Kia ora koutou,
Recently, Te Pūkenga Council considered amendments to the vision and values of Te Pūkenga. These changes allow us to shift away from literal translation, into the concept translation (where appropriate). By authoring our own whakatauākī that captures the essence of our vision, we are incorporating Māori worldview thinking into our mahi, which also aligns with the whakapapa of our name.
It was through wānanga sessions between Amomai Pihama (Te Pūkenga strategic Māori communications lead) and te reo and mātauranga Māori specialists Mataia Keepa and Rangi Mātāmua that our Te Pūkenga whakatauākī was born. They have taken the essence of our vision and values, and created simple and meaningful rerenga (phrases) that speaks to who we are as an organisation.
I’m pleased to share these with you today, alongside short explanations of the translations.
Our vision
Whakairohia he toki, tāraia te anamata. Learning with purpose, creating our futures.
The most well used and highly prized tool of the pre-European Māori world was the toki or the adze. This implement was used to fashion waka, build houses, fell trees and even create other tools. So prized was the toki that there are many Māori proverbs that speak of its application and people who were seen as proficient in various activities were called ‘toki’. The notion of toki aligns with the name Te Pūkenga which also means to be proficient or skilled in particular roles.
By including the word whakairohia in the first part of the sentence, this phrase is encouraging people to upskill themselves, or equip themselves with the relevant tool. The second part of the phrase is about the future. The word tārai means to fashion, shape or sculpt and anamata is the future. Therefore the phrase as a whole is about encouraging people to prepare themselves with a skillset that will help us all to shape the future.
Our values
Manawa nui | We reach out and welcome in
Manawa nui describes a person or group’s behaviours that embody manaakitanga, humility, patience, respect, tolerance and compassion.
Manawa roa | We learn and achieve together
Manawa roa describes a person or group’s behaviours that embody staying power, resilience, fortitude, grit and doing what needs to be done to achieve the collective goal.
Manawa ora | We strengthen and grow the whole person
Manawa ora describes a person or group’s behaviours that embody breathing life into all aspects of another life form.
While each subsidiary, business division and TITO will have their own vision and values, I feel it’s important to share these with you, as they will guide how Te Pūkenga interacts with you, your people and your learners. They are a part of who we are.
Ngā mihi,
Stephen Town
Chief Executive
Our Updates
MITO transition to Te Pūkenga approved
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has approved the transition of MITO New Zealand to Te Pūkenga. The TEC Board’s approval of MITO’s transition plan sets the way for the transition to occur on 1 January 2022.
All of MITO’s learners and arranging training functions will transfer to Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning (WBL), with the exception of the industrial textile fabrication industry which will transfer to MAST Academy. MITO’s employees will transfer to Te Pūkenga as the MITO business division.
Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning, Toby Beaglehole, said, “we are looking forward to welcoming MITO as soon as possible after 1 January, adding their vast expertise in automotive, commercial road transport, drilling, gas, mining and quarrying, passenger service and ports and stevedoring to our national network.”
MITO will be the fourth business division within Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Limited, following the transitions of Competenz, Connexis and BCITO in August, September and October 2021 respectively.
For more information, click here.
Let us know your thoughts about our proposed Operating Model
The current period of engagement on the proposed Te Pūkenga Operating Model closes next Monday, 8 November at 5pm. Contributions from people like you, across our network, are very important to ensure that Te Pūkenga is moving in the right direction. Please make sure you take the opportunity to provide your thoughts.
The Operating Model outlines a description of the future experience for learners, employers, staff, iwi and hapū and how as a network, Te Pūkenga will advance equity, especially for Māori, Pacific, and disabled learners and staff. All of the detail we have shared is available on our website at tepukenga.ac.nz/opmodel.
As you consider your feedback, we encourage you to talk to your peers, whānau, union and/or manager. You can provide your thoughts by:
- visiting our online engagement portal at yourvoice.tepukenga.ac.nz
- send an email to yourvoice@tepukenga.ac.nz using this Feedback Template
Register now for the APAC Technical and Vocational Education Forum
Your Questions
This is a section where we will share and answer your questions with the network. You can email your questions to ourjourney@tepukenga.ac.nz
What is the process for confirming the Operating Model?
Three phases make up the process of confirming Te Pūkenga Operating Model:
- Engagement on the proposed functions, with consideration to creating a single hub network for some functions alongside distributed delivery across the regions.
- Engagement on the draft detailed functional model, draft organisational design and proposed Operating Model
- Consultation on the proposed organisational structure and Operating Model.
We will be presenting the proposed Operating Model to the Minister of Education in December, with feedback from phase one of engagement. This will be for the Minister to consider endorsing the model (not approving at this stage) and recognising that further engagement and consultation will happen in early 2022.
Can I provide a group submission on the Operating Model?
Yes, you can consider the questions and comment as a group. When submitting feedback via the online platform, there is a place for you to indicate that it is a group submission. You can also complete the feedback form and submit it as part of a group by sending it to yourvoice@tepukenga.ac.nz.
The current period of engagement closes on Monday, 8 November at 5pm.
What will happen to my feedback on the Operating Model?
Your feedback will be collated and used to help confirm the Operating Model which will then guide future conversations with you about our governance structure, regional boundaries and organisational structure. We will be reporting back on the feedback we received from the current engagement via your Chief Executives.