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From Waitotara meat worker to Human Resources Coordinator at an iconic tourism business, finding the right career path has certainly paid off for 25 year old Taika Brooks.

“I have always enjoyed helping people and meeting people from all around the world, so for me tourism is the perfect industry,” says Taika, the newly appointed HR Coordinator at Skyline Gondola, Restaurant and Luge, Queenstown.

“As soon as I left school I got a job at the Waitotara meat works on the slaughter floor. It was local and paid quite well, but at the end of the day my passion lies with that face to face interaction and the opportunity to provide a memorable service to visitors.”

Taika first joined Skyline as a Luge Operator, before being offered a Modern Apprenticeship. “When the opportunity came up to become a Modern Apprentice I took it with both hands. It allowed me to experience working in all aspects of the business so that I could gain a better understanding of how the different elements of the company work together.”

Following the 2 year Apprenticeship, Taika then took on a Management Traineeship, which involved learning the ropes of the Skyline properties at Rotorua, Dunedin as well as Queenstown.

“My on the job training has really set me up well for my current position. This type of training speaks for itself; you get paid to learn while you’re doing your everyday work. You also get that first hand experience which means you can apply what you learn directly into the job you’re already doing, it’s great.” 

Taika believes that to succeed in the industry you need to be open, outgoing, flexible, and have a love of the outdoors. “Tourism is unlike any other industry. You get to work amongst the elements and really make a difference to people’s experiences. Working for a business involved in workplace training just makes it that much more valuable as an employee,” says Taika.

“When I began at Skyline I thought I might possibly become a supervisor of the Luge one day. The training I have done on the job has meant I can go beyond anything I thought I could achieve, and has given me the confidence to step up to the role I have now.”

“My goal for this year is to continue my studies and get the most out of my training, both personally and professionally. It’s great that you can have a career in such a fun industry,” he concludes. 

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