AUT Hospitality and Tourism

08/10/2026

Vote for Kai - In-Person Political Forum

On Friday 16th October, AUT's Centre for Critical Food Studies is co-hosting a political discussion on the future of New Zealand's food system. Attending will be representatives of National, Labour, the Greens, NZ First and TOP parties.

Join us for a cross-party discussion on where our political parties actually stand on food, and what they're prepared to do about it.

You can reserve a seat at:
https://events.humanitix.com/vote-for-kai-in-person-political-forum

05/10/2026

🩵✨Community Impact: Partnering with Auckland City Mission
At AUT Hospitality and Tourism, we believe that culinary education extends beyond the classroom and into our community.

We are proud of our Culinary Arts students and staff who regularly contribute fresh bread, pastries, desserts, and surplus produce to support the vital mahi happening at Haeata and HomeGround. Building strong, compassionate relationships across Tāmaki Makaurau ensures our future chefs graduate with both professional expertise and a deep sense of social responsibility.

Read the full story from Auckland City Mission below 👇

AUT - Auckland University of Technology

What started as a contribution of baked goods has become an ongoing part of life at Haeata. 🩵

The AUT Cooking School has been supporting Haeata by sharing the delicious things their students make, from desserts and pastries to freshly baked bread, with whānau who access our services.

At the end of each semester, they also pass on unused ingredients and fresh produce, including fruit and vegetables, milk, cream and eggs.

Last week, members of the AUT team visited HomeGround and Haeata to learn more about the services we provide and see the mahi their support contributes to.

We’re grateful for the many ways our community supports Haeata, and for the AUT Cooking School being part of it. 🙌🏽

01/10/2026

🌺🍽️🌊 Pacific Excellence: Ocean of Flavours 2026 at AUT - Auckland University of Technology

AUT Hospitality and Tourism was proud to host Ocean of Flavours, a extraordinary culinary collaboration presented by Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand (PTINZ), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL).

Featured on ’s Seven Sharp, the special event brought together visiting master chefs from across the Blue Pacific - including New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa - alongside Chef Peter Gordon and AUT culinary students. Together, they transformed Pacific-sourced ingredients into a five-course showcase celebrating the rich heritage, stories, and vibrant flavours of the region.

This initiative offered an invaluable mentorship opportunity for the next generation of culinary leaders, building deep cultural and professional connections across the Pacific hospitality sector.

14/09/2026

Celebrating AUT’s Top Scientists 🏆📚
We are proud to share that two distinguished academics from our AUT Hospitality and Tourism School have been named in the prestigious Research.com, 'Best Business and Management Scientists 2026' ranking for New Zealand.

Congratulations to Professor Peter B. Kim Kim and Professor Alison McIntosh for this well-deserved recognition of their research impact and academic leadership! 👏

Pioneering Research Impact:
🌟 Professor Peter Kim's research focuses on service management and marketing, and leads AUT's Pacific Tourism Futures Research Group.
🌟 Professor Alison McIntosh's research focuses on inclusive and accessible tourism, and has established AUT's Tourism For All NZ Research Group.

This national recognition highlights the real-world impact of our faculty’s research, driving innovation, sustainability, and inclusion across the global hospitality and tourism sectors.

🔗 Explore the full 2026 rankings list: https://lnkd.in/ekrTSBBX

10/09/2026

🎓✨Scholarship Announcement: Pro-invest Group RISE Hospitality & Tourism Scholarship 🚀
Applications are officially open for the Pro-invest Group RISE Hospitality & Tourism Scholarship, established to alleviate financial barriers and support high-potential AUT - Auckland University of Technology students entering the sector.

Established in 2010, Pro-invest Group is an international boutique investment firm specializing in Private Equity Real Estate and hotel operations across Australia and New Zealand. Through this initiative, Pro-invest Group is committed to advancing equity in education by delivering direct financial assistance and industry exposure to AUT students facing financial hardship.

Scholarship Provisions:
🎓 Financial Assistance: A $5,000 annual award toward full-time undergraduate study within the AUT School of Hospitality and Tourism.
🤝 Industry Pathways: Access to executive mentorship, work experience, internship placements, and career pathways across Pro-invest Group’s hotel portfolio.
👉 Review full eligibility criteria and submit your application via the AUT Scholarships portal below. Keyword search: 'Pro-invest' https://aut.communityforce.com/Funds/Search.aspx

AUT Hospitality and Tourism

25/08/2026

🌴🌺Bridging Research & Industry: Shaping Pacific Tourism Futures

Five of our AUT Hospitality and Tourism dissertation students recently had the privilege of presenting their research to the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. As part of AUT - Auckland University of Technology Pacific Tourism Futures Research Group, their work explored visitor and local sentiments, as well as business perspectives across the Cook Islands.

The cohort presented directly to Karla Eggelton, CEO of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Arihia Hoani-Waaka, Director of Destination Development and Noeline Mateariki, the Director of Destination Marketing within the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, alongside 7 key members of the leadership team.

We deeply appreciate the time, expertise, and meaningful feedback provided by every member of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. Their valuable insights not only enrich our students' research, but also pave the way for actionable, sustainable tourism strategies in the Pacific.

🤝✨We look forward to continuing this vital partnership, empowering our students to deliver impactful research that supports the future of tourism in the Pacific!

20/08/2026

✨👩🏻‍💻Student Spotlight: Real-World Experience at MEETINGS
At AUT Hospitality and Tourism, we pride ourselves on giving our students direct access to the heart of the industry.

Today, we are shining the spotlight on Kayleigh Farr (pictured), who recently joined a group of our Event Management students interning at MEETINGS - New Zealand’s flagship national business events tradeshow, hosted by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).

Working across the event, Kayleigh gained vital hands-on operations experience in a fast-paced environment, assisting with check-ins, delegate support, and essential behind-the-scenes coordination. See the image below to see what Kayleigh had to say about her experience!

Opportunities like this ensure our students graduate not just with a degree, but with real industry connections, practical confidence and deep sector knowledge that set them up for long-term career success.

A huge thank you to BEIA and the NZICC team for mentoring and supporting the next generation of event leaders. 👏💼

23/07/2026

AUT’s Culinary & Gastronomy Winter Series is Back! 🥕🍽️✨

Curated by AUT Hospitality and Tourism in collaboration with Pacific Food Lab Aotearoa and the Centre for Critical Food Studies, the 2026 programme brings together an exciting mix of academic insight and industry expertise.

Expect an eclectic range of events designed to excite the tastebuds and stimulate deep discussion. Join us as we celebrate food as storytelling and reflect on the evolving culinary cultures that shape kai across Aotearoa’s most vibrant, diverse city. 🌿🍷

👉 Find out more and explore the full programme (including many free sessions): https://www.aut.ac.nz/events/culinary-arts-and-gastronomy-winter-series

🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkdJbP3Pxso

18/05/2026

📚✨Celebrating Academic Excellence: Four Major Book Launches

Last week, we hosted a wonderful evening to celebrate a significant milestone: the launch of four major publications by our esteemed AUT Hospitality and Tourism faculty. These works are at the forefront of the industry, advancing inclusive, equitable, and transformative practices across the global tourism and hospitality landscape.

✨Congratulations to our authors and editors:
Alison McIntosh & Brielle Gillovic - The Dis/abled Tourist
Tracy Harkison (Co-editor) - Rethinking Hospitality and Tourism Education
Shelagh Mooney - Intersectionality in the Hospitality and Tourism Sectors
Heike Schänzel (Co-editor) - Handbook on Children and Family Tourism

These publications reflect our dedication to research that actively shapes a more accessible and thoughtful future for our sectors. A proud moment for our staff and the wider academic community!

14/05/2026

📖From Theory to Luxury: Redefining the Postgraduate Classroom

It has been an exceptional start to the semester for students of our 'Managing Luxury' course, who have been bridging the gap between academic theory and world-class industry practice.

🤝 Industry Immersion: Hilton Auckland, New Zealand 🏨
Our students were treated to a truly immersive experience, starting with an insightful presentation from Claire Colehouse, Director of Human Resources. The learning continued with seven other Heads of Departments, who provided a deep dive into the operational and strategic nuances of managing a luxury property. We are incredibly grateful to the Hilton Auckland team for providing such a transformative experience for our students.

📜The Symposium: Students successfully delivered a mini-symposium, exploring luxury through historical and contemporary lenses. Every student earned a Certificate of Achievement for this rigorous first assessment. 🏆

This interplay between rigorous research and industry engagement ensures our graduates are prepared to lead in the global luxury landscape. ✨