Culinary training remains
Reporter Bayley Moor discusses culinary training in Kerikeri.
Despite the closure of the Culinary Institute of New Zealand in Kerikeri, qualifications for the culinary arts will still be available in the Bay of Islands.
Queenstown Resort College (QRC) will be running culinary courses from the former Culinary Institute (CINZ) premises on Waipapa Rd.
Pending NZQA approval, QRC Culinary will open in midFebruary and provide Level 3 and 4 Certificates in Culinary Arts, growing to accommodate a Level 5 Diploma from 2018.
Numerous social media posts and correspondence to
indicated concerns around the closure of the Kerikeri based training facility.
QRC Operations Manager Kelly Kahukiwa says people had heard about the closure of CINZ and contacted QRC straight away.
‘‘Immediately there was a lof of relief that the programme will be continued.’’
He says with a worldwide cheffing shortage there is a huge need for culinary training.
QRC has purchased the assets from CINZ. Students can live at the Halls of Residence in Paihia.
QRC has also expanded operations (from their original Queenstown location) with their Tai Tokerau Resort College in Paihia opening in April 2016 and offering Diploma’s in Hospitality Management and Adventure Tourism Management.
Intueri Education Group interim chief executive Rod Marvin says the closure of CINZ is associated with Intueri’s restructuring of its Quantum Education Group operations (that ran the Culinary Institute).
When asked about whether existing staff will have new employment he said that an agreement with another provider had been signed to take over the operations at CINZ for 2017.
‘‘All existing staff are being offered employment with the new provider. We are very pleased for our staff and students with this outcome.’’
Former CINZ student Wai Hati says she was sad to hear about the closure.
‘‘It’s a relief to hear a new programme is starting because I benefited a lot from studying there.’’
She says the qualifications she received were recognised worldwide and allowed her to win medals at national competitions.
‘‘People can still benefit from it now, I walked into employment.’’
The Culinary Institute of New Zealand formally closed its doors on December 16 following the graduation of their 2016 students.
In 2014 more than 23,000 chefs were employed in New Zealand according to Careers New Zealand.