MAST Academy

What MAST Academy does

MAST Academy (Marine and Specialised Technologies Academy of New Zealand) is a New Zealand Private Training Establishment registered with NZQA that delivers vocational training and apprenticeships for the marine, composites, marina, and industrial textiles industries. The organisation traces its origins to 1995 as the Boating Industry Training Organisation (BITO), rebranded as NZMAC ITO in 2011 to cover composites, and was reconstituted as a PTE on 2 August 2021 following the government Reform of Vocational Education. It operates a portfolio of Level 3 and Level 4 NZQA-recognised programmes spanning pre-trade campus courses (12-week and 6-month formats at its Westgate campus), specialised apprenticeships in boatbuilding (composites, alloy, wood), marine systems engineering, marine coatings, marine interiors, power boat systems, yacht rigging, composite sail making, marina operations, and industrial textiles fabrication, plus business/leadership training and post-trade micro-credentials.

Its technology stack centres on the proprietary Rudder2 Learning Management System integrated with Canvas LMS, Microsoft Office 365 for authentication and productivity, and MAST Intelligence, a purpose-built AI solution developed in partnership with SupaHuman AI (announced 2025) designed to align with NZQA unit standards. The business model is B2B/B2C vocational training: employers sponsor apprentices who pay programme fees (ranging from ~NZ$3,080 to ~NZ$10,780 + GST per full apprenticeship depending on specialisation), supplemented by per-learner school programme fees, one-time pre-trade fees, and professional services revenue from workplace trainer certification and business leadership courses. The Apprentice Boost government subsidy ($500/month for eligible first-year apprentices) and Fees Free scheme supplement learner affordability. MAST serves employers nationwide (Kaitaia to Bluff) through workplace-based delivery with quarterly assessor visits, supported by partnerships with NZ Marine, NZMOA, Composites NZ, OFPANZ, and Hanga-Aro-Rau.

Name

MAST Academy

Legal name

Marine and Specialised Technologies Academy of New Zealand

Website

https://mastacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MAST Academy is a New Zealand Private Training Establishment delivering NZQA-recognised apprenticeships and pre-trade courses across marine, composites, marina, and industrial textiles industries for employers, apprentices, and school students nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Apprenticeships

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC), Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA), Prefab Hull Blocks & Modular Ship Sections (IMAJAKAE), Boilermaking, Pressure Vessels & Tank Fabrication Training (EDAOADAN)

Keywords

• Marine trades training
• Boatbuilding apprenticeships
• Composites vocational training
• Marine industry education
• Workplace-based apprenticeships

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Tuition Fees: MAST Academy generates revenue primarily through programme fees charged to employers or apprentices for NZQA-recognised Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeship qualifications. Fees vary by programme, typically charged annually or per programme. Employers may access Apprenticeship Boost funding ($500/month for up to 12 months for eligible first-year apprentices).
2. Campus-Based Training Fees: Revenue from pre-trade courses including 12-week A Taste of Marine Trades and six-month Pre-Trade Training programmes. Fees are charged per programme intake.
3. Block Course Fees: Optional block course fees charged separately from programme fees, such as Scale Drawing & Lofting and General Engineering courses.
4. Workplace Trainer Certification: Revenue from training workplace trainers to support apprentices within marine and specialised technology businesses.
5. Business & Leadership Training: Programmes in leadership, productivity and project management for industry teams, including Learning to Lead, Introduction to Productivity Excellence, Productivity Excellence, and Project Management courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAST Academy is an NZQA-registered Private Training Establishment (PTE) that delivers vocational education and apprenticeship programmes for the marine, composites, marina, and industrial textiles industries in New Zealand. Core offerings include Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeships across boatbuilding specializations (composites, alloy, wood, production), marine systems engineering, marine coatings, marine interiors, power boat systems, yacht rigging, composites manufacturing, marina operations, and industrial textiles fabrication, plus pre-trade campus programmes, post-trade micro-credentials, business and leadership training, and a school-to-work pathway for senior secondary students.

Product overview

MAST Academy is New Zealand's leading training provider for marine, composite, and specialised technology industries. The organization operates a platform-plus-programmes model consisting of Rudder2 (the primary learner and workplace trainer portal) and Canvas LMS for course delivery. The portfolio includes Pre-Trade Training programmes (12-week and 6-month options), multiple Level 4 apprenticeship specializations across boatbuilding (Composites, Alloy, Wood), marine systems, coatings, interiors, power boats, and yacht rigging; Composites courses (L3 Certificate and L4 Apprenticeship); Marina Operations programmes; Industrial Textiles Fabrication courses; Business and Leadership programmes; Workplace Trainer Certificate; and Post-Trade micro-credentials. The Launch it School to Work programme provides pathways for secondary school students. MAST Intelligence, a purpose-built AI solution developed with SupaHuman AI, supports vocational learning aligned with NZQA unit standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Launch it – School to Work: School to Work programme connecting senior students with workplace experience in the marine and composites industries.
• Rudder2
• Rudder Live

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-4 years to complete apprenticeship and become qualified tradesperson with Level 4 NZQA certificate
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SupaHuman AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership to develop a purpose-built artificial intelligence solution designed specifically for New Zealand's marine, composites and specialised industries. Rather than adopting a generic AI tool, the focus is on creating a system that understands NZQA unit standards structure and reflects the realities of vocational training and industry practice.
• NZ MarinecoreOthersPeak industry body for the New Zealand marine industry, providing industry connections and supporting MAST Academy's training programmes.
• NZMOA (New Zealand Marine Industry Association)coreOthersIndustry association supporting the marine sector, working with MAST Academy on training and workforce development.
• Composites NZcoreOthersNational composites industry organisation supporting MAST Academy's composites training programmes.
• OFPANZ (Outdoor Fabric Products Association of NZ)coreOthersIndustry association for outdoor fabric products supporting MAST Academy's industrial textiles training programmes.
• Global Training PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnerships for proven training systems, curriculum collaboration, industry connections and cost-effective growth. Referenced in Global Partnerships document.
• Hanga-Aro-Rau (Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics WDC)coreOthersWorkforce Development Council responsible for standard setting in the sector following the 2020 Reform of Vocational Education. MAST Academy works within their standards framework.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ServiceIQ: ServiceIQ is a NZ industry training organisation covering service industries, also transitioning post-RoVE. Comparable in scale, structure and NZ vocational training market positioning, though its focus is hospitality, retail and aviation rather than marine trades.
• Warsash Maritime School: Warsash Maritime School is a UK-based maritime vocational training provider offering marine apprenticeships and officer training. Comparable in marine-specific trade curriculum and apprenticeship delivery, though UK-based and serving a different national workforce market.
• Competenz: Competenz is a NZ industry training organisation delivering apprenticeships and trade qualifications in engineering, manufacturing and related trades. Directly comparable to MAST in structure (workplace-based apprenticeships, NZQA-aligned, post-RoVE transition model) though it serves different industrial verticals.
• MITO (Motor Industry Training Organisation): MITO is a NZ industry training organisation that transitioned to a PTE under the same RoVE reforms as MAST Academy and serves the motor and related trades. It is closely comparable in operating model, apprenticeship delivery and NZQA registration structure, although its trade focus is automotive rather than marine.
• Australian Maritime College: Australian Maritime College (part of University of Tasmania) is the closest international peer providing marine vocational and degree-level training. Both organisations deliver industry-recognised maritime qualifications with strong employer links, but AMC operates at a much larger scale in a different national market.

Others

• Hanga-Aro-Rau WDC: Hanga-Aro-Rau is the Workforce Development Council for manufacturing, engineering and logistics in NZ and is responsible for setting the unit standards under which MAST operates. It is the regulatory/standards counterpart rather than a direct delivery competitor, but is centrally relevant as the standards authority MAST depends on.
• RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Training: RYA Training is the UK body administering maritime training certifications and standards for recreational and small-craft marine trades. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates a similar vocational standards and accreditation model for marine occupations comparable to MAST's NZQA-aligned qualifications.

Broad incumbents

• Te Pūkenga: Te Pūkenga is the NZ national network of polytechnics and institutes of technology formed under the RoVE reforms. Provides broad vocational and trade education across many fields including marine and composites-adjacent curricula, but as a much larger and more diversified institution rather than a marine-specialist.
• TAFE Queensland: TAFE Queensland is a large Australian publicly-funded vocational education provider offering maritime and trade training. Comparable in delivering workplace-aligned technical qualifications, but at much greater scale and across all trades rather than specialising in marine/composites.

Emerging players

• Composites Training Network: An international composites manufacturing training network delivering similar technical training for composite technicians. Overlaps with MAST's composites apprenticeships (Level 3/4) but operates outside NZ with no marine-specialisation, making it an emerging rather than head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIkVpq1Rd2Tdf8O-oGijV5w
• Facebookfacebook.com/mast.academy.of.nz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mast-academynz
• Instagraminstagram.com/mast.academy
• TikToktiktok.com/@mast.academy
• Xx.com/MASTAcademyNZ

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MAST Academy