Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou  

What a big weekend for Aotearoa New Zealand. The country voted for change, and the All Blacks delivered a stunning victory.

I’m sure many of you will have questions about what the election result means for Te Pūkenga. While it is too early to know any impacts for us, I want to reassure you that we will continue to deliver high quality vocational education and training for our ākonga and employers.

As I have said previously, Te Pūkenga is a Crown Entity and our obligation is to implement government policy as well as continue to deliver and arrange quality education and training. We are delivering under the current policy settings and the Minister’s Letter of Expectations.

The final shape of the incoming Government will not be known until all 567,000 special votes are counted and the official General Election results are declared on Friday 3 November. We can expect to know who will hold the relevant Ministerial portfolios and their policy positions around this date. We will respond to any changes in policy when these are known.

In the meantime, we need to continue to deliver for our 270,000 learners and employers. An important aspect of this is ensuring we have the right people in the right roles to best facilitate delivery. This is the final week for kaimahi to apply for new roles with Te Pūkenga so I encourage you all, and especially affected kaimahi, to do this by Friday, 20 October. We will start interviews as soon as possible after that.

I want to reiterate that we will redeploy as many kaimahi as we can. Your talents and skills are important to Te Pūkenga and our ākonga. There are many new opportunities both within your rohe and nationally.

Remember to take advantage of the recruitment support workshops being held by People, Culture and Wellbeing (PCW). These online workshops will run several times a week until the end of Whiringa-ā-rangi (November) or into Hakihea (December). Our sights are now firmly set on the transition to the new operating structure.

Finally, I’d like to congratulate the Digital team on the progressive rollout of ‘eduroam’ across Te Pūkenga – and beyond. Eduroam is an exciting initiative that provides roaming wifi access to the eduroam network’s more than 180 sites across Aotearoa New Zealand (including wānanga, universities, libraries, cafés and conference centres) plus many more internationally. 

By the end of October, Te Pūkenga kaimahi and ākonga based across sites within 12 of our business divisions will have access to eduroam’s consistent, secure, high-performance wifi services. A further seven divisions connected by the end of November. 

This is a huge win for both ākonga and kaimahi as it will allow a seamless, single sign-on access at their campuses as well as at the more than 180-enabled sites if they are travelling around the motu.

Ngā mihi nui 

Peter Winder
Tumuaki | Chief Executive

Ngā kōrero hou
Our updates

Flexible, consistent wifi solution to build our network

Te Pūkenga is rolling out eduroam to provide roaming Wi-Fi access at the network’s more than 90 sites across Aotearoa New Zealand.

By the end of October, consistent, secure high performance Wi-Fi services will be available at 13 business divisions nationwide.

This will allow ākonga and kaimahi a seamless, single sign-on access at our Te Pūkenga campuses, as well as at the more than 180 enabled sites including wānanga, universities, libraries, cafés and conference centres in this country, with many thousands more overseas.

“Connecting what represents the largest tertiary institution in the country with our focus on in-work, online and on-campus learning requires technology solutions with both scale and flexibility,” says Chief Digital Officer Teresa Pollard.

“We anticipate the majority of Te Pūkenga network will be on eduroam by the end of November. It will greatly enhance and simplify the digital experience we offer those learning and working with us,” she says.

Eduroam is managed by REANNZ, a Crown-owned advanced network for researchers and educators in New Zealand Aotearoa.

The following table shows the plan for progressively rolling out eduroam:

If you are not sure where eduroam is available, the best advice is that if you can see eduroam, you can use it. (By ‘see’, we mean you’ll find it in your Wi-Fi settings as an available network, and there are eduroam posters and stickers visible).

More information is available on Te Whare.

Upskill yourself with one-on-one digital training for all kaimahi

The Digital Training team is offering all kaimahi a 30-minute digital induction session.

We recommend booking a 30-minute one-on-one digital induction at a time that suits you. Whether you’ve been in your role for a while, are moving from a Business Division to a Te Pūkenga role or are brand new, our experienced trainers will guide you through your Te Pūkenga digital environment, address your questions, and ensure you are set up in a way that works best for you.

Register here to book your session. You will receive a confirmation email and your designated trainer will be in touch. Sessions will be online via MS Teams, but you may be able to do your session in person with your trainer if you are in the same region. Feel free to discuss this option with them.

New kaimahi will also receive the link in their welcome email and / or transition guide.

New workforce skills data insights platform

If you haven’t already, please check out Te Mata Raraunga at www.workforceskills.nz.

This is a new interactive digital platform offering up-to-date vocational education, workforce data and insights at an iwi, regional and national level.

It’s the work of Ohu Ahumahi, the collective of the six Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), and was championed by Muka Tangata, with funding and support from Tertiary Education Commission in collaboration with the Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLGs) and others.

“We want Te Mata Raraunga to be a key tool for the collaborative work of the WDCs, RSLGs, Te Pūkenga and other participants in the vocational education and training (VET) ecosystem,” said Laura Mansfield, Shared Data Platform Lead at Muka Tangata, which represents food and fibre industries.

“This platform offers insightful, consistent, accurate vocational education and workforce data meant to inform sustainable workforce analysis and planning for generations to come.”

“At this early stage, there are still opportunities to provide feedback to the team, which we are happy to hear. Collaboration and sharing across the VET sector will allow the platform to continue to grow along with new resources and knowledge being collected.” she said.

In te reo Māori, Te Mata means ‘the face’ and Raraunga ‘database’.

Moderation changes are coming

With redevelopment of the 2,000-plus products we inherited from legacy providers well underway, there is a need to change our approach to moderation for Te Pūkenga unified programmes.

Planning for this has begun, says Pourangi Mātauranga me ngā Pūnaha Ako | DCE Academic Centre and Learning Systems, Dr Megan Gibbons.

“As many of you will know, moderation is how we quality assure the assessments that contribute to the qualifications that are awarded to ākonga.

“Doing a good job of this is important for us to maintain the confidence of ākonga, industry and other stakeholders in our qualifications, and to uphold our reputation as a quality educational organisation,” Dr Gibbons says.

A Moderation Policy for Te Pūkenga was approved by Te Poari Akoranga (Te Pūkenga Academic Board) earlier this year, and a related Moderation Framework signed off in August.

The framework will be phased in for Te Pūkenga products over the next couple of years during which we will follow an interim moderation approach.

This approach will utilise some of our current moderation practices, as well as a new network-wide aspect to involve all sites that deliver the unified product.

Dr Gibbons says her team will let kaimahi know when the interim approach begins.

“We are currently developing a resource kit to support the introduction of the framework for kaimahi.”

Meanwhile, her message to everyone is clear: moderation for existing business division products will continue using current processes.

“So, until you hear otherwise, keep doing what you are doing with regard to moderation,” she emphasised. “We will keep you updated on our plans for implementing the framework.”

Join the [Mo]-ve for Movember challenge

Craig Bulloch, Kaikōkiri Hauora | Wellbeing and Occupational Health Lead at Te Pūkenga and Movember Ambassador invites all our kaimahi from across the motu to join us in the [Mo]-ve for Movember challenge. This initiative is a passionate drive to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues. We aim to make a positive impact on the health of tāne in our community by promoting physical activity and encouraging discussions about men's wellbeing.

To get involved, form a team of 2 to 6 members and embark on a virtual walk across the stunning landscapes of Aotearoa, New Zealand, following sections of the famous Te Araroa trail. It's not just about the destination but the journey and the cause we're supporting.

There are fantastic prizes to be won! We're starting with a $100 Prezzy Card for the team that creates the most creative and catchy name. So, unleash your creativity and come up with a name that stands out.

But, most importantly, by participating in this challenge, you'll contribute to a great cause. Men's health deserves our attention, and together, we can make a real difference. Register on Taumauri or the Movember website to be part of this meaningful movement.

Discover Craig’s motivation as a Movember Ambassador and why Men’s health deserves our attention. Connect with Craig for additional information and to share your Movember contributions. Your support makes a substantial difference in men's health, and we look forward to your participation.

Four WDCs now make it easy to check status of review work 

Four of the six Workforce Development Councils also now publish the status of their qualifications review work to make it easy for interested parties like Te Pūkenga kaimahi to keep updated.

Here are the relevant pages:

Waihanga Ara Rau qualifications work in progress

Waihanga Ara Rau qualifications work completed

Hanga Aro Rau qualifications work in progress

Hanga Aro Rau qualifications work completed

Toi Mai qualifications work in progress and completed

Toitū Te Waiora qualifications work in progress and completed

The remaining two WDCs – Ringa Hora and Muka Tangata – are planning to launch their equivalent pages shortly and will keep us updated.

Digital Inspire series kicks off for all kaimahi

This first event in a new series for kaimahi brought to you in partnership by Digital and People, Culture and Wellbeing is coming to you next Thursday 26 October. The Digital Inspire series features exciting experts and partners to share the latest thoughts and ideas in the Digital space to inspire, connect and excite us about the future of Te Pūkenga and our own digital transformation.

Our first guest is Professor Martin Bean CBE, a world-renowned visionary leader shaping the future of education and work. As CEO of The Bean Centre, he drives partnerships with education experts, cutting-edge technology companies, and forward-thinking leaders to create a future that works.

Martin will share with us his observations on some of the most influential global trends of our time, including skills-based employment and Generative AI. He has an acute view of the vision of Te Pūkenga to improve equity, accessibility and outcomes and will offer insights on how we can magnify our impact, support our strategic vision and culture, and achieve national scale and global reach through technology.

This is a Teams Live event for all kaimahi and you will get a chance to ask questions (and score a giveaway of Martin's new book!). This hui will be recorded and put on Te Whare for those who are unable to attend.

Please join us on 26 October at 1pm-2pm for this special occasion. Please mark the date in your calendar and add the event link below.

Click here to join Digital Inspire #1

New Culinary Arts Degree to Invigorate Food Industry 

Toi Ohomai | Te Pūkenga is launching the Bay of Plenty delivery of the Bachelor of Culinary Arts to help reinvigorate and bolster the booming food industry in the rohe.

The degree course is already offered at Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga, with Dunedin being the only location in Aotearoa to offer the qualification previously. Under Te Pūkenga, Toi Ohomai is now able to offer the course to ākonga in the Bay of Plenty and the wider North Island.

Toi Ohomai culinary arts tutor and industry stalwart Peter Blakeway says demand for a degree-level culinary course is high.

He says this modern course is not just about becoming a chef.

“The outcomes are going to be different to a trade qualification; it’s about the wider food industry. This programme is designed to help people become industry leaders in the food world by empowering them to follow their passions.”

Ākonga will cultivate applied technical and creative thinking skills, including specialised culinary techniques within their area of interest and ways to develop new and innovative offerings to give themself a competitive edge.

Through hands-on projects with local employers and businesses, ākonga will develop real-world skills and apply both creative and technical knowledge in everyday situations.

Career pathways upon completing the degree include food producer, chef, recipe developer, food stylist, writer or product entrepreneur.

Peter says there is already considerable interest from ākonga, with many looking at it as a pathway to open their own business.

“We’re also seeing a lot of interest from women, which is great as historically culinary arts have been somewhat male dominated.”

The Bachelor of Culinary Arts kicks off in February 2024 at both the Toi Ohomai Rotorua and Tauranga campuses.

EIT | Te Pūkenga helps turn slash into cash

Slash For Cash is the brainchild of Thabiso Mashaba, a cultural and environmental economist, who arrived in Uawa in March this year, less than a month after Cyclone Gabrielle tore through the community.

“There was an urgent need to address the slash,” Thabiso says.

Seeing all the logs on the beaches, he asked why they were not being cleaned up.

“I got them to appreciate how we would go about it in Africa, which was how we would see it as an opportunity. Much as it is a disaster, it's an opportunity to potentially earn something out of it because waste is gold.”

The Slash for Cash Project is on a mission to clean and heal the Tairāwhiti and Wairoa regions by repurposing wood debris waste (slash) into organic biochar fertiliser and smokeless charcoal briquettes, while also creating employment opportunities for local communities.

ACE (Adult and Community Education) funding was used to purchase the tools needed to run the courses and pay facilitators.

Thabiso cannot speak highly enough of the partnership with EIT | Te Pūkenga.

“What I love about EIT | Te Pūkenga is it takes it to the next level. The ACE programme, its design and its allowance for us to bring in various technical skills into the community, is something that I treasure highly.”

Three ACE courses were delivered, training 42 people in Ruatoria, Uawa and Tolaga Bay.

The process involved controlled burning done in aluminium bucket kilns at a low temperature. This keeps all the gases going back into the drum and burning, becoming part of the carbon and forming charcoal.

The charcoal can then be charged with something like animal manure, making it a nutrient-rich fertiliser for soil.

Briquettes are another option as they burn without smoke, making them perfect for indoor heating and cooking.

 Training for the low carbon future of heavy transport

Ākonga (learners), kaimahi and industry partners of Te Pūkenga have heard about the important role vocational education has to play in developing an engineering workforce to build and maintain electrified planes, trains, trucks and ships.

Professor Rod Badcock of the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington gave a seminar at MIT Tech Park, Manukau recently.

The research institute leads an initiative as part of the Advanced Energy Technology Research programme focused on high-powered electric motors for large-scale transport.

“This project isn’t just Big Science,” says Prof Badcock. “The electric, cryogenic and superconducting trucks, ships, trains and planes of the near future will need skilled tradespeople to service and maintain them.”

Aotearoa New Zealand benefits doubly from advances in this field as both an exporter of the technology used in electrified heavy transport and as we pursue net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Te Pūkenga business divisions MIT, Unitec and Ara have been engaged as part of the programme to help develop new qualifications specifically designed for working with high temperature superconductors and to connect ākonga with opportunities.

“Our national network enables us to extend these openings across the country, benefiting various communities, industry groups, and students,” says MIT senior lecturer Nick Kusari.

This includes study support through Advanced Energy Technology Scholarships focused on groups with lower levels of participation in electrical engineering including Māori, Pacific and female learners.

Seven scholarship recipients were present at the seminar, including Anita Davis who is studying for a Bachelor of Engineering Technology with MIT | Te Pūkenga School of Professional Engineering.

“It was really informative seeing who we are working with,” says Anita, who is in her 40s and has previously worked in IT support. “Air New Zealand, Pratt and Whitney, Airbus, Cambridge University. Some of this is going to be happening really soon. It’s amazing!”

Join the ACTS Conference - The Future of Sustainability - for free!

Whether you're currently working in a sustainability role, are an educator integrating sustainability into the curriculum or simply have an interest in sustainability, the ACTS Conference - The Future of Sustainability - is a virtual event that promises to inspire, educate and empower you!

With four days of engaging sessions, expert speakers and networking opportunities, this conference is your gateway to the latest sustainability innovations, trends and best practices for the tertiary education sector.

Mark these dates in your calendar:

• November 2 - Day 1: Progress & Innovation
• November 8 - Day 2: Leading the Transition
• November 14 - Day 3: Transformational Campuses
• November 16 - Day 4: Carbon & Climate

Te Pūkenga staff and students can register now for free! Join sustainability leaders and champions from campus communities across Australasia to share and inspire action toward a sustainable future for people and the planet.

Find out more on the official conference website.

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