Kia ora koutou,
Positive change has always been at the heart of Te Pūkenga and this week it’s good to see it continue at pace. A lot of work is going into the consultation process that begins this month, and the Organisational Design and Change team will soon share some new ways to make the process as accessible as possible. You’ll find more information on how to engage with the consultation process in this newsletter, and we’ll also provide more details next week.
On other fronts, we’re continuing to advance our national qualifications. As always, exciting gains have also come from the unrelenting talent and enthusiasm of kaimahi and ākonga.
We’ve long been keen to help address the country’s shortage of nurses by introducing a unified system of high-quality national qualifications. We’ll present these new qualifications to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and the Nursing Council by October so they can be offered in semester one next year.
While we’d hoped to be able to do this earlier, we decided to seek more time to complete all planning and to incorporate feedback from the upcoming consultation process. The new qualifications will incorporate our existing institutional knowledge and replace the 18 different qualifications we currently offer. We look forward to seeing the difference they’ll make by providing a simpler, unified suite of national qualifications to ākonga.
From a regional perspective, it’s good to welcome our new national enrolled nurse programme starting at WITT | Te Pūkenga in July. This was introduced following a request from Te Whatu Ora to help address the nursing need in Taranaki. The internationally recognised, 18-month New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing (Level 5) will equip learners with the theory and clinical nursing practice required to apply for registration. Importantly, it has been structured to help people who want to train and enter the workforce quickly while minimising their study costs. As Helen Lelean, the WITT | Te Pūkenga Deputy Director noted, it will be a welcome step up for Healthcare Assistants wanting to grow their knowledge and skills and widen their career opportunities.
Elsewhere in the network, NorthTec | Te Pūkenga teamed up with Open Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga in a new collaboration to introduce a range of built-in, face-to-face wānanga to support ākonga undertaking online business courses. Open Polytech will facilitate online learning while NorthTec will provide in-person support wānanga.
Passion and inspiration were qualities I saw first-hand this week when I was privileged to attend two graduation ceremonies for Manukau Institute of Technology | Te Pūkenga for the Schools of Education, Hospitality, Nursing Professional Engineering, Social Work and Sport.
I also joined the Pasifika Thanksgiving celebration, where graduands celebrated their achievements not only for themselves but for their countries, villages and families. It was a special moment and a reminder of the difference vocational education makes. By helping people find faster and more manageable ways to get the skills and qualifications they need, we also help them quickly reach that life-changing occasion when they, too, receive their graduation caps.
Next week our Council is meeting to discuss, amongst other things, our organisation structure and financial strategy. Both the structure and our financial plan are integral to delivering on our vision and our Letter of Expectations from the Minister of Education.
On a very sad note, I want to acknowledge the loss of three members of our Te Pūkenga community this week, two ākonga and a kaimahi.
Our thoughts and sympathy go to those grieving their loss.
Ngā mihi nui
Peter Winder
Tumuaki | Chief Executive
Organisational Design and Change
We’re finalising plans for the upcoming consultation starting in the week of 12 June. Ahead of sharing more detailed information with you, we’re sharing a reminder of what you can expect before and during the consultation period.
The consultation in June will run for five weeks and will include proposals for:
- Kāhui Ako | Ako Delivery
- Kāhui Mātaurnga me ngā Punaha Ako | Academic Centre and Learning Systems
- Kāhui Ākonga me te Ahumahi | Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction
- Kāhui Hua Tiriti | Tiriti Outcomes
- Te Kāhui o te Tumuaki | Office of the Chief Executive.
We will begin consultation with affected kaimahi first. If you are affected by the proposal, you will receive a letter that sets out the proposed impact to your role. Union partners will be fully briefed and be involved alongside affected kaimahi.
When consultation starts, we will share a consultation proposal document that includes:
- structure and work areas
- disestablished roles
- reporting line changes
- transitional roles
- new roles and opportunities for kaimahi.
It will also include the proposed change approach and process that will happen following consultation and decisions, along with information on how to provide feedback as an individual or a group and the support options available to you.
Throughout the five-week consultation period, there will be opportunities for in-person and online engagement, as well as written updates provided. We’ll also be updating our online channels (e.g. Te Whare and Taumauri) with regularly updated FAQs, timelines, and resources.
Your local leaders and People, Culture and Wellbeing representatives will be briefed and available to guide you through this process.
Following the close of consultation, we will then move into feedback analysis and decision. All feedback will be considered prior to any decisions being confirmed.
If you would like to talk to someone in confidence at any time, please take note of the independent employee assistance providers available to you. You can access the providers in your division (your People, Culture and Wellbeing representative will have these details) or alternatively you can contact our national provider Vitae (www.vitae.co.nz or phone 0508 664 981).
Would you like to support ākonga and improve practice across the motu? Apply today to help respond to ākonga appeals
Te Poari Akoranga (Te Pūkenga Academic Board) is looking for six new members for Te Ohu Whakahaere - Appeals. The group has an important role to play in supporting ākonga and improving practice.
Te Ohu Whakahaere - Appeals contributes to governance at Te Pūkenga by receiving and resolving ākonga appeals that have been considered by a Te Pūkenga Business Division, but where ākonga are unsatisfied with the outcome of the decision(s). The group are also responsible for identifying and reporting themes and patterns in ākonga concerns, complaints and appeals across the motu.
We are looking for six kaimahi who want to help further improve the experience of ākonga. We welcome applications from across the motu, from kaimahi in academic and non-academic fields. We’re particularly interested in hearing from those who have experience in supporting ākonga Māori, disabled and Pacific learners.
Members will serve a term of one to two years. While work will vary across the year it will equate to approximately 2-4 days per month (during work hours). As such, you will need your manager’s support to make these duties part of your role.
Please send an expression of interest letter and current CV to Jeanette.Fifield@tepukenga.ac.nz by 5pm, Friday 09 June 2023.
Meet our kaimahi
‘Meet our kaimahi’ is where we get to know some of our colleagues recently appointed into new roles.
In this edition, we’re profiling Jo Adlam who has recently been appointed Kaikōkiri Haumarutanga ā-rohe 1 | Wellbeing and Safety Lead region 1.
Did you know?
Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga opened a purpose-built brewery in early 2019 at the Central Otago Campus Bannockburn site. It was part of a $3 million redevelopment that included a new trades block, and is now the only full-time brewing facility in Aotearoa.
The beer brewing expertise of the team recently spilled over once again, when the Brew School gained a place in the prestigious 2023 New World Beer and Cider Awards Top 30.
Otago Brew School’s “Klassenbester” Dunkelweizen, which won a silver medal at the Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards 2022, again tickled the tastebuds of judges.
The New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30, announced on Monday 22 May, comprises a prestigious list featuring some of the country’s biggest names. More than 700 beers, ciders and other fermented delights from all around Aotearoa and the world entered the competition, and it took an independent panel of 29 expert judges two days to whittle the field down to the very best brews.
Alongside global brands like Asahi and Tiger, homegrown names like Mac’s, Monteith’s and Steinlager, the 2023 Top 30 includes a host of legendary local craft brewers and first-time winners. Otago Brew School made the grade with its classic dark wheat beer.
“Our Klassenbester Dunkelweizen has been brewed for the last four years, and has always proved popular with people at beer festivals,” says Geoff Collie, Otago Brew School Lecturer.
“The banana fruit esters typical of the style are mainly due to the yeast type used, as well as the wheat content of the beer.
“I think this latest acknowledgment highlights our programme, as well as our philosophy of teaching students how to brew beers that are true to style.
“The recipes and ingredients are what would usually be expected for each style. We then apply good brewing practice and processes to make the best beer we can.
“Students are involved as ‘understudies’ to our brewing staff in making these commercial beers,” Geoff explains.
“Students assist in brewing as part of their practical learning, but are overseen by our tutors to ensure the brewing and fermenting is completed correctly.”
Find out more about our brewing programmes here.
If you’d like to suggest a topic you’d like to know more about (or you’d like others to know more about), let us know by emailing communications@tepukenga.ac.nz.
Otago Brew School lecturer Geoff Collie (centre) and brewing students Brittany Barton and Neil Fisher put down a fresh brew.
Network wins
Exploring historical significance: tikanga workshop provides reflection and understanding by the riverside
Inspired by whānau, two sisters support each other to graduate with a degree in nursing from Whitireia
Microalgae a major resource
Extension of Apprenticeship Boost Scheme