It's from rooftops to mountain tops for a NorthTec student who has been awarded a scholarship which will see him jet off to work in the Southern Alps.
Dane Tuialii, who is studying for a certificate in conservation and environmental management, received a grant to spend 12 weeks working for Landcare Research in Dunedin.
Mr Tuialii, 32, spent 13 years as a roofer before deciding it wasn't for him. His parents own a roofing company in Waipu.
"After leaving school that was the thing to do, work. So I went and worked for my dad when I was about 18."
After spending six years working in New Zealand, Mr Tuialii did what "most young kids do" and spent seven years working in Australia.
"I enjoyed it. I gained a lot of life experience working there," he said.
When he returned, Mr Tuialii realised he no longer wanted to work in roofing.
"I was kind of poised to take over our family business and I was questioning why and it didn't make sense to me so I went back and completed my NCEA level 3 and 4."
Mr Tuialii said it was an obsession with the ocean and outdoors that led him to consider studying the environment.
"I have a connection to nature. I wanted to go in the direction of marine biology and I knew a friend who'd done the Bachelor of Applied Sciences. It is a well-respected course so it made sense."
After applying for several internships, Mr Tuialii's tutor suggested he apply for the scholarship. Mr Tuialii said he was stoked when he found out he'd been awarded the scholarship.
The scholarship will see him carrying out projects on seed predation by rodents and will look at the effects of climate change on biodiversity. He will also be looking at the way forestry and rural landscapes can regenerate into native bush and will be working in diverse environments, including alpine ecosystems.
"I imagine I'll be doing a lot of mountain climbing. I probably should be doing more [fitness training]. I'm not super-active but I do surf as much as I can."
After completing his studies, Mr Tuialii was not sure which career path to take but is interested in teaching environmental studies one day.
"One thing I always think is 'why isn't this taught in schools?' It's so important, if the land dies, we die. I'm also quite good with kids," he said.
Mr Tuialii will be heading off to Dunedin early this month and will receive $5000 in instalments to cover costs while he's there.