I’m just back from two weeks in the UK to celebrate my son’s wedding. Here we celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, 50 years since the petihana and began the process of farewelling Queen Elizabeth and welcoming King Charles. It was a timely reminder that change is constant in this world – but how we operate through change is not.
At Te Pūkenga, the past two weeks have been spent processing and listening to the whakaaro shared on Tā tātou huarahi | Our pathway. This is a significant undertaking which involved categorising and analysing nearly 3,000 pieces of feedback, half of which arrived on the last day.
I cannot emphasise enough the variety of views put forward throughout Te hāro (the engagement period). It was clear that as a Network we are passionate about education and training and the value we can add to Aotearoa New Zealand through that. However, we have quite widely varied views on the best way to organise ourselves to achieve that. Much of the feedback is contradictory. Sifting through the varying views is taking time.
Once analysed, the feedback will be systematically applied to the draft structure and preliminary decisions made. The decision-making process will involve seeking official approval from Te Pūkenga Council as appropriate.
Once decisions are final, there is another process to ensure we release information in an appropriate manner. For Tā tātou huarahi that process will centre on conversations with affected kaimahi, with adjacent kōrero happening with unions, Government agencies and representatives and Network leaders. This form of working takes time, and brings together leaders from across the Network.
We are also working on the details of integration and transition to a unified Network. To ensure we move at pace, I asked for design to begin on the Digital and People Culture and Wellbeing business groups. This is ahead of the final decisions and the final engagement response document. The work does not presuppose any final decisions on either the shape of the business groups, or our executive structure, but is essential to enable rapid progress.
While on the road I committed to coming back to you on 20 September or as close as possible. Now that we have a clear view of the mahi required “as close as possible” is, given all of the above processes, likely to be the first week of October.
We need to get this right and we need to do justice to the feedback that we have received. We can’t rush this.
I also want to acknowledge the resignation of our CFO Matthew Walker and share the plan for that role. An interim CFO has been appointed while the recruitment of a permanent CFO takes place. This doesn’t detract from the important work we are all doing to address our financial situation. The appointment of an interim CFO will help us to maintain the momentum we have gained.
Ngā mihi nui
Peter Winder
Kaiwhakahaere Mātāmua | Acting Chief Executive
Tukuna te reo Māori ki te ao!
Ko te whakakata me te haka tērā me te hītori me te hokinga whakaaro i kitea, i rongohia i tētahi in hui tuihono i whakaritea e Te Pūkenga hei whakanui i te Wiki o te Reo Māori. He mea tohu te hui motuhake o tērā wiki te 50 tau o te tāpaetanga o te petihana reo Māori ki te Pāremata i 14 o ngā rā o Hepetema.
Whakapiri mai ki ō mātou hunga matangareka ki te reo me ngā tikanga Māori, arā ko Layelin Stewart, rātou ko Mataia Keepa, ko Ani-Piki Tuari, ko Ruth Smith mō ō rātou mōhiotanga - tapatapahi ana!
Spread te reo Māori across the world!
Humour and haka combine with history and hindsight in an intimate online Māori Language Week hui hosted by Te Pūkenga. Last week’s network-wide special marked the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Māori language petition to Parliament on September 14.
Join our reo and tikanga Māori enthusiasts Layelin Stewart, Mataia Keepa, Ani-Piki Tuari and Ruth Smith for insights and inspiration.
Share your thoughts on Te Kawa Maiorooro Te Pūkenga Educational Regulatory Framework
Te Kawa Maiorooro working groups have completed their mahi, and this framework has recently been shared with the network here on our website.
The website page includes a form for kaimahi to provide any comments and feedback as we undertake final engagement on this workstream. Please provide your thoughts using this form by Friday 7 October 2022. Following this, the regulations will be finalised for implementation.
Angela Beaton, Deputy Chief Executive of Delivery & Academic, noted, “This has been another workstream of activity where we have appreciated ongoing input and contributions from many kaimahi across the network. Because of this, we are in a place where Te Kawa Maiorooro will be able to be finalised and ready for implementation for 2023.”
“As kaimahi view the framework, one of the key changes that will be evident is that we have removed and simplified some of the material. This is in recognition that a number of local regulations and policies will initially remain in place after the remaining subsidiaries transition into Te Pūkenga over the next two months.”
Your wellbeing journey with Synergy Health 
The importance of nurturing our wellbeing so we have the strength and resilience to journey well through life is becoming increasingly understood. At Te Pūkenga we want to do whatever we can to support this important kaupapa, yet we also acknowledge that every person’s wellbeing needs are unique to each individual. So, a ‘one size fits all’ approach isn't the way to go.
We completed the trial of an external wellbeing platform in August that involved kaimahi from ten Te Pūkenga Network. The results of the trial were highly encouraging, with participants offering feedback such as “I have learnt so much about physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Please keep this for the long term” and “love the variety of content on this platform.” Comments such as these led to the decision by ELT to invest in the platform for all kaimahi at Te Pūkenga Network from Monday 12 September.
The Synergy Health digital platform contains a huge range of educational resources, challenges, competitions and special offers. Once you complete your own Wellbeing Scorecard, you’ll have access to personalised as well as genaral content covering a huge range of topics, such as sleep, fitness, resilience during change, nutrition and mindfulness. The content is refreshed constantly and, together with supporting you in your own self-management, will also act as a platform to bring us together around events across the motu.
This digital platform is just one component of our Te Pūkenga wellbeing plan and one way for us to strengthen the wellbeing activities already happening – or scheduled to happen – at your workplace.
How to access the platform here
Visit here
Register to create an account and enter our company code: education
Three things you can do to start your wellbeing journey using Synergy Health
1. Complete your Wellbeing Scorecard
Your Wellbeing Scorecard will help you understand what areas you’re thriving in and where you might need to focus your energy. It will also help personalise the content.
2. Sign up for a challenge
We’ll be holding a challenge each month. This month we want you to help us name the platform. What should we call it? Submit your ideas and go into the draw to win a gift card.
Find the challenge on your Synergy Health homepage or head to the ‘Challenges and Goals’ page. On that page you’ll see the other challenges that you can take part in whenever you want. You can work on your sleep, energy levels, financial plans or learn more about what engages you.
3. Invite your whānau and friends
You can invite up to five of your whānau or friends to join the platform. They, like you, will have unlimited access to the content, challenges, recipes and special offers. It’s a great way to share the value of this platform and, together, get fitter, stronger, healthier and happier.
Introducing Te Pūkenga to Aotearoa
Our plans to introduce Te Pūkenga to Aotearoa New Zealand entered a new phase this week with a new series of advertising featuring on screens across the motu.
The new content includes a series of 15” videos designed for social media featuring a range of on-campus and on-the-job learners, in a range of different settings. On Sunday our new 60” ad premiered including a full te reo version with English subtitles.
The ads are designed to reflect our vision to bring together our Network of ITPs and ITOs, providing a network of on-the-job, on campus and online learning, across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The concept behind the ads draws heavily on Te Pūkenga identity (harakeke) and our name, which describes the mastery of certain valuable skills and the passing down of knowledge, from person to person. The ads have been designed to capture the connection that enables this to happen and the strength of bringing together the different strands of our Network, into a unified, national network with the learner and employer at the centre.
It’s important to remember that this phase of advertising is part of a much broader programme of activity. This includes a revamped Te Pūkenga website, that enables learners and employers to experience the full range of the Network’s offerings, an interim national contact centre and a coordinated approach to learner recruitment. The approach to coordinated learner recruitment continues to be managed and delivered by our Network, but in a way that reflects our transition to Te Pūkenga.
This is a small but important step in our transition to Te Pūkenga.
Te Pūkenga network gears up for mental health
Mental Health Awareness Week is running this year from 26 September to 2 October. The Mental Health Foundation has observed this occasion every year since 1993, reminding all New Zealanders that mental health is a key component of overall wellbeing.
Every year the event takes on a different theme, and this year’s – “Reconnect” - is inspired by the isolation imposed on many by the recent COVID-19 restrictions. The notion of ‘reconnection’ is designed to inspire all New Zealanders to re-discover “the people and places that lift them up.”
Tania Winslade, Deputy Chief Executive of Learner Journey and Experience understands how vital a commitment to good mental health is – for learners and kaimahi. "We’re committed to making sure that learners have all of the support and resources that they need to strengthen their mental health. If staff are empowered to optimise their own mental health, they will be in a strong position to help make that real difference for learners.”
Te Pūkenga has recently adopted Te Pae Māhutonga, a holistic wellbeing framework developed by Tā Mason Durie. Te Pae Māhutonga acknowledges that learning and wellbeing go hand in hand and Te Pūkenga aims to create the most empowering and supportive learning and working environments as possible.
Te Pūkenga subsidiaries are demonstrating their approach to ‘reconnection’ in a variety of ways, offering learning and inspiration for learners and kaimahi. As a few of the many examples from across the network, EIT is putting on a host of activities, hosting a financial workshop, fitness sessions, a range of face-to-face and online workshops including one especially for the rainbow community, second-hand stalls and raffles, flax-weaving sessions, and plenty of music and food.
Ara is home to a ‘Feel Good’ fortnight, during which learners and staff can take part in quiz nights, fitness sessions, board games and the chance to bond with some therapy dogs.
UCOL is also offering time with some therapy dogs, as well as inviting everyone to partake in some wellbeing practices inspired by Eastern traditions, including a Buddhist centre and yoga classes. Yoga classes and workshops will also be on offer at WITT.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (TWOHNZ) have partnered with Te Pūkenga to expand tertiary learners’ access to primary mental health and addiction services. This funding has enabled a number of new and expanded services to be implemented across Te Pūkenga network already since June 2021, with 1,860 learners (across more than 2000 sessions) already benefitting from the new initiatives.
Te Pūkenga champions shine at Diversity Awards
An annual awards ceremony for excellence in workplace diversity, equity and inclusion has given Te Pūkenga cause for celebration.
Pūhoro STEMM Academy – supported by Te Tiriti Futures – was the Small-Medium Organisation winner in Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti category before taking out the Supreme Award at the 2022 Diversity Awards NZ late last month.
A member of our network, Otago Polytechnic, was the Medium-Large Organisation winner in the same category.
Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti Tohu acknowledges initiatives which embrace Te Tiriti o Waitangi, contributing to stronger partnerships with Māori, while the Supreme Award is selected from the winners of the Leadership, Diverse Talent, Inclusive Workplace and Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti categories.
The Pūhoro whānau are pictured receiving the top prize from the Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Priyanca Radhakrishnan.
Pūhoro Chief Executive Naomi Manu acknowledged the support of Te Pūkenga – through a pilot with Te Tiriti Futures – in addressing the disproportionate under-representation of Māori in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori (STEMM) subjects.
Rangatahi involved with Pūhoro are five times more likely to transition to tertiary schooling at degree level than other Māori school leavers.
“Through our partnership with Te Pūkenga – EIT, Toi Ohomai, Ara and UCOL – we are better able to work towards reducing and removing barriers for Māori engagement in STEMM subjects and careers, enhance Te Tiriti o Waitangi futures and improve equitable access to opportunities.”
Te Marino Lenihan – Executive Director of Te Tiriti Partnerships at Ara Institute of Canterbury – says he is ecstatic that the Pūhoro whānau have been recognised for their work.
“They are outstanding leaders of Māori learner success through kaupapa Māori inspired education and they have provided us and others with a template that really works.
“We were the first polytechnic to partner with them in 2019 and we learned quickly what an amazing kaupapa this was for our rangatahi. Pūhoro wanted to share their kaupapa with as many of our communities as possible and the emergence of Te Pūkenga presented the opportunity to go national in one move.
“This year, three further polytechnics have jumped on board the Pūhoro waka – EIT, Toi Ohomai and UCOL – and we look forward to further growth and Maori learner success in our future.”
Otago Polytechnic’s ongoing efforts to be an inclusive and Te Tiriti o Waitangi-honouring workplace was also recognised at the national event.
A joint application from its Office of the Kaitohutohu and People and Culture division described how the organisation reflected the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, partnerships with mana whenua, hapū and iwi knowledge and the achievement of joint aspirations through its Māori Strategic Framework (MSF).