Issue 17 October 2022

October 14, 2022 | 21 min read

Kia ora mai anō tātou

On 6 October we released decisions on Tā tatou huarahi | Our pathway. Thank you to those who were able to attend the all-kaimahi hui. If you weren’t able to join us, you can see decisions and a recording of the hui on Your Voice. We’ve also shared this recording with your communication teams, so keep an eye on your local intranets and newsletters.

Your Voice

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to read these documents. Te hanganga kaiwhakahaere kua mana | Confirmed executive structure outlines the decisions we made and why. Tātaringa mo ngā urupare | Analysis of feedback provides an overview of the feedback we received, so that you can see the breadth of what we considered in making these decisions.

I mentioned as part of decisions, we are starting the design and exploration phase of some of our early tranches. We’ve made some early progress, including:

approaching the design business-group-by-business-group,
kicking off the design sprint for the Digital business group
utilising the feedback we received from you through Tā tatou huarahi | Our pathway
forming a small Digital design group that includes a mix of ITP and ITO digital leads, with a mix of experience from both education and other sectors
planning how and when we test the design with other key stakeholders
utilising previous Digital design work to shape the business group with direction from Chief Digital Officer Teresa Pollard.
facilitating communications from leaders to those in relevant areas throughout the process, for example, from Teresa to those working in the Digital space.

And now that decisions are known, recruitment has also begun. We have engaged two agencies to manage the recruitment process for our Executive Leadership Team. Inside recruitment will be managing the CFO role and Amy Tea Consulting will be leading the process for the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief Executive Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction, Deputy Chief Executive Ako Delivery, and Deputy Chief Executive Learning Systems.

All roles will be live today on Te Whare for National Office kaimahi and the website for those in the broader network. All roles will be advertised on external platforms and some print media. The recruitment process for the CFO will run for two weeks and all other roles will run for three weeks. I encourage those in the Network with relevant skills to apply.

Our establishment is really moving at pace and last week marked important milestones across the motu as a number of ITPs and TITOs transitioned in. NMIT, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, NorthTec, Unitec, Manukau Institutes of Technology, Primary ITO and parts of Skills, now known as EarnLearn, have been welcomed in a range of ceremonies.

As our transition accelerates, I encourage you to stay connected to leaders and our trusted communications sources. We’ll continue to update you through Ngā Taipitopito and will be sharing information with your leaders. We’re also working on how to enable network access to Te Whare, our network-wide intranet.

Thank you again for the whakaaro, and your ongoing commitment and support for the establishment of Te Pūkenga.

Aku mihi nui

Peter Winder
Acting Chief Executive

E rere te mānuka hopukia

“Ina whai ana koe i te kaupapa e hika ai te ahi pūmanawa i roto i a koe kia kā tonu ai hei ahi kā roa mō ā tātou tamariki, mokopuna me ngā tipuranga ka whai mai.” Hana O’Regan

I a tātou e kawe tonu nei i ngā mahi hei whakakotahi i tō tātou kōtuinga, me te aronga ki ngā otinga ōrite me te mātauranga ahumahinga kounga, ka mōhio tātou ka puta tonu he wero me ngā kupu whakahē - ahakoa tō mātou ngākau titikaha mā tēnei huringa ka whai painga a Aotearoa.

Me tahuri tonu tātou ki te whakarongo ki ngā kupu a ō tātou rangatira, hei whakamanawa, hei whakamahara i a tātou anō he mea nui kia tūhonohono, kia whakawhirinaki tētahi ki tētahi. Ehara tēnei haerenga i te haerenga takitahi.

Ko te ihopūmanawa he kupu hei whakaahua i te tangata pūmanawa, pai whakaharahara - he tangata kua kitea e te iwi whānui he 'he tangata whakaaweawe'. Nei a Hana O’Regan nō Ngāi Tahu ko ia te tuatoru o ngā ihopūmanawa i tā mātou huinga ataata.

Rangona tonuhia te reo o Hana i āna mahi rangatira i roto i ngā kaupapa o te whakarauoratanga reo, te tuakiri, te whakawnaketanga ahurea, te reo Māori me te mātauranga. Koia tonu tōna huarahi mō ngā tau 25 neke atu. Kia rongo koe i a Hana e kōrero ana kāore e ngaro tōna ngākaunui ki te mātauranga me te hapori, te hītori me te mana ōrite.

Mātaki mai i a Hana i konei: Hana Merenea O'Regan - YouTube

Inā rōpū uri taketake whakamīharo nei e tuku kōrero ana mō ā rātou mahi i roto i ngā tau. Tēnei te ngākau whakaiti e tuku atu nei i ā rātou kōrero mā ngā ataata poto i roto i ngā marama kei te heke mai.

Mēnā kāore i mau i a koe ngā ataata Ihopūmanawa o mua, mātakihia i konei:

Dame Naida Glavish me āna kōrero: Dame Naida Glavish - YouTube

Jack Thatcher me āna kōrero: Jack Thatcher - YouTube

Mō mātou i roto i Te Pūkenga he me anui whakahirahira ngā uara hei ārahi i ā mātou mahi. I tēnei tau i whakatauhia ngā uara o Manawa Nui, o Manawa Roa me Manawa Ora hei whakatauira i ngā whanonga tika mō tēnei huringa nui. Tirohia te roanga atu o ngā kōrero mō ō Te Pūkenga uara i konei.

Facing into the challenge of change

“When you’re on that path to find what ignites that passion inside yourself ensure that it burns long into the future, for our children, our grandchildren and the generations to follow” Hana O’Regan

As we continue our mahi to unite our network, with a focus on equitable outcomes and quality vocational education, we recongise at times we will face challenges or criticism– even when we are confident our transformation will benefit Aotearoa.

Let’s continue to draw inspiration and courage for our change from our rangatira, hearing their stories helps us all to gain perspective and reminds us about the importance of connecting with and leaning into others. We don’t journey alone.

Ihopūmanawa describes a talented and extraordinary person - someone who is seen by those around them as a ‘mover and shaker’. We are pleased to introduce Hana O’Regan of Ngāi Tahu as the third ihopūmanawa in our series.

Hana continues to be a prominent voice working on language revitalisation, identity and cultural development, te reo Māori and education. This has been her journey for over 25 years. Hana’s passion for education and community, history and equity is immediately evident when you hear her taking about what drives her work and her life.

Watch Hana share her story here: Hana Merenea O'Regan - YouTube

A group of amazing uri taketake (indigenous) Aotearoa New Zealander’s have generously agreed to share a little of their own journey with us. We are humbled to continue sharing their stories with you, through short videos in the coming months.

If you missed the previous Ihopūmanawa clips you can watch them here:

Dame Naida Glavish telling her story: Dame Naida Glavish - YouTube

Jack Thatcher talking about his journey: Jack Thatcher - YouTube

Within Te Pūkenga we believe in the importance of uara (values) guiding us in our mahi. Our values of Manawa Nui, Manawa Roa and Manawa Ora were introduced earlier this year and share the behaviours we know are vital through our transformation. You can learn more about our Te Pūkenga values here.

Te Pūkenga sets out transformative approach to Ako

The name ‘Whiria Te Ako’ refers to an innovative new approach to ako (learning and teaching) across the vocational network of Aotearoa New Zealand, one where Mātauranga Māori informs all parts of the learner experience, including the academic curricula.

Dr Angela Beaton, Deputy Chief Executive Academic and Delivery says that ‘Whiria Te Ako’ will be the cornerstone for how Te Pūkenga designs its programmes, facilitates learning and teaching, and approaches rangahau (and research). The Framework is based on four main principles which emphasise human skills, accessibility, responsivity and flexibility, practicality and authenticity, and relationships, in particular the formation of partnerships.

“The Framework has been developed to ensure that all ākonga and other stakeholders can engage in Māori culture, worldview, perspectives and practices throughout their journey, engagement or partnership with us. This commitment is informed by Te Pūkenga legislative mandate, our Charter and our commitment to Te Tiriti O Waitangi.”

Ben Ngāia, Kaikōkiri Māori Academic Development says that it is the responsibility of Te Pūkenga to ensure that its services improve for the betterment of Māori.

“It is not ākonga Māori or communities that need to change to fit with our organisation – it’s our responsibility to change in ways that better meet their expectations, their aspirations and their worldviews. As we developed ‘Whiria Te Ako’, we wanted to make sure that Mātauranga Māori was apparent in ways beyond merely creating a space for Māori ways of being and knowing. We wanted to highlight the richness that these whakaaro (ideas) bring to our kaupapa (agenda).

Our team appreciates that the strength in our mahi comes from multiple worldviews, but we think that ‘Whiria Te Ako’ will demonstrate how Mātauranga Māori can deepen and enhance other approaches.”

As a new nation-wide framework, ‘Whiria Te Ako’ provides for network-wide practises, while also allowing for regional responsiveness and local relevance, and many kaimahi across the network contributed to its development, says Angela.

“Over 70 taura here (champions) from across the network were involved in the development, with representation from our kaiako and kaimahi, iwi, employers, industry and the community. Significant assistance was also given by other internal Te Pūkenga divisions, particularly Learner Journey and Experience. This has meant that we’ve struck an effective balance between a nationally-consistent strategy and locally-relevant implementation.”

Angela is confident that the new learning and teaching framework will help the organisation work with Aotearoa New Zealand’s communities, industry and businesses to ensure better outcomes for Māori communities (whānau, hapū and iwi).

“Whiria Te Ako provides us with a unique and powerful opportunity to give real, meaningful expression to our commitment to Te Tiriti partnerships, inclusivity and equitable outcomes for Māori.”

Whiria Te Ako has been shared here with kaimahi within the network to get feedback towards its further development.

Work Based Learning transforms for and with Māori

Te Pūkenga is celebrating a major milestone with the completion of self-reflective reporting into Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori equity practices by the entire subsidiary network.

Work Based Learning (WBL) business divisions – BCITO, Competenz, Connexis and MITO – recently released its inaugural insights report after using the self-reflective questions in Te Pae Tawhiti: Te Tiriti o Waitangi Excellence Framework earlier this year.

Te Pae Tawhiti: Insights into Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori Equity practices in the Business Divisions of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning (WBL) identifies practices with potential to achieve better outcomes for Māori along with opportunities for improvement.

Partnerships and Equity Deputy Chief Executive, Ana Morrison, says this is the first time a comprehensive and consistent Tiriti o Waitangi practice analysis has been undertaken across what were Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs).

An overview report – Te Pae Tawhiti Insights into Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori Equity practices throughout our network – was published in mid-2021, followed by Te Pae Tawhiti: Insights into Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori Equity practices in the National Office of Te Pūkenga in August this year.

Regular progress reporting reflects a journey of continual improvement and innovation, Ms Morrison says, as Tiriti excellence and equity for Māori are embedded into strategies, frameworks, policies and processes across Te Pūkenga.

“The insights in these reports are significant for the future of tertiary education in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Our vision is to weave together our strengths to ensure our services respond with excellence to the needs and aspirations of Māori learners and their whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Collectively, we have a unique opportunity to truly rebalance the scales and ensure equitable outcomes are achieved in the vocational education sector for Māori learners and their whānau, and Māori communities and employers.

“We are united and committed to that goal.”

Te Pūkenga network grows again

1 October marked a significant milestone for our network as we welcomed in five ITPs and our final two ITOs joined Work Based Learning. Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning is now the country’s largest on-the-job-training organisation with 270 kaimahi from Primary ITO and 95 kaimahi from parts of The Skills Organisation joining Te Pūkenga this month.

They are the last Transitional Industry Training Organisation (TITO) kaimahi to transition to our Work Based Learning subsidiary and join over 1200 kaimahi from Competenz, Connexis, BCITO, MITO, ServiceIQ, Careerforce, and HITO.

“This is a significant milestone for vocational education in Aotearoa,” says Toby Beaglehole, Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga Work-Based Learning. “Te Pūkenga network now has an unrivalled and unprecedented breadth and depth of on-the-job learning expertise and capability. “We are excited to share the challenge ahead of providing integrated on-the-job and in the classroom learning to support learners, employers and communities to gain the skills, knowledge and capabilities that Aotearoa New Zealand needs now and for the future.”

Primary ITO works with ākonga and employers across agriculture, horticulture, processing and many other primary sector industries are now officially learning with Te Pūkenga. Their 270 kaimahi support around 20,000 learners at 6000 employers, as well as over 1000 secondary school students in the country’s biggest trades academy.

The 95 kaimahi from Skills who have moved to Te Pūkenga work with around 2000 employers nationally and annually support around 15,000 workplace apprentices and trainees across the motu. They work with ākonga and employers in programmes for specialist trades, business services, and government regulation.

These kaimahi have shifted into a transitional business unit called ‘EarnLearn’ within WBL and are being supported by the teams at Connexis. ServiceIQ and the wider WBL team.

Meanwhile, the transition journey for Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) is well under way with all subsidiaries on track to transition into Te Pūkenga by 1 November 2022.

At the start of this month, NMIT, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, NorthTec, Unitec and Manukau Institute of Technology, successfully transitioned into Te Pūkenga, following in the footsteps of Wintec, Toi Ohomai, Whitireia and WelTec who transitioned earlier this year.

These ITP transitions have been taking place in parallel with the final transitions of TITOs into Te Pūkenga Work Base Learning subsidiary.

As ITPs transition into Te Pūkenga their boards are dissolved, they cease to exist as separate legal entities and they become business divisions of Te Pūkenga.

The impact of ITP transition for kaimahi and ākonga is minimal and the job of teaching and learning continues as normal, as does the commitment to strategic initiatives and activities of current and transitioning subsidiaries.

Bringing the network together is an important milestone towards creating a unified and successful vocational education sector. The remaining seven ITPs to transition into Te Pūkenga on 1 November are:

Otago Polytechnic
Ara Institute of Canterbury
Open Polytechnic
SIT
WITT
EIT
UCOL

Te Pūkenga subsidiary Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning will transition into Te Pūkenga on 31 December 2022.

Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning was established as a special purpose vehicle to receive transitional industry training organisations before integrating into Te Pūkenga.

Over 1600 kaimahi have transitioned into Work Based Learning over the last 15 months from nine transitional industry training organisations: BCITO, Careerforce, Competenz, Connexis, HITO, MITO, Primary ITO, ServiceIQ and parts of Skills NZ.

Those kaimahi currently operate in business divisions within Work Based Learning and from 1 January 2023 they will be business divisions within Te Pūkenga.

Other than a change of employer this transition will have minimal impact for kaimahi, employers, and ākonga. After 31 December they will continue to do what we do now, doing the same jobs working with the same people, supporting high-quality in-work learning.

Te Pūkenga Council agreed to the timing to complete this transition first before Te Pūkenga rolls out its new organisation structure in tranches through 2023.

About transitional industry training organisations

All industry training organisations became Transitional Industry Training Organisations (TITOs) in 2020 as part of the Reform of Vocational Education.

All TITOs transferred their standard-setting functions (qualifications, unit standards, and quality assurance) to a Workforce Development Council last year.

Their remaining training mahi and kaimahi transfer to Te Pūkenga, Wānanga o Aotearoa, or private training establishments.

TITOs transferring to Te Pūkenga do it in two steps:

The TITO becomes a division of Work Based Learning.

Work Based Learning transitions to Te Pūkenga.

Kaimahi from 9 TITOs transferred to Work Based Learning over the last 15 months:

TITO	Transfer date
Competenz	2 August 2021
Connexis	1 September 2021
BCITO	4 October 2021
MITO	1 January 2022
ServiceIQ	1 July 2022
Careerforce	1 September 2022
HITO	19 September 2022
PrimaryITO	1 October 2022
Skills (part of)	1 October 2022

Kaimahi from parts of Skills are hosted by existing divisions and business units in WBL.