The vocational training course was announced at the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Conference in Auckland this morning by the New Zealand minister for tourism and hospitality, Louise Upston.
The government has put NZ$145,000 from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy towards the qualification, supporting its design, industry engagement and the delivery of the course online.
The qualification will be owned by BEIA.
“Te Haeata is a collaborative effort between BEIA, Ringa Hora, Service IQ and Grow Tourism with important input from industry, and represents a major step forward in building the capability and confidence of our workforce,” said BEIA’s chief executive, Lisa Hopkins.
“Te Haeata addresses workforce shortages and supports the Tourism Growth Roadmap’s long-term goal of building a skilled domestic workforce.
“It establishes an additional career pathway in the events sector for tourism and hospitality workers and supports the development of a higher-wage sector within the visitor economy.
“Investing in people through high-quality training ensures the sector thrives and delivers exceptional experiences.
“This industry-led approach builds confidence in our workforce and supports sustainable growth for New Zealand’s events and tourism sectors.”
BEIA is hoping to enrol 200 students in the first 18 months of the course and 50 students each year thereafter.
The first module is set to go live in February or March next year, with other modules to follow.
The initial module will also be made available to high school students in 2027, to encourage young people to enter the events industry as early as possible.
