Academy News 2026
Tourism in Action: Building World Class Skills
Last week, 48 Level 3 Tourism students completed a two-day International Customer Service Course in partnership with the International Travel College.
Day one was spent at the college, where students learned the fundamentals of welcoming international visitors to Aotearoa, exploring not only communication skills, but also the cultural customs and expectations of travellers from around the world.
On day two, learning moved into a real-world setting at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, where students observed firsthand how museum staff engage with global visitors and also got to watch the amazing Cultural Performance. The stunning atrium provided the perfect backdrop for student role plays, giving everyone the chance to put their new skills into practice. As luck would have it, a large group of cruise ship passengers arrived during the presentations and stopped to watch, clearly impressed by the professionalism, confidence, and presence shown by our students!
Both the International Travel College tutors and accompanying Massey teachers were incredibly proud of the group. Every student earned three Level 3 credits, along with invaluable industry experience that will support their future pathways.
Well done to all involved!
Carpentry and Building Academy Students Term 1, Weeks Two to Five.
Our students have been very busy with improving the school grounds using their construction skills to install new seating areas for students and repairing existing walkway fencing.
They have been busy this week and last week concreting in posts aligning the timbers measuring the seats and completing the new seating areas around B block and towards the library. This task will continue next week and will be followed through with clearing up some of the vegetation and doing some landscaping which will greatly enhance the local environment.
The group are guided by Phoenix Faofua, Luke Kanuta, Simon Mackie, Nikolai Gordon and Jo Manuel. The students work collectively and cooperatively in a very positive manner which has been great to see while these tasks are completed. Fortunately, the weather has been kind, not too hot most of the time and no wind or rain to battle with.
Great to see all the students in their correct safety gear which includes steel cap boots and their building outfits. The Year 13 student have been able to advise the Year 12s in some of the skills and techniques required.
After this task has been completed the students will return to the building site and start on the construction of four two bedroomed houses under contract for Kāinga Ora. Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, is a Crown agency that provides rental housing for New Zealanders in need, and the students take great pride in constructing these houses.
There is also a one-bedroom house, that our all-female construction group, Girls in Carpentry GIC, will build this year. That group will start next week on Tuesday or Thursday along with our Multi Skills, (MS), group which is Wednesday. We have a total of 24 females for GIC, so they have been split into two groups. All the group members have been contacted by Sarah Maxwell our Academy Administrator and should come in yellow hi vis, black work shorts or trousers and work boots. These students in GIC and MS, come out of their normal school timetable one day a week to develop their construction skills and gain credits towards the NCEA as well. They come to school in the above building uniform and meet at the start of the school day at the Academy Offices down by the building site car park.
We look forward to seeing the progress of all our students.
N Hackett Assistant Principal.