Manaaki Functions Centre

Manaaki Functions Centre is open for business in 2010 with both new facilities and a brand new team of professionals at the helm. Based at Otago Polytechnic’s campus on Harbour Terrace, Manaaki offers purpose-designed spaces for functions including meetings, conferences, weddings, dinners, cocktail parties ; and more. What’s more, the Manaaki team can bring their tailor-made brand of catering and events services to you.

Mark Lane – Executive Chef

Dunedin diners are likely to recognise Mark from his ten years as owner-head chef of High Tide Restaurant and before that, a stint at Bell Pepper Blues. Having taken the reins at Manaaki, Mark is enjoying the opportunity for a more balanced family life without the stress of owning his own business, but also embracing the challenges of establishing a high-quality, diverse product at Dunedin’s newest functions centre.

“I’m enjoying the variety of the centre. Here, I get to prepare whole dishes, rather than just elements of dishes as you might at a restaurant. I’m also enjoying the baking side which comes from having cafes Ako Espresso, Ozone Lounge and Ozone Cafe to operate.

“My main goal is to tie everything together here at Manaaki and run the place well. Our customers can expect a professionally run function with a high quality of food, good wine selection, great atmosphere and good service. Our strength lies in our diversity – we can provide a professional, tailor-made catering service both here at Harbour Terrace and to locations off-site.” 

Simon Lambert – Sous Chef

Simon Lambert has not lived in Dunedin for long, but he is settling in well to his role at Manaaki following a stint at Maori Hill’s No.7 Balmac with highly-regarded Dunedin hospitality operator Katrina Toovey. Hailing from the northern hemisphere, the qualified civil engineer learned his cookery trade in his father’s premises in Wales and has worked in Michelin starred restaurants, as a private chef to Lord and Lady Bath and opened a restaurant in the Alba Valley, Spain over the course of his 20-year career.

“I’ve come to Manaaki for a completely new challenge – every job should be challenge! Success for me is being busy and when you step back, really liking what you’ve created. I’ve never been bracketed by a particular type of food, but I like to work with the seasons and local producers.”

Wibke Schultze – Floor Supervisor

Wibke Schultze has moved from Central Otago where she was Cellar Door Manager for Chard Farm Wines to take up the key front-of-house position with the Manaaki Functions Centre. A hospitality management graduate from Hamburg, Germany, her experience includes work in several luxury lodges around Queenstown over the course of 16 years in the industry.

“I’m looking forward to meeting and working with our customers and making sure that the events booked with us here will be enjoyable and successful with good teamwork  between the front of house and the kitchen. It’s great to be working within such a professional team that has a lot of  ‘real world’ experience.”

Manaaki Functions Centre at Otago Polytechnic, Harbour Terrace.
Places now available in the National Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5) and Certificate in Professional Cookery (Level 4)

Phone 479 6069 Email functionstekotago.ac.nz