About Maritime Training Otago
We specialise in sound, reliable distance learning for the maritime and fishing industries.

We also offer radar courses in Dunedin, and provide teaching services for other training providers.

All our courses are approved and audited by Maritime New Zealand.

We do not offer NZQA Unit Standards, and we receive no subsidies of public money.

Because we do not engage with the NZQA system, but are accountable only to Maritime New Zealand, we don’t need the complicated bureaucracy required by the NZQA system.

This way, we are able to provide an imaginative, flexible service to our students at a reasonable price.

About Graham Turner

Graham is a master mariner and a qualified educator.



He has served most of his career in the New Zealand fishing industry as deckhand, skipper, vessel owner, operations manager, netmaker and rigger.

Graham is an executive member of the Maritime and Seafood educators' Association of Aotearoa (MSEAA), and is an MNZ approved examiner for maritime certificates of competency.

He keeps up-to-date by lecturing in seamanship and navigation at University of Otago, and by working at sea on a relieving basis.

Graham has been teaching seamanship and navigation for many years, and is starting to get reasonably good at it. 

About Guided Distance Learning
We will send you specially developed learning material. It's clear, it's straightforward, and it's technically sound. We welcome feedback and will act on it.

You won't need to buy any other books.

You send in assignments, and get them back promptly with comments and suggestions.

If you have problems, call, write or e-mail. You will have our undivided attention until your problem is solved. We work day and evenings, and if we are busy when you phone - just leave your name and number and we will get back to you.

While you are studying, you will also carry out practical exercises at sea under the supervision of your skipper. (Not required for LLO). The skipper will sign your Task Book when he or she feels that you are competent. We do the teaching, the skipper checks to see that it is working.

We won't hassle you. Work at your own pace. Take time to get your head around things.

When you have completed the assignments and the Task Book, we will assign you to an MNZ examiner in your own area, and you will be examined in the usual way.

Guided Distance Learning is not the only way to learn. Some people learn best in a comfortable classroom. But for those who can commit to self managed learning the rewards are worthwhile. What you learn on a boat - you remember on a boat.