Toi Ohomai Student Awarded Consulting Surveyors of New Zealand Scholarship

When mum-of-two Alexandra Millin began exploring new career options after moving from Rotorua to Taupō, she wasn’t sure where to start. A quick search on TradeMe revealed a growing demand for land surveyors in the area, and a whole new career path she hadn’t previously considered.

Now, Alexandra is working part-time at Energy Surveys in Taupō while studying towards a Diploma in Surveying (Level 6) at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. Her journey has recently been recognised with a scholarship from Consulting Surveyors of New Zealand (CSNZ) which will be put towards course-related costs upon completion of the qualification.

Flexibility has been key for Alexandra as she balances study with work and family life as a single mother. The Diploma in Surveying is delivered through remote learning and evening and Friday classes, allowing her to study part-time while gaining practical experience in the industry. 

“I study through correspondence with the Toi Ohomai Windermere campus in Tauranga. Two evenings a week, I have online classes, and I set Fridays aside when I’m not working for classes and assignments. I’m enrolled in two papers a semester, which fits in well around the kids.”

Alexandra says the ability to choose elective papers has been a bonus. 

“Where I can, I pick the papers I believe will go well together and that work with my schedule. It’s great to have that flexibility as a busy mum.”

Before retraining, Alexandra worked in administration for Fire and Emergency New Zealand in Rotorua. But after moving to Taupō, she was ready for a new challenge.

“I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do before searching TradeMe Jobs,” she says. “I love that surveying offers a mix of indoor and outdoor work, and there’s great variety in my role at Energy Surveys.”

Alexandra couldn’t be happier at Energy Surveys. She works primarily in the office, supporting data computations, project preparation and reporting.

“The Energy Surveys team is awesome. I help with project administration before the surveyors head out into the field. Once they’re back, I process their data and prepare documentation like appendices or change plans for reports. It’s awesome to see how a surveying project works from start to finish, and how everything comes together,” she says.

“The team is very supportive. It was the General Manager who encouraged me to apply for the scholarship from CSNZ.”
Alexandra has also gained a new appreciation for the precision required in the field.

“When a survey area is large, as in kilometres long, the results are within sub-millimetre precision. It’s some of the most accurate and precise surveying in New Zealand. It’s to monitor ground movement around dams and geothermal power plants, so it has to be accurate.”

To complete a New Zealand Diploma in Surveying (Level 6) students need to be employed in the industry while studying, which Alexandra says has been invaluable.

“It’s great working alongside the qualification. You come into the course with some knowledge about how things work, and you can apply practical understanding to the theory,” she says.

Looking back to when she began her study, Alexandra says she’s learned a great deal and gained valuable skills. She also knows more about the variety of surveying roles available.

“I didn’t realise how many different areas there are within surveying. Talking to my classmates, who are also working while studying and are based all over New Zealand, has made me more aware of the range of opportunities available across different companies and specialisations.”

Alexandra says she’s really grateful with where she’s at.

“I’m on track to complete my Diploma at the end of 2026 and hope to continue working at Energy Surveys long term, taking on more fieldwork as my children get older.”

“I’m incredibly grateful to CSNZ for the scholarship I’ve been awarded. With the cost of living rising, the financial support is truly appreciated. It will be a massive help towards me achieving my goals. I’d also like to thank Energy Surveys for their flexibility, guidance, and the opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable and supportive team,” Alexandra says.