Graduate Profile

Erin Giles - Architectural Technology

“I studied architecture at high school and its always something I really enjoyed. Architecture has always been a passion of mine and I’ve always been good at design.  I decided to do the diploma in architectural technology because I wanted to know more and hopefully get a job in the industry at the end of it.”

“NorthTec has been great so far. It’s close to where I live, and the enrolment process was very easy. Everyone on the course has been supportive. We all help each other out in class and will answer each other’s questions, help each other when we need it.”

“The course is an extension of what I’ve been doing in school for the last three years and was a natural continuation. Only now we are getting into the nitty gritty stuff that we didn’t do before. We’ve been looking at building materials, plumbing and electrical layouts, and that kind of thing. It’s been an adjustment; I’ve had to get used to working to deadlines and sometimes we have multiple deadlines due very close together but I’m enjoying it.”

“I hope to be an architect one day and my goal is to work in housing development and design. But I enjoy all of it, I could happily do all of it.”
 

Koha Hoft- Architectural Technology

“I decided to study architectural technology because I've always had a passion for homes. I would love to one day run my own business. I'm from Kaitaia, and I want to be able to work for my iwi and give back to my people. I want to help people that are building their first home, I want to be able to help direct and design that, so they get exactly what they want from their new home.”

“It helped me massively to have a bit of background in construction. It meant I already had an understanding of materials and building codes. Transferable skills really help in that regard. It was hard getting all the resources together, because I don’t come from money, but NorthTec has helped me. I’ve had a lot of support and direction from them.”

“I choose NorthTec because it was closer to home for me. I don't have to travel all the way down to say Hamilton or Auckland. I'm a real homebody and I love being close to home. I’ve also got my two babies; my daughter is 7 and my son is 2. It’s been good to be able to stay close to them while studying.”

“For everyone else thinking of studying I say do it. Just go for it. Follow your dreams. If it's something you want to do, you'll know, and you just have to do it. It’s not easy but it's worth it.”
 

Leoné van Rooyen- Architectural Technology

“I decided to do the architectural technology course because I love drawing and I love building. I've known that since I was in Year 12. I quite liked the whole designing area. At first, I thought I would be a builder, but I didn’t really enjoy that, so I decided to focus on the drawing side. Architecture was a natural progression.”

“I would love to have my own little business. My family are all hands-on people, so everyone could help out and it could be a whole family thing. My dad’s a woodwork teacher and he’s done construction as well. My partner is a painter and his dad's an electrician, so between us all we could have a cool business going on doing what we want.”

“One of the most surprising things I learnt was all the background behind the buildings, like all the plumbing and the electrical and what beams and rafters you need where. Its not something you realise you need to know, until you find out you have to draw all of these things for a housing plan.”

“NorthTec’s been great, the course fit into my life really well and the tutors are very easy to work with. They are very supportive and approachable. And we’re learning the stuff that actually matters and can help us in the future.”
 

Maia McGee-King- Architectural Technology

“I decided to do the Architectural technology course because I was straight out of high school, and I had already done Architecture there and its what I really enjoyed. It was a good lead on from what I was already doing. The course has really solidified that architecture is what I really want to do.”

“NorthTec was close to home, and I wanted to be close to family. I moved in with my sister and that’s been really handy. It’s great to be able to stay close while still doing what I want to do.”

“What I’ve loved most about the course is the people, the students and tutors are just great and really friendly. Our first year instantly clicked, we all get along. Having multiple tutors has really helped as everyone teaches differently and you can pick up a lot more when different people are explaining the same concept. Everyone really helps each other out as well, so we all get there together.”

“The course has been challenging but in a good way. There’s lots of assignments but things just flow naturally from one to the next, it’s a good snapshot of what the job looks like.”
 

Nicole Vuletich- Architectural Technology

“I decided to do the Architectural Technology course because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I was going through a career change; the opportunity came along at the right time. I chose NorthTec specifically because it was close, and I have a family. I didn’t want to uplift them and move away to another part of the country. It was much better to stay here, and study close to home.”

“I didn’t realise we would go so in-depth into the materials and services side like electrical planning, plumbing, and such. I thought we would need to know an overview. But it became apparent that it was very necessary and I’m glad now that its such an in-depth study.”

“Everyone, the other students and tutors have all been really supportive. We have a WhatsApp group where we can ask each other questions and the tutors are great at explaining everything. I’m amazed with how much knowledge the tutors have and it has been great to get the industry experience.”

“My husband is a builder, and we have a building business that we run. In the long run I want to be designing the houses that he builds and hopefully making good money as well. There plenty of scope for it up here.”
 

Owen Harrison - Architecture

Owen is making a career shift from radiology to architecture, as well as a recent regional shift from Taranaki to Northland.

“After having our first baby it was time to move closer to family up here and I was ready to rethink my career options. I was looking at nursing but realised it’s not quite me, and I’ve had an interest in drawing houses and house plans since I was young. A friend had also done this programme and recommended it.”

“There is such a range of options in where this course can lead - from design, to project managing, to council building inspection or to working in geo-tech. My main interest is in design so I’m loving using the CAD technology, but I’m also enjoying learning about materials and construction, plus how the environment affects a building and vice-versa.”

Owen is still working part-time in radiology so balancing study with both work and family is challenging.

“It’s years since I’ve studied and I didn’t do that well at school, but because I’m interested in architecture my marks and motivation are good and I’m keeping up with the deadlines. It was challenging at first but there are other mature students in the class so we support each other and the smaller class means we get more time with the tutors.”

“There are lots of advantages in making this career shift. I’ll be working in a field I enjoy, I can earn a better income, we can do quite a bit of work away from an office so the hours are more flexible, and I could end up with my own business. I’d like to work with an architect or designer for a couple of years to get some experience, and then later maybe have my own design business. I like that the design world is always developing.”

Sihua (Sara) Liao - Architecture

Sihua is transitioning from a background in hospitality to a new career in architecture. “I’ve been a café manager in the Town Basin for seven years but the work hours meant my husband and I were hardly seeing each other. He works as an architectural draughtsman Monday to Friday whereas in hospitality we’re often working weekends.”

“I was also ready for a change and because I’m good at maths, I was wondering about accounting or architecture. I’m interested in drawing and my husband was encouraging me towards architecture - and did his training in this same course - so I signed up and I’m really enjoying it.”

“The best aspect for me is that the whole industry is so broad with lots of potential work options. The study here though is full-on so I had to give up my part-time café work but may be able to pick it up again in the holidays. Because I don’t have a building background, I found the technical building language a challenge at first but my tutors, my husband, and some of the students with building experience helped me through that.”

“I’m really looking forward to getting into a career with more family friendly hours and better earning potential, and when I finish the course I hope to get a job to gain some experience. Later I may go on to get an architecture degree in Auckland, and the long term dream is for my husband and me to have an architectural design business where I specialise in domestic design while he focuses on commercial design.”