Training that supports a community offered in Moerewa

Training that supports a community offered in Moerewa

NorthTec, in partnership with the He Iwi Kotahi Tatou Trust, has begun to deliver a Tourism and Hospitality Skills course at The Tuna Cafe in Moerewa that had been closed down just last year.

Hospitality Programme Leader at NorthTec, Lisette Buckle, said that 15 students who live in close proximity to Moerewa had enrolled on the 15 week course that started at the cafe on 28 May.

“It is just so cool for those that live in the area. We have Del Bristow, as the tutor, and she is local and knows all about delivering exceptional service in this type of environment. This first intake of students can benefit greatly from her guidance.”

Offering the course in Moerewa was about identifying a need for job training that supports a community.

The same Tourism and Hospitality Skills (Level 2) course was provided at Pouto in the Kaipara District that has proved most successful.

Lisette noted that by providing the Certificate in Hospitality Skills (Level 2) at the re-opened Tuna Cafe there was an opportunity for people to acquire useful job training and work skills in their community without needing to relocate elsewhere.

“It was also seen as a good way to get the community working in together to have a cafe they can use and see it as their own.”

Courses that NorthTec offers elsewhere in regional centres will be linked into the Moerewa Hospitality course. An example of this is the Sustainable Rural Development courses being delivered nearby that will provide the cafe with herbs and lettuces grown from planter boxes in the gardens behind the cafe. There are even plans to introduce a commercial pizza oven adding to the cafe’s interest.

Lisette explained the intention was not for NorthTec to end up owning the cafe, but it offered a support role to the Iwi Kotahi Tatou Trust who had enabled the premises to be used for the course.

“I see it as always being a learning environment that will work with a cooperative approach. The students are so motivated and there is a real buzz happening. It is so nice to see something they can get their teeth into.” Having the course at the location provided something for the Moerewa community which in recent times has had its share of difficulties she added.

Her vision for the Tourism and Hospitality Skills course in Moerewa is to have its graduates take over running it and then support new students on the course. To begin with, the cafe is open two days a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays but it is hoped to extend this to six days a week.

The Tuna Cafe not only comes with gardens, but also a carving centre and the cafe has been set up to run alongside the art gallery that will cater for visiting tour groups.

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