The Restaurant Association and NorthTec have launched the Te Tupu Tahi chef training programme after recognising a need to grow and develop the hospitality industry in Te Tai Tokerau / Northland.   

The training programme comprises workplace based training along with online learning and gives junior chefs working in professional kitchens, or those interested in becoming chefs an opportunity to receive a NZ Certificate in Cookery Level 3 and Level 4.   

The programme name; ‘Te Tupu Tahi’, represents ‘to grow together or simultaneously’ which is what this traineeship aims to do: grow the akōnga/employee as well as the business and therefore the hospitality industry as a whole.  

The trainees will be referred to as māhuri, based upon a Māori proverb. Meaning sapling, they represent a young tree that we will nurture, shape, develop, and teach to grow for the industry.

During the programme the trainees/māhuri will:

• Attend sessions at NorthTec’s Raumanga campus. 
• Be supported in their workplace by the Restaurant Association Te Tupu Tahi coordinator and by NorthTec’s kaiako. 
• Enggage in online self-directed learning for most of the theory work in the programme. 

This structure aims to enhance workplace learning by focusing predominantly on students acquiring underpinning knowledge to integrate with their practical workplace experiences.