geoff hawkings - Waiariki Institute of Technology

oVerVieW oF Waiariki
Waiariki Institute of Technology – Whare Takiura first
opened in Rotorua as Waiariki Community College, back
in February 1978. In its early years, the Mokoia campus
provided secretarial and technical training. Courses were
launched in the early 1980s in business management,
tourism and hospitality, nursing and Māori studies.
Forestry training and education were added to the range
of courses in 1987.
Regional campuses at Taupō, Tokoroa and Whakatāne
were established during the 1980s. By the time the
community college changed its name to Waiariki
Polytechnic in 1987, it was the largest polytechnic outside
of the main centres.
Waiariki further changed its name to Waiariki Institute of
Technology in mid-1998 to reflect its focus on the use
of technology in all programmes at the institute, and the
vital role technology plays in education and training, both
nationally and globally. Later, the term Whare Takiura,
meaning “house of skills,” was added to the Waiariki
branding.
Today, Waiariki remains New Zealand’s largest regional
polytechnic, servicing a population of approximately
175,000
throughout
the districts of
Rotorua, Taupō,
South Waikato,
Kawerau,
Whakatāne
and Opotiki. In
addition, the
Tauranga and
WAIARIKI REMAINS
NEW ZEALAND’S
LARGEST
REGIONAL
POLYTECHNIC
Western Bay of Plenty districts fall on the fringe of the
Waiariki region.
On the southern outskirts of Rotorua, there is a smaller
campus at the Waipa Sawmill which specifically delivers
forestry and wood processing courses and a satellite
facility for construction trades training. Waiariki also has
a collaborative arrangement for delivery of its Bachelor
of Nursing programme at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic’s
Windermere campus. A pilot ‘point of presence’ facility
in the Rotorua CBD, called “Waiariki In Focus”, provides
lower-level computing courses to the community. The
Waiariki e-Campus caters to distance/flexible delivery
demands in line with modern technology. A Business
Development Unit and Tourism Incubator have also been
established to encourage entrepreneurs and industryspecific
niches.
In 2000, the governing body for Waiariki signed a
Tangata Whenua Deed of Agreement with the Te Arawa
Steering Committee tertiary educational authority, Te
Mana Mātauranga. This accord recognises the Treaty of
Waitangi principles of partnership and good faith between
the institution and the tangata whenua of the Waiariki
region, as represented by Te Mana Mātauranga.
THE INSTITUTE’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
SKILLED AND EDUCATED PEOPLE, ACCESS
TO EMPLOYMENT, AND CAPABILITY BUILDING.
IT DELIVERS SKILL SETS AND INTELLECTUAL
CAPITAL NEEDED IN OUR REGION THROUGH:
• people and families – to transform their life
chances,
• Iwi and communities – to achieve their social,
cultural and economic goals, and
• businesses – to build capacity and create wealth.
WAIARIKI’S VISION IS TO BE THE NEW
ZEALAND BENCHMARK OF:
• regional tertiary education,
• partnership with tangata whenua in governance,
and
• vocational education and training developed in
partnership with the community and provided
within a bicultural framework.
2006 ANNUAL REPORT 15