Tēnā koutou katoa
Over the last fortnight we have been in the public eye. The scrutiny is understandable, and much of it has been critical. I appreciate the impact this can have on a team and want to share my thinking on key issues as directly as I can.
I’d also ask you to see them in context. We are delivering on milestones. We will be sharing the timeline for defining all roles within our new structure with you next week.
Select Committee: Auditor-General report
Yesterday our Council Chair Murray Strong and I presented to Parliament’s Education and Workforce Committee on the Auditor General’s 2021 audits of tertiary education institutions. We agreed with concerns about our transformation not having progressed fast enough.
But we have also significantly advanced our operating model since those audits so that learners and people in workplace training can take full advantage of the opportunities provided by having 24 former institutions in one new national network. We have started to see the benefits of this with large employers such as Te Whatu Ora and the New Zealand Defence Force who we are able to have master relationships with.
We have set clear goals in our 2023 Statement of Performance Expectations which I would urge you to be familiar with. We are here to deliver for learners, employers and communities. The benchmarks show how we will do that.
Our infrastructure and financial sustainability plans will go to our Council for approval in early June.
Thank you to everyone who has worked hard to get us to this point.
Role reductions
In a Radio New Zealand interview last week I spoke about likely role losses, in a broad range of 200-1000, from reducing duplication.
This has been intrinsic to the rationale for Te Pūkenga and something I have discussed widely. But I had not previously given numbers, and while these are estimates, I should have shared this directly with you earlier.
We are still to go into consultation, but two points are important:
First, a mix of online, on-the-job and on campus training is a huge part of our future, with half of our ākonga already engaged in in-work learning. This does not detract from on campus learning which remains a vital, integral part of what we offer.
Second, role reductions do not translate into redundancies. These will be reduced by employment attrition and vacancies. There will be new roles too as we build a new unified system. We will avoid redundancies wherever possible, which is why we have had a recruitment freeze.
We will consult fully on proposed changes, and we will meet all of our obligations under existing Collective Employment Agreements, including opportunities for redeployment.
MAINZ closure
Our decision to permanently close MAINZ – the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand campus in Auckland this week was not one we took lightly.
We recognise the work of its kaimahi and its ākonga. We also recognise the longstanding role that MAINZ Auckland has played in the music and events industries. But with the serious impact of flooding, very low enrolments, and a deficit near $1 million last year the campus was not financially sustainable.
Our decision on its future was driven by two factors.
First, the Auckland floods severely damaged the facility and destroyed its equipment. This heightened the need to decide on the longer-term question of its viability.
This year we had 66 people enquire about enrolling and 39 enrolled. We had 18 kaimahi at the campus. This ratio was not sustainable.
We are supporting kaimahi through the Employee Assistance Program. We are also working with kaimahi and looking at a range of options including attrition, voluntary severance, redeployment, and retraining options ahead of any redundancies.
We are providing dedicated support to learners who are part-way through a qualification to complete their courses and to new learners to find alternative courses.
Welcoming new Te Pūkenga Council members
Our Council meeting yesterday discussed all of the above. We also welcomed two new members, Sue McCormack and Bill Moran, who bring outstanding backgrounds in governance and tertiary education.
Sue will be Deputy Chair. She was a member and Chancellor of the University of Canterbury Council, and is a judicial member of the Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal and Deputy Chair of Kiwirail.
Bill was previously Deputy Chair of Otago Polytechnic and brings impressive experience as chair, deputy chair and director of public and private sector and charitable organisations.
Maryann Geddes, Tania Hodges, and Kathy Grant have ended their tenures. We thank them for the commitment, intellect and experience they have contributed during their time.
Celebrating graduates
Over the last fortnight it was great to see graduations at Unitec, Toi Ohomai, WelTec and Whitireia and UCOL. These are special moments celebrated with whanau and communities. They are a celebration of what we are here for - and the dedication of our kaimahi in providing the high standard of learning and support graduates will take into the future.
Ngā mihi nui
Peter Winder
Tumuaki | Chief Executive
Organisational design and change update
We are simplifying our approach and progressing workstreams more quickly this year, which we hope will also help bring more certainty to kaimahi on the ongoing change process.
Deputy Chief Executives (DCE) of four key change and transformation workstreams, Ako Delivery, Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction, Academic Centre and Learning Systems, and Tiriti Outcomes, along with the rest of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), met with the Organisational Design and Change Programme Team (ODC) last week to develop a more integrated approach to design and consultation, and a proposed new schedule.
At this stage, dates for when formal consultation with kaimahi will begin are still being finalised, however, consultation across the four integrated workstreams is planned to get underway in June.
This builds on the progress we have already made this year with People, Culture and Wellbeing, Digital, and Finance and Property.
We will keep you informed as dates are confirmed, and will also update information on Te Whare.
You can read more about how workstreams are progressing in this week’s Te Whare update.
Thanks to everyone who has sent in their questions, comments and feedback about the ODC Programme. Please continue to send these to YourVoice@tepukenga.ac.nz. The Programme team will answer questions and respond to feedback.
Your feedback in action - Aromātai Kaimahi
Last year in November, we conducted our latest Aromātai Kaimahi employee survey to provide an opportunity you to share your thoughts on the changes happening at Te Pūkenga.
We appreciate your input and understand you want more certainty on how the changes at Te Pūkenga will impact you. Your feedback has highlighted several areas we need to continue improving.
The high-level survey results we shared with you in December were used by each Business Division to support the development of local action plans. In March, the newly formed executive leadership team reviewed your feedback to closely consider what you were saying in helping us plan work for the coming months.
We have already taken considered actions in response to your feedback, and we are committed to doing more. Some of the things we have done so far include:
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You said you would like |
We responded with |
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Simple communication, and tangible information |
We’ve launched Te Whare, our network-wide intranet, to provide ongoing updates and useful information. We provide regular updates on our Organisation Design and Change programme. As new business divisions are formed, DCEs are holding regular online hui with their teams. |
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Face-to-face engagement |
Te Pūkenga Executive leaders have heard your desire for kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) engagement. This has already started and it will continue. |
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Transparency and progress |
We’ve completed consultation on our enabling functions. People, Culture and Wellbeing teams are now in place, our Digital leaders are confirmed, and our Finance and Property recruitment is underway. We will continue to be transparent in how we share consultation feedback with you, including sharing how your feedback has shaped our final structures. |
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Support with wellbeing, cultural capability, and change |
People, Culture and Wellbeing delivered the Navigating Change seminars throughout the network, a series that focused on change leadership and resilience. We delivered a wellbeing platform that is progressively being taken up by kaimahi with positive feedback by those engaging with this. We have encouraged local cultural capability development and are developing our own programmes to support kaimahi as we transition. We have developed and delivered onboarding programmes in support of our kaimahi as they are transitioning into Te Pūkenga. |
With over 5000 kaimahi taking part, our overall response average was 50%; down from 55% in February 2022. Although kaimahi recognise the need for change (average response of 62%) and believe their division is open to new ways of working (average response of 63%), it is clear kaimahi want more details on transition.
The survey also showed us what you love about your work and your commitment to ākonga and a belief in the transformative power of applied education and training. A massive thank you for holding our ākonga at the centre of what you do.
We recognise there is still more work to be done, and we remain focused on addressing your feedback. We will conduct another Aromātai Kaimahi survey in the future to continue this important wānanga (discussion) with you.
Six new appointments to National Ako Director roles
Six tertiary and industry leaders will soon move into roles that will help shape the future of tertiary education at Te Pūkenga.
Andrea Leslie, Diane Lithgow, Amanda Whitaker, Koren Hopoi, Layelin Stewart and Mike Crossan are our new National Ako Directors based across the motu. They will take up their new roles throughout April and May.
They will each take the helm of the Food and Fibre; Services; Creative, Technology and Recreation; Foundation and Pathways; Mātauranga Māori; and Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics portfolios, respectively.
Megan Gibbons, Pourangi Mātauranga me ngā Pūnaha Ako | Deputy Chief Executive Academic Centre and Learning Systems says it is great to be able to make these appointments.
“I’m excited to announce that we have appointed high quality and industry respected leaders into the National Ako Director roles.
“We went through a rigorous recruitment process, and we believe we have the best people to fill these hugely important roles.”
National Ako Directors play an important role in working with Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), industry and our communities of practice to shape and drive quality and consistency in our teaching so that it meets the skills needs of employers and industry.
Given this, WDCs supported the recruitment process by providing senior expertise for recruitment panels.
“This team has a wealth of experience and knowledge in their fields, and we are lucky to be able to utilise that going forward,” Megan says.
“As part of their role, the National Ako Directors will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships and using their knowledge, skills and competencies to support delivery of vocational and on-the job learning, including degree and postgraduate programmes.
“They support the development of fully integrated learning options across all modes of delivery that may vary from ākonga to ākonga or employer to employer.
“Each of these National Ako Directors brings with them enthusiasm and passion as well as a broad range of skills and experiences. They will be a great addition to Te Pūkenga,” Megan says.
Recruitment for the two remaining National Ako Director roles (Construction and Infrastructure and Community, Health, Social Services and Education) is continuing. We hope to announce these appointments in coming weeks.
National Ako Directors:
- Food and Fibre – Andrea Leslie (Timaru)
- Services – Di Lithgow (Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland)
- Creative, Technology and Recreation – Amanda Whitaker (Waihōpai)
- Foundation and Pathways – Koren Hopoi (Tauranga)
- Mātauranga Māori – Layelin Stewart (Te Kuiti)
- Engineering, Logistics and Manufacturing – Mike Crossan (Te Whanganui a Tara | Wellington).
Meet the newest additions to our team on Te Whare
As a fast-growing organisation, Te Pūkenga recognises the importance of effective communication and transparency in keeping kaimahi engaged and informed during times of change. We have launched a page on Te Whare to showcase the names and titles of recently appointed kaimahi.
Book Launch Highlights Te Pūkenga Publishing
An upcoming book launch highlights work which is underway to establish Te Pūkenga Publishing Group and the strengths being developed across Te Pūkenga network.
Te Pūkenga DCE Academic Centre and Learning Systems Megan Gibbons says plans are underway to establish an umbrella publishing house which will create the biggest research publication centre for vocational research. She says Te Pūkenga Publishing Group is also an indication of the organisation’s commitment to elevating and enabling academic freedom.
Our Sacred Māori Voices, which contains first-hand reflective accounts of growing up and being Māori in Aotearoa, is being launched online next month and showcases the early years experiences of six Capable NZ undergraduate learners: Tracy Te Wake, Keri Ropiha, Bobbi-Jo Waikoukou Tuwhakaea Clark-Heu, Kera Baker, Kim Gotlieb, and Scout River Barbour-Evans. It is edited by Otago Polytechnic Associate Professors Kelli Te Maihāroa and Adrian Woodhouse.
Te Pūkenga subsidiaries across the motu, including Otago Polytechnic, already publish and share research in a range of formats and for various audiences. With the establishment of Te Pūkenga the need arose for an umbrella publishing house which will unify and strengthen the publication process across Te Pūkenga network.
A unified approach to publications will benefit ākonga and kaimahi across Te Pūkenga network as it will support equitable access to publishing and dissemination opportunities, by combining business division expertise and best practices in Te Tiriti partnership, publishing processes and skills development.
Spokesperson for Te Pūkenga Publishing Group Lesley Brook says bringing existing publication activity under a unified publishing house will promote sharing of publishing expertise and resources, production of publications more efficiently and at a higher quality and deliver more equitable benefits for ākonga and kaimahi across the network instead of concentrated at those subsidiaries currently engaged in publishing.
Lesley is a member of the publications and dissemination workstream of the Rangahau Research Forum and says “A unified publishing framework will also allow subsidiaries to retain their customised publications that serve local ākonga, iwi, industry, and communities while benefiting from the scale of Te Pūkenga, contributing to the strength of the brand of Te Pūkenga nationally and internationally.”
Lesley says the workstream decided to hold a launch for Our Sacred Māori Voices because it aligned so well with the goals of Te Pūkenga.
“The book contains a collection of first-hand reflective accounts, which contributes to the field of indigenous autoethnography by providing examples of a range of Māori voices and experiences.”
These authors come from a variety of backgrounds, with diverse early life experiences and a range of locations across Aotearoa New Zealand. Their unique narratives reflect the distinct and dynamic lives of growing up and being Māori.
This book celebrates the richness of diverse Māori voices, thereby contributing to a growing awareness and understanding of Māori lived realities, through the lens of different histories and seeds of hope for the next generations.
The book launch will be held on Wednesday, 26 April from 5pm, you can register to attend here.
Images at the heart of our transition journey
As part of the kaimahi transition project, a network wide kaimahi photograph competition was held in November 2022 to celebrate and encourage kaimahi to capture the history of their legacy organisation.
The competition called for you to individually or collectively submit a photograph that summarises what you bring with you from the past into the future, from your former technical institute or industry training organisation into Te Pūkenga.
The competition has three categories:
- “Manawa, this is us” - a photo which captures the spirit strength of your organisation
- “Community/Place” - photo which shares the connection your organisation has with whenua/community
- “From the archives” - a photo taken over the years which shares your unique history
The competition ran through the month of Noema (November) and was hosted on the Taumauri (Synergy Health) platform. There were 43 entries received from seven business divisions. Entries were voted on by kaimahi using the “like” function in Taumauri, which established a shortlist for each category.
Shortlists were reviewed Te Pūkenga national office People, Culture and Wellbeing team to put forward the winning photograph for each category.
Over the next three editions of Ngā Taipitopito we will be announcing winners for each section.
Today we’re proud to bring you our third and final winner of the three categories, ‘“From the archives” a photo taken over the years which shares your unique history.
This photo was submitted by Gregory Lokes from Unitec and our kaiwhakawā (judges) love how it captures the unique history of Unitec | Te Pūkenga and therefore is our winner!!
