Kei ngā mana, kei ngā reo, kei ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā huihui mai tatou
It was my pleasure to welcome kaimahi (staff) and ākonga (learners) from Wintec and Toi Ohomai into Te Pūkenga last week. We did so with a moving ceremony that acknowledged this important milestone. While I was in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, ceremonies took place at all eight campuses across the rohe.
Watch the highlights video of the hui whakanui here.
Central to the formalities were greenstone adzes known as toki poutangata which were gifted to the two organisations as a representation of the mauri or life force and a way to connect all of the different parts of Te Pūkenga network and our histories through this transition. You can read more about this below too.
I want to take this opportunity to again thank outgoing Chief Executives Dave Christiansen (Wintec) and Dr Leon Fourie (Toi Ohomai) as well as their respective boards. They have led their teams through this change with courage and empathy and have been champions for the work of Te Pūkenga.
I’m excited to have Dave on board as ITP Transition Lead. His work will be so important as we enter a critical phase in this transition. Like Wintec and Toi Ohomai, Dave is taking on the role of tuakana and will help lead others through the change ahead.
Leon will also play a key role, as Wintec and Toi Ohomai Transitional Executive Lead. While Leon wasn’t able to attend last week’s ceremony, he did dial in from Denver, Colorado, where he led the first Te Pūkenga international education delegation.
Alongside International leads from Southern Institute of Technology, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and Toi Ohomai and Education Minister Hon Chris Hipkins, Leon and the team launched Te Pūkenga on the international stage.
This is a sign of the pace and scale of work underway. We won’t be letting up – there’s a lot to do, but a growing team of passionate and dedicated kaimahi rolling up their sleeves.
Hurinoa, e tau ana.
Stephen Town
Chief Executive
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