Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana
BCom, DipTour Graduate
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Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana discovered a passion for tourism while studying marketing at Otago. A Tourism Marketing paper was a firm favourite and led her on to complete a Diploma in Tourism (now a Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism, PGDipTour).
Attending a graduate employment opportunities fair Kylie learnt about the JET programme, teaching English in Japan. Eager to explore another corner of the world and get some real experience as a tourist herself, Kylie spent three years in Japan, “where I developed my love of talking about New Zealand and in particular our unique selling point, our Maori culture.”
Determined to turn her love of tourism and New Zealand into a career, Kylie returned to New Zealand and secured a Maori Graduate role with Tourism New Zealand, where she is now the Maori Development Manager.
“Over the past few years I have held quite a few roles within TNZ that have enabled me to travel the world and promote New Zealand as a holiday destination.
“Special memories include travelling both coasts of North America on a 32 foot Motor home plastered with New Zealand images, singing on stage at the same festival as Nesian Mystik and Hayley Westenra, and hosting celebrities on familiarisation trips through Aotearoa, New Zealand.”
The strength of a Tourism degree from Otago is obvious to Kylie, “there are an extraordinary number of Otago graduates working for Tourism New Zealand.”
“I am now working for the organisation I have always aspired to, and I look forward to continuing working with a team of very special people who market the best country in the world to the rest of the world.”