"Since graduating from the Professional Chef Programme, I have worked with some of the world's leading chefs in renowned award winning restaurants around Australasia.
The basic cooking skills I was taught at Tai Poutini Polytechnic helped set up my career. It was the perfect start for me and I still apply the knowledge that I learnt during even the most sophisticated of dining preparations.
My favourite memory of the programme was participating (and doing well!) in Auckland salon culinaire chef competitions and the support I received from Alex. When I was younger I was really in to rugby and hunting. Alex motivated me to apply my dedication and focus towards cooking and made it fun. He taught me the basic skills I needed to start my career and secure a professional position in a serious industry and I am forever grateful for that.
I am now working in Jakarta as the Executive Chef for the exclusive Shy Restaurant - the job is unreal!"
"After graduating I successfully set up my own business selling my jade stone tiki designs, both nationally and internationally. I just love my current self-employed role as I can manage a work life balance with my family here in Hokitika. Having my own workshop allows me to successfully produce and market my unique personal designs.
I've been able to transfer all of the practical skills I picked up while studying my Diploma in Jade and Hard Stone Carving at Tai Poutini Polytechnic to the work I am still doing now. Studying in the South Island was a great start to my career in a perfect learning environment. My fondest memory of my time at the polytechnic was by far the people and the programme's uniqueness which I believe you wouldn't find anywhere else. It is a structured programme that fosters creativity.
I plan to keep learning and creating designs of the highest quality and selling them around the world."
"I graduated with an Automotive Certificate at Tai Poutini Polytechnic and highly recommend it. After finishing in 2004, I landed an apprenticeship at Coastwide Honda in Greymouth as a repair technician and have never looked back.
Before enrolling I was orchard picking on the West Coast and decided I needed to get a qualification that would help me while travelling and to kick start my career. When I was younger I loved building milk trucks so thought it was a good industry for me. I chose Tai Poutini Polytechnic because it was the cheapest programme in the country.
My fondest memory of the programme was being able to work with the tutors who are still role models to me. I have brought all the skills I was taught at polytechnic with me and I use them every day in the workshop. Give it a go!"
"After working as a freezing worker for 10 years in Ashburton, I decided I wanted a good career so enrolled in the surface extraction course at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.
It was reasonably priced and was a six month course where you can get your truck licence and explosive licence, so I knew I had to do it.
Since graduating I got a job as a hard rock tunneler with McConnell Dowell who creates tunnels for coal mines etc. I want to stay with McConnell Dowell and work my way up in the company before moving to Canada to work with the tunnel boring machines.
Coming from Ashburton originally, living and studying on the West Coast was awesome, I absolutely loved it! We often went hunting and four-wheel-driving; there were always heaps of things to do.
The skills I learnt at Tai Poutini were invaluable and I use all those skills with my job now. The best thing about my time at Tai Poutini was having nearly everyone graduate together; I made life long friends and would do it again in a flash.
I'm set up for life now and would highly recommend the course to anyone, I'm telling all my mates to do it too."
"The hairdressing programme was awesome; it certainly lived up to its reputation.
We had heaps of fun on the programme, the girls were all great fun - we never had a dull day that is for sure.
It was very practical and I apply things I learnt on the programme to my job every day.
I am doing my hairdressing apprenticeship with Hairworks, and love it! It was a bonus that some of the modules such as banking and displays cross credited over to my apprenticeship.
I always wanted to be a hairdresser and Tai Poutini Polytechnic helped me on my way to realising my dream."
"I chose to study the New Zealand Diploma in Business to extend and upskill my knowledge and apply it to my role as office administrator at Grey Main School. The skills and experience I have learnt at Tai Poutini Polytechnic have most definitely been transferable to my workplace.
Living, studying and working in Greymouth is great. I do night classes which fit in really well with work and the learning environment is really friendly. I am really enjoying the challenging papers and the interaction with fellow students.
The best thing about studying at Tai Poutini Polytechnic for me was the great tutors and meeting new people."
"I started out doing volunteer work at a camp which took me overseas. When I came home to Taranaki I decided to get a qualification in something which I love.
I had such a good time at Tai Poutini Polytechnic. The tutors are awesome and I made heaps of friends and got to see so much of the South Island.
The rafting and rope skills that I learnt during the programme set me up really well for my current job at the Peel Forest outdoor pursuit park, which I was lucky enough to get work placement for while still studying.
My plan for the future is to stay where I am. I just love what I do and I would do it all again at Tai Poutini Polytechnic."
"While studying in Wellington nearly five years ago I decided amidst the traffic of the city that I wanted to be far away doing something as different as possible. I did some research and came across Tai Poutini's outdoor recreation programme. I was impressed with its low fees and high quality.
Since enrolling, I have never looked back. The adventures were non-stop during my time on the West Coast. My favourite was the coastal rock climbing in Charleston. Feeling the salt water chasing me up was so exhilarating and a memory I have treasured.
The programme has opened up a lot of doors for me. I have acquired skills in rescue, interpretation, guiding, meteorology, snow study, Maori study, and navigation and avalanche skills. Since graduating in 2005, I have worked as a sea kayak guide in the Abel Tasman as well as at Cardrona Ski Resort in Wanaka, as a ski repair technician in Canada and a raft guide/video kayaker in Ontario.
I am currently back in Wanaka doing ski patrol and planning on living this amazingly diverse and rewarding lifestyle for as long as I can."
"I moved back to Invercargill to study Civil Plant at Tai Poutini Polytechnic. I realised I wanted to drive big trucks and go over to Australia to work in the mines but I needed a qualification.
Then one day I saw an advertisement for the 'Digger School' and that was that, I went along.
After graduating I worked for Joyce's Contracting, Dunback, where I worked at the Oceana Goldmines - Macraes Flat, East Otago. I did some further training and got my truck licence, which led me to drive diggers and the loader and doing intensive rock breaking. It was interesting and exciting, especially being a female working there. Despite the challenges which sometimes made it hard, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The skills I learnt at Tai Poutini Polytechnic were excellent; I was able to do everything that my boss required me to do and was the first female to be employed at Joyce's Contracting.
The tutors, especially Max and Nigel, at Tai Poutini Polytechnic were so supportive. I would definitely do the course again; now my husband thinks I have one up on him, so he wants to do it!"
"I enrolled in the hydroponics course to try something different to what I am doing now as a personal assistant for a local consultancy company. I have always been keen to know how to grow produce and thanks to Tai Poutini Polytechnic I have fresh vegetables successfully growing at home.
Over the ten night programme we learnt something different every day which I thoroughly enjoyed. On the last day we set up our hydroponics units and took them home. I loved meeting new people at the polytechnic and sharing stories about their growing successes.
My long term plan is to do something on a larger scale. Perhaps supply to restaurants or set up a bigger unit on a farm here on the West Coast that I spend time at."
"I really enjoyed my time at Tai Poutini Polytechnic. I started out doing one of their short courses, which I enjoyed so much I signed up for the Certificate in Ecotourism.
Even before I had graduated I got job placement with the Department of Conservation in Arthurs Pass, which is where I am currently, and where I would like to stay on. I work with the endangered orange fronted parakeets during their breeding seasons. I found the plant and animal aspects of the certificate the most helpful for what I am doing now in biodiversity.
The polytechnic has awesome tutors which made it a great place to be. The highlight for me was the field trips we went on as a class, travelling all around the South Island from Bruce Bay to Kaikoura. The question isn't where did we go - it is where didn't we go!"
"I am living in London, have just got a new job as a live in nanny and having the time of my life.
I look after four children, get great money, holidays to France each year, plus a car for my own personal use too. It's a bit of a real dream job really.
At Tai Poutini Polytechnic I really enjoyed being a part of a small group of students where you got to know everyone, as it made it easier to participate in discussions. We had a great tutor who was good at encouraging us to keep going and not get behind and helping when needed. I liked the balance of studying in class and the practical work in homes. I have so many good memories of my year at Tai Poutini Polytechnic."
"Since graduating with the Certificate in Carpentry in 2003 I have been building on the West Coast. The carpentry programme provided me with a great pathway into the industry. I really enjoyed my time at Tai Poutini Polytechnic and was confident in gaining employment once I had finished the programme.
I have always wanted to be a builder. Tai Poutini Polytechnic provided me with the basic skills and knowledge to begin my career. The skills and knowledge I gained I use in my job each day. For me, meeting a whole bunch of new people was a highlight, as well as the awesome tutors.
I will carry on working as a carpenter and one day hope to be self-employed."
