Trades Academy Programme (TOTSTA)

The Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSTA) offer a range of courses for students based at NMIT or Whenua Iti Outdoors.

These courses are designed for students who want to remain at school but are also wanting to gain some vocational or trades training. Courses are offered at NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 and are targeted at Year 12 and Year 13. Each course offers around 20 credits.  

NMIT 

These courses are one day per week (usually Fridays) for the school year.  They run from mid February through to October during school term time only.   Courses likely to be available in 2025:

• Arts & Design
• Automotive Engineering
• Aeronautical Engineering (in Blenheim, transport provided)
• Beauty
• Carpentry and Joinery
• Cellar Operations
• Creative Design for Hair and Make-up
• Gamification
• Hairdressing
• Hospitality
• Mechanical Engineering
• Sport & Exercise

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  ETCO

This course is run by the Electrical Training Company Organisation. It is a pre-trade Electrical course that runs one day per week (usually Fridays) for the school year.  It runs from mid February through to October during school term time only. A great option for those exploring an electrical trades pathway.

WHENUA ITI 

These courses are 16 days each. They are run as four camps.  Each camp consists of 4 days and 3 nights. Courses include:

• Adventure Tourism
• Emergency and Response
• Environmental Sustainability
• Manaaki Tapoi (Māori tourism)
• Tourism operations

The camp dates are set in advance.  Students must be able to attend all of the 4 camps to complete the credits.

All applicants are interviewed to ascertain their suitability for TOTSTA courses. Acceptance into these courses is based on attendance, attitude and ability to commit to the programme enrolling in. 

All courses are FREE.

If you are interested in these courses you should enrol online from 1 August and contact Mrs Phillips (Trades Academy Co-ordinator) in the Careers Hub [email protected]