He kōrero mai i a Peter Winder 
A note from Peter Winder 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou    

Yesterday, Board Chair Murray Strong and I met with new Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills, Hon. Penny Simmonds. Many of you will know her from her tenure as Chief Executive of Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). As you will have seen in the Government’s 100 day plan announcements, the Government intends to “begin disestablishing Te Pūkenga”. The Minister has undertaken to provide us with a new Letter of Expectations shortly. Once we receive this, we will have greater clarity about the direction the Government wishes to take in relation to vocational education and training.  

Until we receive greater clarity, I can appreciate the stress and anxiousness that you may be feeling. Please do reach out to your leaders and our PCW team, and look after each other.  

While these are uncertain times, I also encourage you to remember our purpose and our commitment to delivering excellent vocational education and training for our ākonga, employers and communities.  

Last night, Tumu Whenua ā-Rohe 1 | Executive Director, Region 1 Peseta-Sam Lotu-Iiga joined kaimahi and whānau to celebrate the achievements of ākonga with MIT | Te Pūkenga Trades Academy. The business division is the country’s largest tertiary-based provider of the scheme which allows secondary and kura ākonga opportunities to forge vocational pathways while completing NCEA at high school.  

No fewer than 14 Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Awards were handed out. Each of these represents the success of a young person who has really excelled and is moving towards a bright future in one of a wide variety of fields ranging from construction, automotive engineering, plumbing, hospitality, business and IT.  

The trades academy was first established eight years ago and in that time has expanded from 200 places at Level 2, to today providing 862 allocated places at Levels 2 and 3. Well done to all those who have built such a strong programme for south Auckland schools. Being part of these celebrations is a reminder to us all of the influence we have to really make a difference for ākonga, to break down those barriers to ensure equity and diversity is celebrated and kept front of our minds. 

There are many other end of year celebrations taking place throughout the motu, and I hope that as we recognise our ākonga at these events, you also take time to reflect on the important role you play in their success.  

This has been a big year on so many levels, and we still have a few big weeks ahead. I want to once again thank you for your huge commitment to Te Pūkenga and especially to our ākonga.  

Ngā mihi nui   

Peter Winder  
Tumuaki | Chief Executive  

New appointments update 

Recruitment continues at pace this week with several new appointments which have been added to our new appointments page on Te Whare.

• In Ākonga me te Ahumahi | Learner and Employer Experience we have recently appointed the new Customer Insights and Reporting Director Shane Wohlers (read more about Shane on Te Whare).

Several other appointments have been added to our new appointments page on Te Whare in the following groups:

• Kāhui Mātauranga me ngā Punaha Ako | Academic Centre and Learning Systems: Head of Domain - Kaiāwhina and Health.
• Kāhui o te Tumuaki | Office of the Chief Executive: heads of regional communications in rohe one, two, and three; Operations Coordinator

Collective efforts by EIT | Te Pūkenga kaimahi sees campus delivery continue post-Cyclone

Cyclone Gabrielle had a profound effect on the EIT communities in February, with many kaimahi and ākonga personally impacted.

While the cyclone hit much of the country its effects were most devastating in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

It caused extensive damage to the campus in Taradale with up to 90% of ground-floor buildings – more than 500 rooms – damaged by flood water and contaminated silt.

While the Tairāwhiti Campus in Gisborne was fine, there was widespread damage to infrastructure and communities on the coast that continues to present challenges to delivery from Wairoa to Hicks Bay.

Many kaimahi at EIT faced their own personal challenges as a result of the cyclone, yet still put in a lot of hard mahi to ensure continued delivery of programmes for ākonga.

Gus Gilmore, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ako Delivery says the determination and resilience displayed by our kaimahi in these communities has been nothing short of inspiring.

“We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our kaimahi at EIT for the incredible mahi they have been doing. Your dedication and hard work ensure that we continue to provide exceptional vocational education for our ākonga in the area.”

Mr Gilmore and other senior executive members from Te Pūkenga recently visited the Hawke’s Bay campus to witness firsthand the remarkable strides taken in the rebuilding process. They also met the local Student Support Team and leaders from EIT.

Within two weeks of the cyclone, delivery had resumed, much of it online, to all but eight offerings. EIT kaimahi established a network of temporary locations across Napier and Hastings to support teaching activity and house key services. At its peak there were 45 temporary locations operating in what has been coined the EIT | Te Pūkenga ‘extended campus’.

Five months after the cyclone, approximately 30% of the campus was reopened for delivery in time for the commencement of Semester 2 in July.

Mr Gilmore says plans are well on track to have 70% of the campus open by Semester One 2024, with good provision in a few remaining lease sites around Hawke’s Bay to deliver our full range of programmes.

“We're back in business. We're doing it a little bit differently, but we are committed to the EIT regions, committed to the Hawke’s Bay campus, and we're working closely with all of our partners to ensure vocational education across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti is well catered for as it has been in the past,” Mr. Gilmore reassured.

This rebuilding process has provided us with a unique opportunity to enhance the campus for the future. Jaala Jacobs, our National Property Director, is leading the charge in overseeing the development and phasing, ensuring that innovation is at the forefront of our rebuild. This includes recognising the changing landscape of vocational education, emphasising a healthy mix between campus space and workplace learning.

Preparing ākonga for the collaborative future of healthcare

A newly built home for an ākonga (learner)-assisted health and well-being service was officially opened at Rotokauri campus of Wintec | Te Pūkenga on Tuesday. 

Te Kotahi Oranga | Health and Wellness Centre focuses on embedding interprofessional collaboration in training.  

Te Kotahi Oranga offers placement opportunities to ākonga in Bachelor of Nursing, Diploma of Enrolled Nursing and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programmes, under the supervision of their tutors.  

“Lifestyle-related health challenges and chronic disease such as diabetes and an aging population have made the needs of patients more complex,” says Wintec | Te Pūkenga Adjunct Professor Sharon Brownie.  

“Growing evidence suggests that the future of healthcare needs to be patient-centred, with high levels of team-based collaboration involving different professions working together within our system to achieve better outcomes.

“To develop collaborative competencies, ākonga need access to work-placement opportunities supporting the development of interprofessional skills.” 

The advancement of better health and learning outcomes for the community at Te Kotahi Oranga is made possible through the generous support of Trust Waikato and a $1.5 million Community Impact Grant. 

“Te Kotahi Oranga clinic is a community-led example of how collaboration can benefit both ākonga and the communities they serve – ultimately improving outcomes of the highest need communities within the Waikato region. It’s exciting that this innovative, strengths-based model of healthcare delivery has the ability to expand and address issues of equity and access nationwide, and further,” says Trust Waikato chief executive Dennis Turton.  

Services available at the centre were designed in partnership with local providers and include: 

• Fall assessment and prevention 
• Pre-diabetes care and management 
• Free community health screening.

“The team’s vision for interprofessional health education is inspiring, directly benefits the ākonga and people of Waikato, and contributes to the capacity of our national network in responding to our collective health workforce needs,” says Dr Angela Beaton, National Ako Director – Community, Health, Education and Social Services.

Wintec | Te Pūkenga wants to acknowledge the contributions of all kaimahi and community partner organisations who have made the centre possible.

First Rainbow Nursing Scholarship for New Zealand launched in Palmerston North

Applications are open for the country’s first Rainbow Nursing Scholarship, a joint initiative by UCOL | Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua | MidCentral. 

The scholarship, founded by ex-UCOL ākonga and current Te Whatu Ora MidCentral employee, Mel Meates, is available for LGBTQI+ Bachelor of Nursing ākonga studying at UCOL's Palmerston North campus. 

Having recently graduated from UCOL as a Registered Nurse, Meates works as a Rainbow Education Facilitator at Palmerston North Regional Hospital and provides diversity training for both UCOL and Te Whatu Ora MidCentral, alongside a Registered Nurse role in aged care. 

Meates says the scholarship is a huge step for LGBTTQI+ ākonga in Aotearoa. 

"I've been part of the rainbow community for over three decades and then came out as transgender (transmasculine, non-binary) almost seven years ago. It's hard being trans and studying when you're over 40... A scholarship like this would have been immensely helpful." 

The $1500 cash scholarship has been set up to support nursing ākonga who are part of the LGBTQI+ community and need support with course-related costs or financial help during a nursing placement.  

Ashwini Patel, who runs the scholarships programme, says they have heard from a few ākonga who had been looking for rainbow scholarships at UCOL.  

“When Mel approached us for funding, we knew we needed to help fill this gap in the community." 

Meates says they hope to inspire other institutions around the country to create their own rainbow scholarships, too. 

"I'd love to see a knock-on effect across the whole country. I want people to look to us and think, if Palmerston North can have a rainbow scholarship, why can't we?" 

Learner representatives meet to discuss the future of learner representation at Te Pūkenga

More than 20 learner representatives from around the motu met for the first time in Wellington recently to discuss the future of learner representation at Te Pūkenga.

The learner representatives are helping shape a learner representation model aligned to our new organisational structure.

“We need to have the voices of learners informing what we do and how we do it,” says Interim Learner Advisory Committee co-chair and Te Pūkenga Council member Jordan Gush.

“Learner representatives will play a critical role ensuring learner voices are present in local, regional, and national decision-making at Te Pūkenga.

“Our learner representatives are a diverse group, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives to the table. We all benefit just as much from what makes us different as we do from what we have in common.”

Members of three learner representative groups attended the hui: Te Pūkenga Interim Learner Advisory Committee, Te Pūkenga Learner Leadership Group, and BCITO’s Apprenticeship Leadership Group:

• Te Pūkenga Interim Learner Advisory Committee (ILAC) advises Te Pūkenga Council on governance issues. A permanent Learner Advisory Committee will be elected by ākonga next year, as required by legislation.
• Te Pūkenga Learner Leadership Group (LLG), which brings together learner representatives from across Te Pūkenga network to provide a learner perspective on Te Pūkenga operations.
• BCITO’s Apprenticeship Leadership Group (ALG), which brings together 15 apprentice representatives from across BCITO’s building and construction sectors.

Learner Leadership Group and Apprenticeship Leadership Group members also had the opportunity to observe the Interim Learner Advisory Committee’s November meeting.

Tiling apprentice and Apprentice Leadership Group member Jan Carl Pilapil said the experience was “an eye-opener”.

“Observing the Interim Learner Advisory Committee at work helped me understand our role as learner representatives better, and how the different representative groups can collaborate with each other.

“I also realised how different work-based learners and campus-based learners are. We have such unique needs and perspectives that it’s important work-based learners stand in the Learner Advisory Committee elections next year, so our voices are heard.”

Back row, from left: Simone Andersen (Kaikōkiri Director Learner & Whānau Engagement); Ihongaro (ILAC); David Souness (LLG, WelTec & Whitereia); Sarah McArthur (LLG, Otago Polytechnic Student Association); Colleen Trulove (Facilitator, School of Unprofessional Writing); Annie Waterworth (Senior Implementation Lead, Learner & Whānau Engagement); Max Devon (LLG and TEC Learner Advisory Committee, NMIT). 

Middle row, from left: Kaitai Rongo (Daiiz) (Pacific Representative, Otago Polytechnic); Skyla Flowers (ILAC); Cecily Zhou (ILAC); Matangaro Raea (LLG, MIT); Natasha Sellar (LLG, WITT). 

Front row, from left: Ashleigh Bush (ALG); Finn Gallagher-Forbes (ALG); Jan Carl Pilapil (ALG); Nina Lee Griffiths (ILAC and TEC Learner Advisory Committee); Sione ‘Ulufonua (LLG, MIT); Leo He (Vice President, National Disabled Student Association); Taiatini Lepaio (LLG, EIT). 

Bottom: Miraka Shelley Davies (Facilitator, School of Unprofessional Writing); Henry Geary (ILAC & LLG, Open Polytechnic). 

Not pictured: Jordan Gush (ILAC); Aayla Peebles (Learner Partnership Advisor, Learner & Whānau Engagement); Mereiro Hepi (Project Coordinator, Learner Journey & Experience). 

Property updates across the Rohe now live on Te Whare

In pursuit of our ongoing commitment to keeping kaimahi connected and well-informed, we have created a dedicated space for all things property, where the latest insights and developments across our regions come together. 

Here is the Rohe property News page on Te Whare. 

The property page will provide updates involving workspaces, moves, buildings and land. Impacted kaimahi, ākonga, employers and key stakeholders will continue to be engaged early and directly. This page will compliment this engagement, offering high level updates on developments across Aotearoa.

Order your Te Pae Ora activation packs now in time for O’week

A5 Te Pae Ora activation packs are available assembled within a branded envelope, The packs contain: 

• a brochure about Te Pae Ora 
• a fun ‘Take Five’ spinner that promotes the Five Ways to Wellbeing 
• a Mindful Coloring card featuring both Māori and Pacific designs 
• a small nature sticker that ākonga can apply to something they see often, as a reminder to take breaks throughout the day. 

Email requests to: pmhservices@tepukenga.ac.nz 

Preparing ākonga for the collaborative future of healthcare

Get in quick to register for Te Pūkenga Pacific Research Symposium

There’s been a great response to the call for abstracts for the inaugural Te Pūkenga Pacific Research Symposium.

“We are feeling very positive,” said Daisy Bentley-Gray, symposium co-convenor who is Interim Manager, Pacific Centre at Te Pūkenga Unitec.

“We’re delighted at the range of presentations, the calibre of speakers and the 60-plus registrations so far. We’re very hopeful we’ll have a good day.”

The one-day symposium, titled “Pacific Success in Vocational Education – Past and Future”, will be held at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) on Monday 11 December.

The symposium will start and close with appropriate cultural protocols led by Rev. Dr Peniamina Leota.

Tumu Whenua-ā-Rohe 1 | Executive Director, Region 1, Peseta-Sam Lotu-Iiga will provide the formal welcome and introduce Dr Megan Gibbons, Pourangi Mātauranga me ngā Pūnaha Ako | DCE Academic Centre and Learning Systems, whose keynote address will kick off proceedings.

The draft programme features 17 presentations from a range of speakers including Te Pūkenga kaimahi, researchers and graduate students, government agencies and industry stakeholders like Hanga Aro Rau, one of our Workforce Development Councils.

Presentations are organised into five themed panel sessions; each presenter will speak for 12 to 15 minutes, followed by a joint Q&A session moderated by a chair.

Panel 3 is a little different – there will be four five-minute talanoa sessions covering current work projects or projects about to begin.

Daisy and fellow co-convenor Aiono Manu Fa’aea, Senior Pasifika Manager at Te Pūkenga MIT, say they expect up to 100 attendees.

Registration closes on Monday 4 December – so get yours in quick!

Movember challenge raises more than $4000

As we approach the conclusion of the month of Movember, it is truly inspiring to witness our teams actively participating in the Taumauri Challenge.

Together, as an organization, we have successfully raised almost $5000 in support of Movember—a remarkable achievement that we can all take pride in.

Last week, Craig Bulloch, our Kaikōkiri Hauora | Wellbeing and Occupational Health Lead, guided us through an insightful session, shedding light on the mission of the month and its dedicated focus on male health.

Let's celebrate our collective efforts in fostering awareness and making a meaningful impact during this important campaign.