Is food your passion? This programme is an essential introduction to professional cookery and will prepare you to work as a junior chef in a commercial kitchen.

You will learn to:

• Apply health and safety, food safety and security practices to ensure own safety and minimise potential hazards for customers.
• Communicate effectively and behave in a professional manner with colleagues, managers and customers.
• Follow standard operating procedures to deal with familiar problems in a commercial kitchen.
• Apply fundamental cookery skills to prepare, cook and present a range of basic dishes employing commodities commonly used in industry.

Career opportunities and pathways include any role within the hospitality industry that requires chefs in junior positions producing basic dishes in a professional kitchen.

This qualification leads on to the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4).

Workload & schedule

This is a blended programme with face-to-face delivery three days a week, online components, and self-directed study. There are opportunities for participation in various culinary events outside of normal class hours.

No experience is necessary, however part-time employment in the hospitality industry will enhance your learning experience.

Te Tupu Tahi - Workplace-based training available

Already working as a chef or in a junior position in a commercial kitchen? Keen to learn while you earn? We work alongside Restaurant Association to offer a unique learning plan based on your current work experience. You must be employed a minimum of 15 hours per week and be available to attend some classes and assessments at NorthTec.

Te Tupu Tahi has been developed by the Restaurant Association and NorthTec after recognising a need to grow and develop the hospitality industry in Te Tai Tokerau. Te Tupu Tahi represents ‘to grow together or simultaneously’ growing the akōnga/employee as well as the business by upskilling the employee to gain a sense of accomplishment, increase industry knowledge, gain a NZQA qualification and therefore be a more valuable asset to the business itself.

The programme name ‘Te Tupu Tahi’, represents ‘to grow together or simultaneously’ which is what this traineeship aims to do: grow the akōnga/employee as well as the business and therefore the hospitality industry. 

The trainees will be referred to as māhuri, based upon a Māori proverb: Ko te tupu o te māhuri tera te tupu o te rakau. The bend in a young sapling is indicative of how the tree will grow.

During the programme the trainees/māhuri will:

• Attend on-campus sessions and assessments.
• Be supported in their workplace by the Restaurant Association Te Tupu Tahi coordinator and by NorthTec kaiako. 
• Engage in online self-directed learning for most of the theory work in the programme. 

In collaboration with both the employer and employee, a full schedule will be given to the student in consultation with the employer at the beginning of the programme advising when the māhuri will attend classes.

The training programme comprises workplace-based training along with online learning and gives junior chefs working in professional kitchens, or those interested in becoming chefs an opportunity to receive a NZ Certificate in Cookery Level 3 and Level 4 while in work.

Please contact Stuart McGechan for more information, or apply below.

Stuart McGechan, Te Tupu Tahi Traineeship Coordinator

The Te Tupu Tahi coordinator works to ensure the smooth training, mentoring and supporting of Māhuri and employers – maintaining strong communicative relationships with both, with a strong local connection to the Te Tai Tokerau community and industry. Stuart brings a wealth of experience and passion for leadership and development within the Hospitality Industry.

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