NorthTec’s hospitality students were given hands on experience in what it takes to host one of the region’s highly anticipated events, when supporting the fifth Matariki Hospitality Industry Awards at Forum North on 12 June.

NorthTec tutor, Kate Claydon, said it was a long hard, but very rewarding day for the students who were able to work alongside six of Northland’s top chefs.

The Certificate in Catering Services (Level 3) students and the in-kitchen and food and beverage strands on the National Diploma in Hospitality Operational Management (Level 5), were involved in helping the six top chefs with plating up the tapas-style Kiwiana-inspired menu and then serving it to the 150 guests.

Kate noted that the student’s experience of being involved in the event from setup to completion helped them to ‘engage’ with the industry, as well as with guests and potential employers. She explained that having experience with a real-life situation in front of their most critical peers was “character-building for them all’.

As the venue could not be accessed until early Sunday morning, it had been a 12 hour day for the students from start to finish. “It was a long day and they all worked very hard,” Kate noted.

Despite the student’s hard work and toil, Kate commented that the students had enjoyed being a part of the whole process.

She said NorthTec student’s involvement in the event was about giving them new experiences and nurturing the passion they have for the industry.

It is noteworthy that Kate picked up the Hancock’s Northland Hospitality Ambassador of the Year Award at the Matariki Hospitality Industry Awards, in recognition of her dedication to the promotion of the local industry.