Hospitality, tourism and events news
Celebrating AUT through the years
Over 50 of our oldest alumni came together for the 2018 Seddon Memorial Technical College reunion hosted by the alumni office.
Gaining skills for the workplace
New Cookbook to fund scholarship fund
Can you help the Foodie Godmother?
Arts student plans dream event
Minister launches sustainable blueprint
THE rankings place AUT in NZ top three
AUT 2019 domestic and international fees
Making connections at the career fair
Employers at the recent AUT Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Culinary Arts Career Fair showed a strong interest in AUT students.
AUT students embrace the world
18 students studying tourism, hospitality, event management and culinary arts at AUT recently travelled to Hong Kong on a cultural exchange programme.
Partnership supports Merge Café
Merging communities is at the heart of the partnership between AUT and Lifewise, which present a high-end dinner to raise money to end homelessness.
Internships at Walt Disney World Resort
AUT culinary arts student Ben Kwek is currently on the other side of the world, experiencing the magic of working for Walt Disney World Resort.
Taking New Zealand cuisine to the world
As President of the NZ contingent for the prestigious Bocuse d'Or culinary competition, John Kelleher is gearing up to bring local flavours to the table.
Harassment in Cook Islands hospitality
Sexual harassment by customers in the Cook Islands hospitality industry is a problem, according to AUT lecturer and Cook Islander Lisa Sadaraka.
Research kicks off on modern Kiwi identity
Auckland University of Technology researcher Lindsay Neill is launching an investigation into what New Zealanders, aged 20 to 40, believe identifies them as Kiwis in 2018.
AUT increases presence in QS subject rankings
New global rankings show AUT now has 13 subjects ranked, with two of them featuring in the top 50 in the world.
Tourism grad takes her skills to Brazil
During her studies, Bachelor of International Tourism Management alumna Anna Rowlands took advantage of an international work opportunity.
Māori and Pacific Early Career Academic Programme
A new generation of Māori and Pacific lecturers is taking up residence at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
The 2018 Early Career Academic Programme offers up to six Māori and Pacific scholars their first, full-time, permanent appointments as research-active lecturers.
AUT Hospitality ranked 45th in the World
Students studying Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Culinary Arts at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) are completing their degrees in a school that is ranked 45th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Students join Auckland Council to promote cutting food waste
Auckland Council has been working with AUT culinary students to inspire Aucklanders to love their leftovers and reduce food waste.
Culinary lecturer in winning team at the International Culinary Olympics
The New Zealand's national chefs’ team, including AUT lecturer John Kelleher, has won silver and bronze at the Culinary Olympics in Germany.
Tourism NZ honour for AUT academic
Tourism New Zealand has recognised AUT Associate Professor Erica Hinckson for her efforts in attracting a world-class academic conference to New Zealand.
AUT student is Sommelier of the Year – wins trip to France’s Champagne region
Congratulations to Bachelor of International Hospitality Management student Dion Wai who took the top prize in blind wine tastings, theory and practical assessments at the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year Awards held recently at the New Zealand School of Food and Wine in Auckland.
AUT gets behind Cooking 4 Change
AUT volunteer students and staff teamed up with well-known Kiwis last night to serve the homeless a gourmet dinner at the Auckland City Mission.
They surprised 80 mission guests by cooking a four-course meal and waiting on their tables. Singers Tiki Taane and Jordan Luck provided the entertainment.
The primordial pleasure of cooking with fire
Michelin-starred chef and School of Hospitality senior lecturer in culinary arts Alan Brown has produced a new book that takes cooking in a wood-fired oven to the next level.
AUT culinary arts student tops Viet Nam fusion competition
Culinary arts student Jamin Gibson has taken out top honours in an international culinary competition held in Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
Great food and culture at Culinary Arts event
Latin American cuisine, colour and culture came together at the Bachelor of Arts (Culinary Arts)'s “Sabores Latinos” event.
Queen’s honour for services to art, education and LGBTQI rights
Being named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to performing arts, education and LGBTQI rights took a while to sink in for AUT senior lecturer Lexie Matheson.
New Zealand’s first team steps up to take on Bocuse d’Or culinary competition
Sourcing a rare fish that lives in the Antarctic’s subzero waters is just one of the challenges that New Zealand’s first ever Bocuse d’Or team has taken on in their quest for the ultimate culinary prize.
AUT culinary team lending skills to Fiji fundraiser
AUT culinary graduates will be working side-by-side with some of New Zealand’s top chefs this weekend to help raise money for Fiji in the wake of Cyclone Winston.
AUT research links tourism to sustainable development in the Pacific
Research to create sustainable livelihoods for our Pacific neighbours: this is the key goal for AUT Professor of Tourism Simon Milne.
Locals - the missing link in national tourism strategy warns Professor
New Zealand’s national tourism strategy needs to focus more on the role of local communities in engaging and interacting with tourists, says AUT University’s tourism and sustainability professor Simon Milne.
Seafaring professor helps to keep Sir Peter Blake’s legacy alive
Joining a group of scientists, academics and educators and 12 outstanding young New Zealanders on the recent 13-day Young Blake Expedition to the subantarctic islands was a ‘huge privilege’ says AUT Professor of Marine Tourism Mark Orams.
Manukau Harbour researchers keen to hear from locals
Tourism researchers exploring the recreation and tourism potential of the Manukau Harbour want to hear from as many locals and visitors as possible about the way they use the harbour.
Prime Minister’s Youth Programme comes to AUT
20 young women, participants in the 2014 Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, took part in a ‘market to table’ experience hosted at AUT’s Four Seasons restaurant this week.
Research explores the legacy of RWC 2011 volunteering
Many Rugby World Cup 2011 volunteers delivered on their intentions to do more volunteer work after an outstanding experience with the event, a longitudinal study has found.
Futuristic hotel vision takes students to Singapore
Imagining a hotel that guests can customise has taken a team of AUT hospitality students into the final round of an international hotel design competition, to be held in Singapore later this month.
‘Kiwi DIY’ (Bachelor of International Hospitality Management students Ashlee Li, Anya Suchkova and Rose Johnstone), is the only Australasian team to make it to the finals of the Accor ‘Take Off’ competition. In Singapore they will compete against teams from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and India for the grand prize of an international holiday.
Making and eating extravagant ice cream creations to mark the end of a university paper sounds unlikely, but first-year students in AUT’s Certificate and Diploma of Pâtisserie did just that recently.
'Excellent textbook' wins Culinary Quill award
The New Zealand Chef, a textbook co-authored by AUT senior lecturer Lindsay Neill, has been recognised with the chief judge’s special award at the 2013 Culinary Quill Awards.
Once again, AUT University has come back from the National Culinary Fare triumphant, with a stack of medals to display.
Students and graduates from AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism programmes, Diploma in Culinary Arts (DCA), Diploma in Patisserie (DipPat) and Bachelor of International Hospitality Management (BIHM), competed in a range of classes at the national event, with plenty of gold, silver and bronze medals being awarded.
AUT’s Arno Sturny has been named New Zealand’s Culinarian of the Year by the New Zealand Chef’s Association.
The senior lecturer in patisserie had no idea the win was coming when it was announced at the association’s annual conference in Christchurch at the end of July.
A long-standing partnership between AUT University and Lifewise is set to boost Auckland’s approach to tackling homelessness. With 85 business and community leaders participating in this year’s Lifewise Big Sleepout on AUT’s city campus over 4-5 July, this is shaping up to be the biggest year yet. But as John McCarthy explains, “AUT does far more than simply host the event; they get right behind it, with the Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack once again leading a team of AUT staff taking part.”
Tea was the name of the game, and the taste of it, when an AUT University senior lecturer and student went to Sri Lanka this month.
Senior lecturer in Culinary Arts John Kelleher and Bachelor of International Hospitality Management student Nicole Gomes spent a week in Sri Lanka with Dilmah Tea, after finishing the runners up in the 2012 Dilmah High Tea Challenge New Zealand.
Medal for Excellence for culinary whizz
For the first time a New Zealander has won the Medal for Excellence in Culinary Arts from City and Guilds London, and that New Zealander is from AUT.
Senior lecturer Alan Brown from the AUT School of Hospitality and Tourism won the medal earlier this year after being nominated by colleagues.
AUT student proud to be a chef
AUT University student Jonny Bell is Proud to be a Chef, in more ways than one, and in one month's time he will prove it again.
Bell, who is studying a Diploma in Culinary Arts in AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, won the opportunity to cook in Melbourne in February this year, thanks to his delicious dish in the Fonterra Proud to be a Chef competition.
It was lights, camera, pastry at AUT University’s Piko Restaurant late last year as patisserie students showed off their skills in their end-of-year and ice cream showcase.
Fusion cook takes out top prize
Three stressful hours and a box of 55 ingredients has seen an AUT University student take out a national cooking competition.
The copious cups of tea have paid off for the AUT team in the Dilmah High Tea Challenge this week.
AUT University went Pink for the first ever AUT Pink Ribbon Breakfast.
AUT's Four Seasons Restaurant is going Pink
AUT University is getting behind the colour pink this month and is hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast in Four Seasons Restaurant to support the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF).
Summer food safety tips from AUT experts
Summer is upon us and with it comes outdoor eating and plenty of barbecues.
But with warmer weather often comes less than ideal food preparation environments.
Being food safe over summer
Importance of sea and coasts needs to be recognised
As we move into the summer months, our interaction with the sea and coasts will become an even more central part of our lives so it is worthwhile to reflect on the importance of our seas as part of our nation and culture according to an AUT professor.
Matariki, Easter and St Patrick’s Day were just a few of the well thought-out themes at the annual showcase for first year pâtisserie students.
Tortelloni takes out top honours
Scampi tortelloni and hard-work has seen an AUT trainee chef make the top four in the annual Fonterra Foodservices Proud to be a Chef competition.
Event Management students test skills at Diwali
Anyone who was out and about in Auckland city over the weekend will have noticed the sights, sounds, tastes and energy of India at the annual Diwali (Festival of Lights) at Aotea Square.
Research shows people 50 percent more likely to be sexually assaulted on sea
Research co-authored by AUT University’s head of hospitality Dr Jill Poulston suggests holiday-makers, especially women, should think twice about their safety when boarding a cruise ship.
AUT’s Training Team of the Year has taken out gold for the third consecutive year at the recent National Culinary Fare.
International book award for NZTRI member
In a first for New Zealand publishing, Me’a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific has been named the Best Cookbook in the World for 2010 at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
Macaroons, mousse, meringues and more were on show at the highly anticipated showcases for first and second year pâtisserie students.
AUT helps Fonterra find young masterchefs
An AUT student was recently awarded the coveted prize of one of the best trainee chefs in New Zealand.
AUT's event production students recently rolled up their sleeves to help out Oxfam New Zealand raise awareness of climate change in the Pacific- free of charge and with global results.
NZ missing out on billions of potential tourist dollars
It’s about more than just access, it’s about making people with disabilities feel welcome and ensuring they feel valued when they visit New Zealand.
With three days of competition, the New Zealand Culinary Fare represents the most prestigious hospitality competition in this country and one that is believed to be the largest of its sort in the world.
AUT University’s top hospitality students showcased their talents recently for New Zealand’s crème de la crème of restaurateurs, food critics and writers.
Five AUT culinary arts students rolled up their sleeves and prepared their best summer pear recipes for a panel of judges in the AUT University/USA Pears cook off.
The former head chef at The Ritz in London visits NZ and AUT to share his experiences of dealing with addiction in the hospitality industry.
I'm still learning: Ray McVinnie on MasterChef
Even for a master chef himself, Ray McVinnie says judging the hit series on TV ONE was still an opportunity for him to learn.
Pacific Island flair infused in book
Pasifika food, music, singing and dancing all played a part in the AUT University-hosted launch of Robert Oliver’s new book.
Busy student chefs have been mixing, baking, icing and decorating their way towards showcasing their end of year talents.
First year Diploma and Certificate Patisserie students in AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism showcased their baked offerings in a ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’ display for friends, family and AUT staff earlier this month.
The search is on to find New Zealand's first MasterChef and AUT’s own Ray McVinnie will be on our television screens every week helping to find the country’s premier chef.
Mark Orams joins the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute
Professor Mark Orams joins AUT as Associate Director of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) and will also be a member of staff in the School of Hospitality and Tourism.