Going places, thanks to NZMA
When Georgina Tahere dropped out of school as a pregnant teen, qualifications and a career were the last things on her mind.
Fast-forward 15 years and the picture couldn’t be more different.
Georgina is now duty manager at a busy West Auckland bar, The Glen.
She also has a Diploma in Applied Hospitality Management under her belt from NZMA and has just been named Top Hospitality Internship Honours Student for 2012.
‘‘Even though studying for my diploma was the hardest two years I’ve ever had (outside of having my kids!) I don’t regret it for a minute. I came to NZMA not just for a job, but for a career. And that’s exactly what I’ve got,’’ Georgina says.
‘‘Completing all my coursework was a real accomplishment for me and one of the highlights was competing at the New Zealand Culinary Fares in 2010 and 2011. In the 2011 event I won a silver medal in the table setting competition.’’
The two-year Level 6 diploma course includes a 600-hour paid hospitality internship, which for Georgina meant getting Killer Shots (the Auckland Badminton Club cafe) up and running again.
‘‘The internship was an excellent way to put everything I learned at NZMA into practice. It was a huge challenge, but it was also a really great step for my career.’’
Georgina says the internship programme sets NZMA apart, as it enables students to graduate not just with excellent hospitality knowledge and skills, but also with relevant industry experience – and a reference from an employer!