NMIT and Air NZ sign deal to help students into aviation industry

The Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)/Te Pūkenga signed an agreement with Air New Zealand on Sunday which will help students enter the airline’s apprenticeship programmes.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would provide a clear pathway in both general aviation engineering, NMIT’s current focus, and the airline industry.

“It’s great to be working closely with Air New Zealand to foster the industry’s talent pipeline while offering students greater choice and support for where they see their futures heading,” NMIT engineering, construction and infrastructure manager Reid Carnegie said.

NMIT/Te Pūkenga Aviation School of Engineering’s tutors provided training to more than 150 students annually to build, repair and maintain a variety of aircraft.

Air New Zealand chief operating officer Alex Marren said the airline currently had more than 70 aircraft maintenance roles open across the country on top of the annual graduate recruitment programme.

“The collaboration with NMIT will help build a career path for students and make it easier for Air New Zealand to take on NMIT graduates.

“Exciting times are ahead at Air New Zealand as we continue to rebuild our international network, further grow our domestic services, and strive for a future with next generation aircraft.

“It’s critical we have the engineering and maintenance workforce to meet our operational needs. The global job market for aircraft engineers is highly competitive, and the MoU will help to ensure we are developing local talent,” Marren said.

With the signing of the MoU, level 3 and level 4 New Zealand Certificate of Aeronautical Engineering would be established at NMIT, along with the sharing of resources and expertise. This certificate provided a foundation for trainees to move into Air New Zealand’s apprenticeship programmes.

Aviation engineering would be added to a local trades academy initiative delivered through high schools in Marlborough. From next year, a group of Year 12 and 13 students would be able to learn the principles of aviation and engineering on remote controlled planes while completing NCEA.

“It allows us to begin the development of the next generation of engineers while they’re still at school and highlight what sort of high value careers young people can have through the sector,” Te Pūkenga Tumu Whenua ā-Rohe 3 | executive director region 3 Mark Oldershaw said.

“We’re also looking forward to seeing how we can realise the benefits of the partnership with Air New Zealand across our national network which in aviation engineering provision also includes workplace training provider Service IQ | Te Pūkenga.”

The Minister of Education Jan Tinetti spoke at the MoU signing to show the Government’s support of the initiative.