Tourism student and Black Fern runs with studies

Thursday, 19 April 2007

MIT tourism student and world champion Black Fern picks up her studies and runs with them

Black Fern Diane Maliukaetau discovered one of her two career paths as a child in Tonga, trying to fit in with her boy cousins and uncles by tussling with them in the rugby scrum.

She has come a long way since then, growing up to become one of New Zealand’s Black Ferns, and plans to travel even further as she follows her second career path in tourism through Manukau Institute of Technology.

At just 20 years of age, Diane, a Manukau resident, is the youngest prop the Black Ferns has had since competition began in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991. The team has won the past three World Cups with Diane helping them achieve victory in Edmonton, Canada in September last year, defeating England 25-17.

“I started at MIT in the Tourism and Travel school last year but put it on hold as the World Cup got closer so I could concentrate on training,” says Diane.

“We were in Canada for about a month and the team spirit was awesome. There are 26 women in the team as well as coaches and physiotherapists and it was so much fun travelling around together.

“I’ve always enjoyed rugby and I love the competition. I couldn’t believe it when the coach phoned me up and told me I was picked for the Black Ferns. So far I’ve been lucky because I haven’t had any bad injuries but it might happen and then what would I do for a job? I’m not the kind of person who can just sit around. I know I have to have another career to fall back on.”

And so the experienced traveller has returned to student life with a stronger desire than ever to become a flight attendant. “I want to do anything around the airport. Flight attendants welcome people and make them feel comfortable and I really like the idea of that.”

Diane will complete her Certificate in Tourism Customer Services this year with the head of the Tourism school, Stephan Hauke, describing her as an outstanding student. Clearly she pursues her studies with the same determination she displays on the rugby field. “You have to give it everything you’ve got; set yourself a goal and really go after it.”

But the competitive sportswoman has more than just graduation as her goal. With no intention of losing her form in the off-season, she is maintaining her edge with a programme of weights, running and kickboxing. “There’s a kickboxing tournament coming up and I’m focusing on that too.”

ENDS

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