In New Zealand and around the world there is growing demand for staff with an understanding of optics as well as electronics. At the University of Auckland, Photonics courses have been designed with particular input from the local industries most likely to recruit graduates. Our graduates now work in the photonics industry in New Zealand for companies including Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Vodafone, Tait Electronics, Cubic Defence, Downer, Coherent Solutions, Southern Photonics. Many students have also found employment at major photonics companies worldwide.