L1 Commerce students visit Rainbow's End for Financial Decision-Making Assessment

Year 11 Commerce students recently visited Rainbow's End theme park in Manukau, Auckland, as part of their AS92028 1.1 Financial Decision Making internal assessment. 

The trip gave students a hands-on opportunity to explore how a real New Zealand business weighs up major investment decisions, specifically the multi-million dollar choice between ride types — a family-focused attraction like the newly launched Pacifica Pirate Ship, or a high-thrill roller coaster. Students were guided through the park by Rainbow's End management, who explained how the business balances guest experience with profitability when making large-scale financial decisions. 

The Pacifica ride — a Pacific-themed pirate ship with a capacity of 50 riders per cycle — served as the key case study, with students examining factors such as stakeholder needs, community connection, marketing value, and return on investment. 

Armed with this real-world knowledge, students will now apply what they learned to complete their assessment, arguing which ride type represents the best investment for the park.

Rabia Ahmed