When Destyn started MAST’s School to Work placement with Super Yacht Coatings in Auckland, Regional Manager Glenn Farr gave the team one instruction: “Get him straight in there – don’t put him on the sidelines.” Destyn at the MAST Campus. Right: Glenn Farr with Detsyn It was MAST Pathways Consultant Fiona van der Hor who took the call from Ko Taku Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand in Auckland about a deaf student interested in boatbuilding, and she knew Glenn and his team’s wh

At MAST, we know the most powerful learning for any apprentice happens on the job, alongside experienced people who are willing to share their knowledge. Sometimes that’s a supervisor, the company owner, or simply a skilled colleague who takes the time to teach. Whoever they are, workplace trainers play one of the most important roles in our industry. To support workplace trainers, we have developed the MAST Workplace Trainer Certificate – an online course that takes less tha

Peter O’Connell, MAST Academy Assessor and Advanced Textiles Industries New Zealand Technical Advisor, shares his insights on training an apprentice and why getting the foundations right from day one helps the next few years look after themselves. Image: Peter O’Connell Background: Upholstery work by Bryce Farrow, Total Trim Canvas & Upholstery WORKPLACE CULTURE: This is one area where companies can look at their operation and ask themselves a few questions before taking on a

Early this year, Ovlov Marine became the first company to receive the Icehouse Leadership Award at the MAST Graduation. Led by Lachlan Trembath, Ovlov Marine has long championed capability development across the marine industry – from technical skills through to leadership growth. For Lachlan, it all starts in the workplace. “When looking at employing staff, we realise candidates come with a similar skill mix – automotive, heavy diesel, small engines”, he says. “So we found

MAST Academy is proud to announce that we are now an official member of the New Zealand Safer Boating Forum (SBF), strengthening our commitment to improving boating safety across Aotearoa. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce preventable boating accidents and save lives on our waterways. Representatives from Safer Boating Forum at the launch of the Recreational Craft Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2031 For many years, MAST has supported New Zealand's

For many people in the industrial textiles industry, a career begins with an unexpected opportunity. For Logan Miller of Hawke's Bay Trim and Canvas, that opportunity came while he was still at school. Today, Logan is a qualified canvas fabricator and installer who has been with Hawke's Bay Trim and Canvas since 2016. After completing his Level 3 qualification, he recently became one of the first people to enrol in the new Level 4 Advanced Industrial Textiles qualification th

For many young people, the best way to discover a career is to experience it. Across the marine and specialised technology sectors, exciting career opportunities often remain out of sight until students step inside a workplace and see the work firsthand. That's where MAST Academy’s Launch it – School to Work programme comes in. It gives senior secondary students the chance to explore a skilled trade through practical, on-the-job experience while still at school, turning curio

There’s something fitting about a group of pre-trade students learning their craft by building stand-up paddleboards. It’s practical, hands-on work – and if all goes to plan, the end result floats.

It begins, as it always has, with a set of lines drawings and some good quality timber, finely sharpened tools and lots of patience. The deceptively demanding task of shaping a half model is an exercise every boatbuilding apprentice undertakes as part of their MAST training.

Behind the scenes of The Kepler Challenge, held in early December last year, a gruelling 60km running race through Fiordland National Park, is a large crew of volunteers who keep the event running each year, including MAST apprentice Dane Frew from Steve Gooding Marine in Invercargill.

When Bill Cunnington, owner of Motor & Marine, appeared in the doorway, Daniel Kruger laughed. “I knew it – I absolutely knew it! There were only two reasons the meeting was a secret: it was either Bill or the Secret Service.” And just like that, with a handshake, a new apprenticeship journey began.

MAST entered into a strategic partnership with SupaHuman AI in 2025, to develop a purpose-built artificial intelligence solution designed specifically for the needs of New Zealand’s marine, composites and specialised industries. Rather than adopting a generic AI tool, our focus has been on creating a system that understands the structure and requirements of New Zealand Qualifications Authority unit standards and reflects the realities of vocational training and industry pract

A real sense of energy and occasion marked the MAST Academy graduation in March, as a record number of graduates gathered at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on 4 March 2026. They were supported by proud families, workmates, and the industry partners who helped get them there.

Peter Gamble is carving out a career that takes him from high-spec loft work in Auckland to remote boatyards in Southeast Asia - all while completing a formal apprenticeship through MAST Academy.

At SL Racing, the motto is simple: “Everything we do is focused on getting you first across the line.” It’s a philosophy that applies as much to their high-performance rowing shells as it does to their people - like MAST graduate Adam Vanderpeet, who was awarded the Outstanding Composite Apprentice award at the MAST Academy the 2025 graduation earlier this year.

When Roger Rhodes teachers a MAST Academy lofting class, he brings more than tools, he brings 25+ years of boatbuilding training and a down-to-earth style that makes tricky concepts click. From shaping the first pre-trade courses in Whangārei to today’s lofting blocks, Roger has guided hundreds of apprentices to their “eureka” moment, when lines on paper transform into a three-dimensional boat. For him, it’s all about preparation, patience and the lightbulb moments that shape

From carpentry to boatbuilding, Aimee Dawson has found her dream trade. Blending her love of being hands-on with her passion for boating, she’s thriving as a MAST Academy apprentice at The Boatbuilders. With strong mentorship, plenty of problem-solving, and a culture that feels like family, Aimee’s story shows what’s possible when skills and passion come together.

At Haines Hunter Boats, development runs deep. From apprentices sharpening their skills on the workshop floor to experienced specialists stepping into leadership programmes, every stage of the journey is backed with support and opportunity. In this story, meet Zahn, Noah and Sam, three apprentices building careers across marine interiors, systems and composites and see how Haines Hunter grows talent at every level.

Discover how MAST Academy’s new Westgate campus is building tomorrow’s marine and composites workforce, with hands-on training, industry partnerships and real career pathways.

Senator Boats’ commitment to training transforms apprentices into leaders, fostering teamwork, mentorship & success in boatbuilding.