6 March 2019 – Today, the Mayor of Wellington, Justin Leister, officially opened the new purpose-built campus for the New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS), New Zealand College of Massage (NZCM) and New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA) based in the Wellington Railway building, city central.
The newly refurbished 1650-square-metre site is fitted with brand new classrooms, workshops, gym lab and massage therapy clinics, creating a purpose-built hub for students wanting to learn sport, recreation, exercise, health and wellness skills from level 2-7.
After the official pōwhiri, the Mayor said it was wonderful to see the three colleges together in one of Wellington’s finest buildings.
“Students are increasingly choosing to come and study in Wellington because it’s a place they want to live and study.
“I think it’s an even more attractive option when you can learn in a setting which has such a rich history.”
“I look forward to seeing the students really add to the atmosphere at this end of town, and hope they enjoy their new home.”
With demand growing for skilled workers across all sport and health industries, the campus will be used to train hundreds of students. This year, around 400 students will be educated across Foundation Skills to Level 6 in Sport Management and Human Performance, Pre-Police Proficiency, Personal Training, Health Studies and Pharmacy Technician plus programmes designed to cover a wide range of skills and knowledge required for diverse careers in the Massage Therapy industry. NZCM was the first college to offer a Degree in Massage and Neuromuscular Therapy in New Zealand.
NZIS General Manager Suzanne O’Brien said, “We are offering a central city location, with high quality teaching and first-rate facilities where we can inspire our learners with a dynamic and active approach to education in sport, recreation, exercise, and health industries. We aim to provide opportunities for all students in and around Wellington, and I encourage anyone interested in these career paths to come and see what’s available.”
Suzanne added, “To provide our learners with real life experiences, while building relevant and industry aligned skills, we focus on strong partnerships and continual collaboration with a broad range of employers across the sport, exercise, recreation and health sectors.
“Our students are stepping into careers that continue to evolve at a rapid pace. So that we remain a valued contributor to the sustainability of these sectors, NZIS have launched five new programmes in 2019, developed closely with industry and key stakeholders. This campus will become an important training hub in Wellington, being NZQA Category 1 providers, the benefits of having three first rate colleges on one site is further realised. Our students will graduate with work-ready skills and ready for sustainable employment.”
