Te Pūkenga

After years of prioritising her family over personal aspirations, Ani Keefe, a mother of two, is pursuing her passion for hair by enrolling in the NZ Certificate in Commercial Barbering (Level 4) at NorthTec | Te Pūkenga.

Despite facing challenges, Ani emphasizes the positive impact of the course on both her qualification and mental health. Ani praises the support and assistance she receives from the course and encourages others passionate about a career change, particularly in barbering, to take the leap, asserting, "Just do it. If you love it, then go for it. You won't regret it."

Read more about Ani here: https://www.northtec.ac.nz/post/mum-of-two-follows-barbering-dream

👷‍♀️Trades Academy ākonga (learners) have been celebrating their successes with teachers and whānau at prize givings across Aotearoa New Zealand, as the school year comes to an end.

The academies allow ākonga opportunities to access a wide range of trades and technology-related learning, while completing NCEA to support positive post-study transitions.

93% of ākonga overall move into employment or further study after participating in an academy (this figure is 91.5% for ākonga Māori and 89% Pacific).

More than half of the 11,186 academy places offered throughout the motu are delivered either on campus or in the workplace by business divisions of Te Pūkenga.



Read more here: https://www.xn--tepkenga-szb.ac.nz/news/building-the-next-generation-of-tradies-starts-at-school/

Wayne Samways, the Accessibility Coordinator at WITT | Te Pūkenga, is dedicated to ensuring equitable support for ākonga and kaimahi at the institution. He assists students in obtaining the educational and operational services necessary for their success, such as creating personalised evacuation plans, coordinating reader-writer services, and providing specialised equipment to convert written text into spoken words.

Wayne emphasizes the importance of being open and accepting of differences, noting the growing need for support. With a diverse career background in leadership and education across various sectors, Wayne brings a wealth of experience to his role, aiming to support individuals and their growth. Te Pūkenga focus on serving traditionally underserved groups, including disabled learners, aligns with Wayne's passion for delivering equity.

Click here to read more: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/fair-access-for-all/

WITT | Te Pūkenga business management students, Hannah Bryan and Megan Dodunski, have been awarded the Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia (PMSA) and will spend Christmas in China as part of a four-week entrepreneurship and innovation course🎄. The programme, running from December 10, 2023, to January 21, 2024, encompasses Chinese language classes, entrepreneurship site visits, cultural experiences in cities near Jinhua.

Click here to read more: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/china-for-christmas/

Pepe Reading, a first-year Māori student nurse at NMIT | Te Pūkenga, is pursuing her dream. Pepe, who previously focused on homeschooling her children while working part-time, re-entered education to set an example for her kids and explore her career options. After seeking guidance from a career advisor, Pepe was drawn to nursing after visiting the campus and the nursing department, feeling immediately at home.

She was awarded the NMIT| Te Pūkenga degree scholarship, providing $6500 for course-related expenses. Despite not being eligible for fees-free study, Pepe appreciated the academic support and wrap-around assistance, particularly in academic writing. She also rekindled her Māori journey through the available Māori support, participating in various cultural events and conferences. Pepe's dedication and impact in her studies have earned her recognition and praise.

Click here to read more: https://www.nmit.ac.nz/news/adult-learner-dedicated-to-maori-health/

🇹🇴 WITT | Te Pūkenga recently delivered Infrastructure Training short courses in Tonga, drawing numerous offers of assistance due to the sudden surge of interest in bitumen and chipseal in the region. Jan Kivell, Short Course and Programme Manager, humorously noted the increased enthusiasm. WITT | Te Pūkenga has a history of providing tailored offshore programs in various locations, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Norfolk Island, and East Timor. This marked the third instance of training delivery in Tonga, reflecting the commitment to supporting South Pacific neighbors.

Click here to read more: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/teaching-in-tonga/

Oliver Burke, a learner who initially joined the Joinery "Top of the South Trades Academy" programme at NMIT | Te Pūkenga due to his passion for physical activities and building, has been awarded the Nelson Pine Industries Ltd Joinery Scholarship for 2023.

Enjoying the programme so much, he continued his education by pursuing a Certificate in Construction Skills this year. Guided by his tutor, Oliver applied for the scholarship, which includes a $1000 prize and a tour of the Nelson Pine Industries Ltd site. Oliver plans to use his newfound skills to embark on an apprenticeship and is enthusiastic about the possibilities.

Click here to read more: https://www.nmit.ac.nz/news/joining-the-dots/

Open Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga NZ Diploma in Business graduate Natalie Allen (Te Āti Awa) completed her qualification so she could back up the business knowledge she had gained in the workplace. While she now works as a bank manager, it wasn’t until after high school that Natalie found her career calling in the business sector.

“In my adult life, I found my passion for leading people and wanted to cement my business acumen and understanding by gaining a qualification in business,” Natalie says.

She now feels a lot more confident leading her business team and “helping them achieve their goals through connection and understanding of the business environment.”

Luke Sowman, a Year 12 student at Spotswood College, secured a job opportunity by participating in the WITT | Te Pūkenga 'Build a Trailer' Engineering (Level 3) Trades Academy programme, where hands-on experience and work placements are key components. Luke's work placement led to a trades assistant role with Energy Works, with the potential for an apprenticeship in the future, fulfilling his goal of gaining skills and employment.

Similarly, Brayden Shaw, a Year 13 student at Opunake High School, secured a job with Kinatai Engineering after gaining valuable experience during his placement at Fonterra. The programme not only provides practical skills but also includes unique projects like making individual fish smokers, fostering ownership and celebration among students, with pathways to further qualifications in mechanical engineering.

Click here to read more about Luke and Braydon here: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/fishing-for-a-job/

Congratulations to BCITO | Te Pūkenga apprentice Eli Auld, this year’s recipient of the Architectural Aluminium Joinery Most Promising Apprentice award. It took Eli a while to find the trades, but once he did, there was no going back.
“I knew from the get-go that aluminium joinery could be a long-term career option. I was interested in the different types of machinery and learning the key parts of the trade.”
For those in a similar position to Eli, who aren’t too sure what’s next and are considering the trades, Eli’s advice is, “give it a go if you’re up for it. Your hard work will pay off!”

Read more here about Eli here: https://bcito.org.nz/news-and-publications/news/apprentice-thrives-after-leaving-lab-tools/

🌱🌷When long-time retail worker Linda Pugh landed a job at a garden centre in 2020, she decided to upskill by studying online for a New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General) (Level 3) from Open Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga.

“I really enjoyed doing the programme, I was fascinated about a lot of things to do with horticulture, that I had never thought of before and so I found it really interesting,” Linda says.

Linda’s qualification has not only helped her serve customers at Palmers, but she has recently gained a promotion and developed new skills.

Click here to read more about Linda: https://bit.ly/46d7CVy

Five years of blood, sweat and tears is over for WITT | Te Pūkenga accounting kaiako Dr Walaa Ghazy as she’s submitted her PhD. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it is PhD number two for Walaa, and it has been completed in English, which is not Waala’s native language. Her thesis explored how cost behaves in innovative firms when managers face a change in demand conditions, and the effect of this behaviour on the informativeness of the financial reports to the stock market participants.

Read more about Walaa here: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/phd-number-two-ticked-off/