مرحباً بكم جميعاً، (greetings to you all).

It is my pleasure to write this fortnight’s introduction to Ngā Taipitopito.

On Tuesday, we started sharing consultation decisions with kaimahi most affected by Tāraia te anamata | Creating our futures structure, as outlined here on Te Whare. Kaimahi consulted will receive a decision letter via email by the end of the week. Some will need to confirm the decision in their letter by replying to the email or by signing and returning the letter to their division’s People, Culture and Wellbeing (PCW) team.

I want to acknowledge that this has been a large and complex process, therefore, challenging for many on top of the changes previously progressed. We have endeavoured to recognise the individual needs amongst the almost 8,000 kaimahi impacted but realise we cannot always do so fully. Please reach out to your leaders, PCW teams or unions if you have remaining concerns. My thanks on behalf of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to you all for your patience and understanding throughout the process.

You may have heard that Te Pūkenga Council has appointed specialist advisors who will work with leaders to gather information that will assist them to provide guidance on the shape of a future regional network of vocational education entities. Work is already underway, including engaging with communities, iwi and hapu. You can find more information about who they are and what they’ll be doing in this edition of Ngā Taipitopito.

Another important step towards our future state will be determined today when the Council considers our Delegations Policy. This policy has been revised in light of the Minister’s Letter of Expectations to provide for greater regional and divisional decision-making. We will share an update in due course.

It seems graduation season is upon us! As you celebrate the achievements of our ākonga, I want to mihi to all of you. Your pūkenga (skills), tautoko (support) and dedication undoubtedly shape the futures of your graduates, their whānau and Aotearoa. On behalf of us all, ngā mihi nui – thank you.

Next week, there will be a graduation for kaiako (teachers) who’ve completed training via our partnership with Apple. Through the programme, kaiako at ten kura (schools) in Tāmaki Makaurau with large numbers of Māori and Pasifika ākonga gained skills in iOS app design, prototyping and development, digital media development, computer programming, and user experience methodologies. They are, in turn, passing these skills on to their classes.

The partnership is a great example of kura, communities, tertiary training providers, and the tech sector working together in a targeted way to help eliminate the intergenerational impacts of underrepresentation in technology-related fields for learner groups. Ka rawe!

A special acknowledgement to Professor Leoni Schmidt, who will be conferred the title of Emeritus Professor tomorrow, in recognition of her distinguished career as a national and international academic leader, educator and researcher. Leoni will receive the honour as part of Otago Polytechnic’s graduation ceremonies at the Dunedin Town Hall.

Finally, you may have noted I started my email in Arabic – that is because tomorrow marks the start of Unity Week, the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and is the 5th anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings, one of New Zealand's darkest days. Ramadan has also started, which is a month of deep spiritual reflection, sacrifice and devotion for our Muslim colleagues and friends. Many will observe fasting from dawn until dusk, as they engage in prayer and self-examination. The month will end with the celebration of Eid ul Fitr upon the sighting of the next crescent moon.

As an education and training organisation we understand the power and value of learning. Unity Week and Ramadan serve as poignant reminders of our social and collective responsibility to be open to learning about our differences so we can respect and celebrate them and, with understanding, overcome division and build a world that is inclusive for all.

It is my honour to wish you all a blessed Ramadan: أتمنى لكم جميعًا رمضان مباركًا

Keri-Anne Tane

Pourangi Tangata | Chief People Officer

Ngā kōrero hou
Our updates

Privacy pitfalls – what you need to know about AI and online meetings

In a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly integrated into our daily digital interactions, one critical aspect is often overlooked—the ownership and use of user-generated content. From text, speech, and recordings to conversations in virtual meetings, AI can typically use everything it receives, blurring the lines of privacy and ownership.

Recently, we’ve seen AI tools or ‘bots’ join some of our online hui. To use AI in online meetings, the organiser needs the consent of everyone attending the meeting, agreeing that their voices and any statements they make are recorded and owned by the AI provider. If any private or confidential topics are discussed, consent is needed from everyone involved, including those talked about. If consent from all parties isn’t recorded, under the Privacy Act, Te Pūkenga may need to report a breach of personal information to the office of the Privacy Commissioner.
 
A good rule of thumb is to consider that anything given to an AI tool is public, including your rights and ownership. With this in mind, please stay diligent when holding online meetings. Ensure only the participants who should be in the meeting appear on the participant list and use the lobby where available to prevent external parties from joining automatically.

Kaimahi micro-credential to develop te reo fluency

Kei ngā maunga whakahī, kei ngā wai tuku kiri, kei ngā mātāwaka o te motu, ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa.

Ko te reo rāhiri tēnei e rere ana ki a ngākau nui, ki a ngākau hihiko ki te hunga e ngana ana ki te whai i te ara o reo rangatira. Nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki tēnei waka o Karawhiua te reo!

‘Karawhuia te reo!” is an innovative Level 5 reo Māori micro-credential, for kaimahi across the network who want to enhance their fluency in te reo Māori and confidently lead in tikanga Māori spaces. We are currently seeking expressions of interest from kaimahi, who are ready to embark on this journey.

Programme aim

The aim of the programme is to accelerate proficiency and fluency of reo Māori through:

• rumaki reo (full immersion) delivery
• application of te reo Māori outside the classroom
• contextualisation of courses to the workplace – vocational education, education practitioners and/or specific areas of teaching.

Entry requirements

Entry is available to all kaimahi who either hold a level 4 or higher qualification in te reo Māori or can provide evidence of their ability to meet the reo Māori entry criteria through lived experience.

Programme information

The intended start date is 29 April 2024, subject to New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) approval.

These micro-credentials will be mixed-mode delivery, including online classes, wānanga, noho marae and self-directed learning. The structure of the micro-credentials is as follows:

Expressions of interest

Expressions of interest to enrol in the programme are open until Tuesday 26 March. Click here to access the form.

Pātai and information session

If you have any pātai, please email Charity Niha c.niha@competenz.org.nz.

An online information session will be held on Tuesday 19 March 2024, from 12 – 12.30 pm. Join the meeting now. Meeting ID: 437 283 938 706, passcode: e7Xgnb.

A list of FAQs and more information are available on Te Whare.

Specialist advisors appointed to support disestablishment

Te Pūkenga Council has appointed seven specialist advisors to help inform the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and inform the future state of vocational education and training.

The appointments follow the Minister’s Letter of Expectations in December 2023, which confirmed the Government’s decision to disestablish Te Pūkenga and take a decentralised approach to providing vocational education and skills training.  

Advisors have been selected for their specialist knowledge and experience in the sector as well as wide regional networks, and include:

• Chris Collins, former Chief Executive EIT and Interim Chief Executive Te Pūkenga
• Tony Gray, former Chief Executive Ara and NMIT  
• Jim Mather, former Chief Executive Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
• Bruce Robertson, former Director of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning and Chair of ServiceIQ
• Dr Caroline Seelig, former Chief Executive New Zealand Open Polytechnic
• Sharon Shea, former chair, health and disability sector and Māori wellbeing, Māori Health Authority 
• Tim Ward, Managing Partner BDO Invercargill and former SIT Council Member.

The advisors will work with Te Pūkenga leaders to gather information from communities, including iwi and hapū, and will develop advice for Te Pūkenga Council.

Unleash your creativity and take on ELT in the latest Taumauri challenge

The gauntlet has been thrown down, folks! Our ever-optimistic Executive Leadership Team (ELT) team "Every little thing... will be alright," thinks they've got the creative crown in the bag for our latest Taumauri challenge – Creativity Everyday.

But are they right? Challenge accepted!

There's still time to join the fun and unleash your inner artist, inventor, or comedian. This isn't your average creativity challenge. It's a series of quick, office-friendly activities led by real artists, designed to spark new ideas and have a blast with your team.

Think you can't be creative with just office supplies? Think again! From mind-bending puzzles to hilarious skits, the possibilities are endless. Plus, there are amazing prizes up for grabs, so don't let "Every little thing" become your team's excuse.

Click here for the full challenge details, including how to register and form a team.

Let's show those ELT folks what true creative spirit looks like!