New Zealand Certificate in Tourism (Level 3)

Eseta Tamati - Travel and Tourism

“It takes a good tutor to make a good student and the tutor here has made me fall back in love with the tourism industry.”

“I already had a deep love of nature and a strong appreciation of the industry and that has now been made even stronger. I’ve got so much more respect now for what’s involved in being part of someone’s journey and giving them a rich experience. I knew the basics but this has really expanded my perspective.”

“Before I never followed through on what I really knew in the first place. School wasn’t supportive for me so I’m amazed at how massive the impact of the tutor here has been on me being able to study. He has reassured me that anything is possible if we put in the time and dedication. I’ve learnt that to be helped you have to help yourself.”

“Our classmates too are super friendly. We each bring our different stories but we’re all on this path together. Procrastination is the thing I need to watch. I’m a solo Mum of two and a coach for my son’s rugby team so I have to work at finding balance, making priorities and keeping to a schedule.”

“I want to re-introduce people to the natural beauty that is around us. I love taking kids outside camping or biking or walking and getting them curious about the natural world away from technology, and I know I can give a similar experience to others.” 

“I’ll take a bit of time off to be with my kids when I finish the course then I’m excited about what could happen. I’d love to be a tour guide helping people appreciate what’s all around us. We can slow down, stop and camp out. I want to be part of their experience and shine a light on their adventure so they can say it was one of the best moments in their life. Being amongst nature is like therapy.”

Hillary Nathan - Tourism

“When I started the course I was just trying it out to see if it was for me. Now I’m passionate about it! My only travel has been to Australia with a hip-hop group but that was enough to get me interested to learn more about other cultures and travel. I was also ready to get a career rather than just another job.”

“I’m learning so much, not just about our own country, but about other countries and cultures.”

“I didn’t know much and was very shy when I started but I’ve really broken out of my shell now. Learning new things and being with the other students and tutor has boosted my self-esteem and confidence. I am now determined and passionate and really want to go somewhere with my life. We students have our own get-togethers out of class time and our bond is strong because we are studying together for a whole year.”

“Speaking in front of people was a really nerve wracking for me but we get support to do this well.”

“I plan to get a stable job that I enjoy in the industry when I finish here, and I’d love to one day work as a travel agent.”

Jessica Swanepoel - Travel

“I’ve been lucky to travel all over the world on holidays with my parents and realized how much I loved it. In my last year at school I did a year as an exchange student in Belgium and that really cemented my passion for travel as a career.”

“It’s great seeing how much I’ve progressed since starting the course. I know the difference between good and bad customer service, and what to look for to find a good company to work for that gives clients a great experience. I always thought I’d work for a travel agent but since being here I’ve grown more into a nature person and my main focus now is adventure tourism.” 

“The work placements guy came to talk to our course and mentioned Fullers and working on the water as a possibility. Something clicked inside me because our family had a launch and we’ve spent lot of time on the water. I realized there was another whole area of tourism that was a perfect fit for me. Fullers couldn’t offer work placements because they had a work vacancy coming up and I got the nudge to explore that – which I am.”

“So my next step after finishing the course is already unfolding. Once I have work experience I’d love to work in Australia in the theme parks, or with Disney Sea World, or on cruise ships. If we take the steps to get a foot in the door of a new life, anything is possible.”

Josh Bucknell - Travel

“A representative from International Travel College came and spoke at our school and really inspired me to want to be a flight attendant for either Air New Zealand or Qantas.”

“I made enquiries and this course was close to home with a great tutor. He has so much experience in the industry plus lots of connections in the industry networks.”

“The stand-out of the course for me is meeting all the great students and tutors here. I’m the youngest in our class so I’m learning so much from other people’s backgrounds and cultures, and by being on the campus is general.”

“The other highlight of the course has been our trip to Auckland visiting different companies within the industry. It really broadened my horizons to the range of job possibilities within travel to the point where I wondered about being cabin crew on a cruise ship.”

“My heart though is more in the air than on the sea. My dream of being a flight attendant has now got stronger and bigger in scope. As part of the course I have work experience coming up at the Copthorne Resort in Paihia and I’m hoping I might get a job from that for when the course finishes.”

“I’m really keen to begin working as a flight attendant but I’m too young to start yet and some work experience first will give me more confidence. After that I’ll be ready to take to the air.”

Adriana Stolwerk - Travel and Tourism

“This is something totally different for me so it’s all new and exciting. Travel interests me because I haven’t done much of it and I’m curious to learn about it. I looked at going to Auckland to study but it’s expensive to live there and I’m still young, so by studying here I can continue to live locally.”

“It’s really exciting to be learning so much and with such diverse content. There are so many topics within tourism and there’s a lot to take in. I love it but it can be overwhelming so I’m learning discipline and how to motivate myself to push through. It’s great being amongst the other students because everyone wants to be there and is committed to learning.”

“I’m learning how big and broad the tourism industry is. It’s not just cruise ships, hostess roles and travel agencies. It’s connected to so many industries and includes things like car rentals and ferries.”

“Completing this course will help me get a good job and sort my life out, and because I’ve come straight from year 12, it enables me to be a year ahead. Next year a friend and I want to go to Camp America – a summer camp for teens – for six months. We get to choose where we go and get accommodation and food as part of the job.”

“My dream is to work within a travel agency helping people plan their trips. I like the idea of working with people when they’re doing something that makes them happy. Travel is something they want to do and I can support them in that.”

Hayden Rowse - Travel and Tourism

“This was a last-minute decision for me but a really good one. I did lots of subjects at school but had no passion for any of them until I took tourism. I found I enjoyed it and was interested in it and the teacher helped me realise there could be a career there. I hadn’t travelled overseas much but Dad is part of a four-wheel-drive club so that took us all over New Zealand.” 

“I explored going to uni but coming to NorthTec means less disruption to my life and I can commute every day from Dargaville. What I love most about doing the course is that I’m interested enough to focus. Usually I fade into myself but the tutor is really helping me to hold my focus. The next level is harder so that will be a challenge and it will be good for me. I’m the only guy in our class but we’re a range of ages and experiences so mixing is easy.”

“The course has opened me up to the scope of work within tourism. I’m realising most industries have, or can have, a tourism aspect and that it’s in a real growth phase in New Zealand now. I work on our family farm at the moment and Dad was keen for me to take that over but it’s not for me. I’m glad I stayed on until year 13 at school because it gave me options, and by doing this course I’ll be able to get an actual career.”

“I’m focusing on passing the course and after that I’ll get work in tourism. A relative lives in Paihia so I hope to be able to live and work there in the Bay of Islands to begin with. I’ll see what other options unfold from there.”