northland and was reassessing my direction.”

“In the meantime, I was doing some part time work running fitness classes and doing some voluntary work when my employer encouraged me to upskill to level 7 to become more employable. So I signed on here and I love the small classes and how hands-on our learning is. We have practical workshops with guest speakers, we do personal training, we learn about sports performance, strength and conditioning, sports science, coaching, and nutrition. We also had the opportunity to have workshops with Turbo Touch, Northland Cricket, Far North CrossFit, Manaia Fitness, and we have work placements.”

“Part of our curriculum involves volunteering at community events and we recently helped out with the Lions Tour and ran a Turbo Touch tournament in schools. We’re also in partnership with Sports Northland programmes so we can help with things like the Weetbix Triathlon and the Run/Walk series. These activities all give us experience and build confidence in our ability to apply what we learn.”

“The learning process is a challenge for me because I’ve got dysgraphia which means I have poor comprehension and have trouble getting my ideas across in a systematic order, so the tutors and NorthTec’s Student Success have really supported me with this.”

“As students we’re constantly working in small groups doing presentations, projects, or group fitness so the interpersonal level is high and we have a synergy like a family. I’m surprised at how much growth, knowledge and life experience I’ve gained through the course, and at how broad the course is. I’ve also learned to be adaptable to new ideas because initially I thought I only wanted to do group fitness and personal training but I’m finding I enjoy working with children and youth. I like keeping them engaged and enjoying physical and mental activities.”

“I already volunteer as a youth coach for football and tennis teams, and when I finish the course I’ll either do more work with youth, go into the Police Force, be an outdoor contractor working somewhere like Outward Bound, or do some post-graduate study in sport or teaching.”

“My overarching interest though is in helping people keep physically active from a young age so they can keep mentally healthy. Youth drop-off levels in sport are relatively high now, especially with the use of technology and parents struggling to run children around, and it’s concerning because physical activity is a fundamental part of keeping healthy on every level.”