Air New Zealand Partners Queenstown Resort College in Paihia

Air New Zealand has partnered the country's premier tourism and hospitality management college, Queenstown Resort College (QRC) at its Te Tai Tokerau campus, based in Paihia.

Air New Zealand and QRC will now work together to build New Zealand's tourism talent pipeline and enable youth employment pathways for students from select parts of New Zealand, including Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Te Tai Tokerau, south Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and the South Island.

The long-term partnership will initially be focused around recruitment of students to the college's Paihia campus.

Air New Zealand will provide a Top Student Award for each graduation class, as well as scholarship funds to drive recruitment and incentivise students to achieve excellence.

The airline will also create opportunities for paid internships and jobs with the airline post-study and support the college with growth into the regions.

As well as creating opportunities for students, Air New Zealand will offer leadership, mentoring and learning support for QRC employees and has indicated that it intends to work with external partners to grow tourism as an exciting and prosperous career option for youth.

As part of the partnership, Air New Zealand's General Manager Global Brand and Content Marketing Jodi Williams has joined the QRC Advisory Board.

"Tourism is our number one export, so we need to ensure we are setting up future leaders with the drive and skills to ensure its continued success. Air New Zealand's purpose is to supercharge New Zealand's success - and at the end of the day a thriving, sustainable tourism industry means a more prosperous country for everyone," Jodi said. "This partnership aims to promote and provide pathways to a career in the tourism sector for the next generation. Northland is a region where youth unemployment is disproportionally high, and as a member of the QRC Advisory Board I hope to help make decisions that will positively impact the region for future generations."

In July, Air New Zealand will take on its first intern from the college for nine months.

QRC Chief Executive Officer Charlie Phillips, said, "This partnership addresses two key problems. There is a high youth unemployment rate in regional New Zealand, and conversely a skills shortage in the tourism sector. This partnership will go to the heart of addressing this and QRC is looking forward to providing high-quality education to those wishing to enter the sector."

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