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About Us

Our mission is to deliver practical training courses...

to help you take your maritime career to the next level

Through years of teaching for different maritime training providers, we identified a need for practical, hands-on training options.

We listened to the frustrations of students and developed courses that focus on practical skills while learning the theory.

The best way for many of us to learn is by doing. We help our students solidify their understanding of the theory by putting it straight into practice.

We strive to build confidence by walking with students every step of the way.

  • Courses don’t require months of self-directed online learning
  • Tutors sign off Training Record Books in class (SRL, QDC, DWR & 500GT endorsement)
  • Focus on practical skills
  • Admin and tutor support from start to finish

Our courses are designed to be efficient, making the most of your time.

We’re going to give you heaps of support so you can enjoy working on your maritime qualification.

Code of Pastoral Care

Meet Our Team

Our team of tutors are all still serving on the water and have a real-life understanding of the issues facing seafarers today

Milo

Milo Coldren

Director & Tutor

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Milo began working commercially off Canada’s west coast. He has taught internationally and settled in New Zealand in 2002. Within his career he has taught for various other institutes but has now developed his own Maritime School. Milo is the founder of STNZ and is passionate about bringing practical and effective learning pathways into the industry for future mariners.

Qualifications:

  • ASA Instructor
  • Master NC (USCG)
  • Skipper Coastal / Offshore (NZ)
  • Inshore Launch Master (NZ)
  • Marine Engineer Class 6 (NZ)
  • Master <24m NC (Australia)
  • STCW Advanced Fire Fighting
  • STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft
  • Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (Level 6, NZ)
  • Maritime Radio instructor & examiner
  • RYA Powerboat Instructor
  • Advanced Sea Survival Instructor
  • Amateur Radio operator (ham)
Valentino

Captain Valentino Lobo

Master Mariner / Senior Tutor

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Valentino migrated with is family to NZ 9 years ago and has 8 years of teaching within the industry. He also has 23 years of sea experience on many different cargo ships trading internationally. Some of his other roles within the industry include, Marine Superintendent and Cadet training officer. Valentino is passionate about training and sharing his experience and knowledge with fellow mariners.

Qualifications:

  • Master Mariner (F.G) Unlimited
  • Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching (Level 6)
  • Train the trainer Certificate (Simulator)

Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change – Jim Rohn

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Ruby Needham

Student Engagement 

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Before heading to sea, Ruby qualified as an educator. She then spent 5 years serving on commercial vessels, most recently in the South Pacific on a 40m commercial super yacht.

Qualifications:

  • RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (200 ton) Commercially Endorsed
  • PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Diver and Rescue Diver
  • Skipper Restricted Limits (24m)
Barry Bio

Barry Harwood

Nautical, Engineering & HYBRID Tutor

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Barry has spent previous years in the RNZN specialising in Electrical and Marine engineering. He works commercially out on the water in Dunedin and is a Unit Training Co-Ordinator and Master onboard the local Coastguard Rescue vessel.

Qualifications:

  • Skipper Restricted Limits
  • Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching (Level 7, NZ)
  • Diploma in Engineering – Electrical Engineering (Level 6, NZ)
  • ISC Coastguard Master
  • Marine Engineer Class 6 (NZ)
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Phil Bishop

Nautical and Survival Specialist Tutor

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Phil has been teaching & tutoring in the marine industry for over 15 years. He is our senior survival trainer when he is not delivering maritime and leadership training in the RNZN or running his own Maritime School in Auckland.

Qualifications:

  • RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (200 Ton) Commercially Endorsed
  • RYA Yachtmaster Ocean (200 Ton) Commercially Endorsed
  • RYA Yachmaster Instructor, Trainer & Examiner
  • RYA Advanced Power Boat Certificate
  • RYA Advanced Power Boat Instructor
  • Skipper Restricted Limits
  • Master Yacht <24m
  • Coastguard Boating Education Tutor & Examiner
  • Radio Examiner
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Aaron Miller

Curriculum Design

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Aaron has over 17 years of experience in the maritime industry working in NZ, Australia and Hawaii on vessels ranging from fishing to tourism and ferries. He is also a Mate on the YWAM Koha (ex Claymore II). After his last role at Sea World Cruises on the Gold Coast, he relocated back to NZ and joined our team. Aaron is passionate about sharing, mentoring and imparting his knowledge with others.

Qualifications:

  • New Zealand Offshore Master
  • Marine Engineer Class 5
  • Master <35m NC (Australia)
  • Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 NC (Australia)
  • ADI Scuba Rescue Diver
  • GMDSS General Operators Certificate
  • STCW Advanced Fire Fighting
  • STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft/Rescue Boat
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Mark Jenner

Tutor

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Mark completed a fishing cadet course to kick start his career straight after college. After working on fishing vessels for 16 years, he moved on to the oil and gas industry for a further 6 years. When he became a father, he stopped working at sea full time and now does occasional relief jobs and volunteers as the Master on the dental and medical ship YWAM Koha.

Qualifications:

  • Master Fishing Unlimited
  • Chief Mate Foreign Going
  • Master <500Gt Unlimited
  • STCW Ancillaries
  • GMDSS
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Nick Tapp

Tutor / Assessor

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Nick has been sailing commercially and recreationally for over 10 years. He has worked in diverse roles, including expedition documentary work and training RHIB drivers. When he’s not boating commercially, he contracts in the film and construction industries and volunteers with Wellington Coastguard Rescue.

Qualifications:

  • SRL <24m
  • RYA Powerboat Level 2
  • Pre Hospital Emergency Care
  • Category 1 Offshore First Aid
  • PADI Open water diver, SSI Diver Stress and Rescue
Fraser

Fraser Hoyland

Curriculum Design

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Fraser is developing resources for HYBRID students to use at home..

He grew up on the water around Wellington on power and sailboats and is a skipper with Coastguard, where he has volunteered for over 10 years. With all this experience under his belt, Fraser was ready to take his maritime career into the commercial realm and completed our SRL course.

Dave

Dave Duncan

Tutor

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Dave is an accomplished maritime professional with extensive experience in commercial shipping and port management. Known for his strategic vision and leadership, Dave has significantly enhanced operational efficiency, safety, and profitability in various roles, including Harbour Master in New Zealand and Australia.

With a flair for communication and relationship building, he excels in driving teams towards success. Dave’s commitment to innovation and excellence in maritime services marks him as a distinguished figure in the industry and we are pleased to have him join us as a tutor.

Qualifications:

  • Port Facility Security Officer Port Nelson
  • Open Water Pilot Port Nelson
  • Harbour Master Port Nelson
  • Certificate Equivalent Competency MCA. Master FG
  • RYA Yachtmaster Examiner Yachtmaster Ocean/Yachtmaster Offshore
  • RYA Certificate of Competency Yachtmaster offshore
  • Certificate of Competency, Master Foreign Going
  • Mate Foreign Going Certificate
  • CBES Yachtmaster Examiner /Instructor
  • 2nd Mate Foreign Going Certificate
Lucinda

Lucinda Lindsay

Driving Positive Change

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Lucinda has a strong connection to water sports. She started her working career as a swim instructor and lifeguard. After many years working internationally as a coach, workshop facilitator, team leader and senior manager in education, both in the corporate and tertiary setting, she set sail with her husband on their yacht for an extended cruise around the Pacific.

She has worked with Milo in leadership development for the Navy Cadets and is highly experienced in team building and conflict management training at the international corporate level. She brings her enthusiasm and experience to help drive continuous improvement in Skipper Training NZ.

Qualifications:

  • Master of Arts Leadership & Training
  • Bachelor of Arts Psychology & Sociology
  • Diploma in Recreation Management – Aquatic Specialist
Gisella

Gisella Pinto Soto

Learning Support Tutor

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Gisella’s fascination with language led her to study Education, specialising in English. After teaching in Chile, she started travelling to explore different cultures and further develop her skills.

Gisella has crewed professionally on an international expedition vessel and worked on domestic charter vessels. She has also done some work maintaining our training vessel.

Her main role is supporting students with language and learning challenges. Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors, especially on her surfboard.

Melissa

Melissa De Beer

Administration Manager

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Melissa immigrated to NZ with her family in 2022.  She was the co-owner of their family business (commercial & earth-moving vehicle repairs & sales) in South-Africa.  She comes from a strong business/administration background with 21 years experience.  She enjoys being at the ocean and loves being outdoors.

Qualifications:

  • NSC – Small Business Management
  • Naui – Scuba Diver
Denise

Denise Booth

Operations Manager

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Denise enjoys recreational boating and fishing and loves getting out on the water in the amazing backyard of the Abel Tasman. Denise comes to us with a background in law, extensive overseas travel and most latterly the joint ownership of a very successful small business.  As our operations manager she is tasked with streamlining our systems and processes.

Qualifications:

  • LLB
  • NZ Diploma of Business
  • Diploma of Personnel Management
  • Diploma of Management
  • Padi Open Water Diver
Isabella

Isabella Merschdorf

Communications Manager

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With a strong background in content marketing and writing, Isabella is tasked with promotion and communication on social media and print media, and takes great pride in making our student workbooks as user-friendly as possible. Isabella loves hiking and mountain biking in the nearby national parks and getting out on the water whenever she can.

Qualifications:

  • NZ Diploma in Small Business and Project Management
  • Diploma in Proofreading and Editing – New Zealand Institute of Business Studies
  • Master of Science
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Arts
Vicki

Vicki Seager

Quality Systems Manager

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Growing up in Auckland, Vicki’s love of the sea began with a trip on the Spirit of Adventure as a teenager.  She then pursued a career in Aquaculture, which led her to sunny Nelson and eventually into the education sector as a tutor and quality systems manager. Vicki focuses on STNZ’s quality review systems to help maintain our high standards and ensure that we meet the needs of our students and the maritime industry. In her spare time, Vicki enjoys getting outdoors in her garden, tramping, water sports and skiing.

Qualifications:

  • Master of Science Aquaculture & Fisheries Management
  • NZ Certificate in Aquaculture (Level 4)]
  • NZ Certificate in Seafood (Level 4)
  • Bachelor of Agricultural Science
  • PADI Advanced Diver and Specialty Diver (Photography)
Robin

Robin

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Robin’s diverse career journey spans farming, ministry, real estate, and a significant focus on business, leadership development, and education. He co-founded a leading hairdressing enterprise in the South, transitioning into tertiary education as a director and tutor of a leadership development program in partnership with NMIT, delivering NZQA qualifications at levels four, five, and six. Recently, Robin ventured into the maritime sector by acquiring the Nelson Ferry. He has completed the SRL course with Skipper Training NZ and is now proud to join the team and support the next generation of students.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching
  • Diploma in Business and Management Mastery
  • Skipper Restricted Limits
Sharon

Sharon

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Sharon brings a unique blend of maritime and social service experience to our team. After six years on commercial yachts across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, she returned to Nelson, embracing a role in the disability sector.

Sharon’s commitment to empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals mirrors her own adventurous spirit.

An avid outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking, embodying the resilience and determination she fosters in others.

Why Choose Us?

Our mission is to provide practical skipper training courses to help you take your maritime career to the next level.

Skipper Training in NZ AUS

Student Focus

We’re a small school so can adapt quickly to student needs, like spending time on the water instead of in the classroom.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Experienced Team

All our tutors are current professional skippers who have local and international experience.

Promised Results

We guarantee that we will find the right fit for you, as long as you put in the study time and follow the guidelines.

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR MARITIME CAREER...

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