Issue 17 • June 2012 - Waiariki Institute of Technology

Waiariki provides doctors to Rotorua
Ken Kennedy was recently awarded
an honorary doctorate in philosophy
from an American institute.
Yes there is a doctor in the house.
In fact, there are quite a few holders
of PhDs employed at Waiariki and
two more have earned the distinction
in the last few months: Waiariki’s
Kaumatua Keneti (Ken) Kennedy,
and Qilong Zhang.
That brings the tally to eight staff
with doctorates and several more are
Don Tahere is proof it’s never too late
to turn your life around.
Just before he turned 50, Don
enrolled on the Certificate in
Agriculture and Farm Maintenance at
Waiariki in Tokoroa. He had closed
down his mechanics shop and was
looking for a useful trade to learn.
His biggest motivation, however, was
something much closer to his heart.
“What changed me was my kids. I
saw them going down the same track
as me. I had to make the change and
that’s why I’m doing what I do now.
I’ve got to be their big role model.”
That undesirable track was gang
related. Don and wife Debbie have
nine children. The last thing he
wanted was to watch their children,
who range in age from 6 to 23, to
follow in his footsteps.
“I’m not very proud of it. I’m done
with it now. Even my kids, they’re all
done with it. We threw it all away to
make better lives.”
After making the decision to enrol
at Waiariki, things changed rather
quickly for the Tahere family. In fact,
Don wasn’t the only one filling out
Waiariki enrolment forms.
“I’ve got this thing with my kids:
when they leave school they are not
allowed to go on the benefit. They
have to get a job or go to school.
That’s always been my rule.”
The oldest five – Roi, Jessica,
Werehana, Joseph and Blaze –
joined their father in agriculture
training. Four of them completed
the qualification. Roi is now an
apprentice at SWPE (South
Waikato Precision Engineering
Ltd) in Tokoroa, and Jess has gone
to Tauranga to earn her bartending
license (she wants to run a nightclub).
studying toward that goal through
professional development.
Dr Kennedy received his honorary
doctorate in philosophy from the
Research Institute of World’s
Ancient Traditions, Cultures and
Heritage (RIWATCH), USA, at an
international conference held at the
University of Dev Sanskriti Vishwa
Vidyalaya in India.
His was one of five honorary
doctorates awarded for distinguished
leadership and outstanding social
service to their respective traditions
and cultures.
Dr Zhang, who works in the Te
Wānanga a Ihenga education team,
passed his oral examination for his
doctorate with Auckland University
and will have a formal graduation
later this year.
Waiariki staff currently with doctorates:
Chris Asby
PhD, Agricultural/Veterinary
Werehana and Joseph have continued
their study at Waiariki in construction
and engineering respectively. Blaze
didn’t quite finish the qualification,
but she is working now and hopes to
return to study to become a vet.
Even mum Debbie is keen to get on
board this family education mission.
She’d like to study chef training but
will wait until their grandchild
starts school.
Don’s attitude toward education
and his commitment to studies were
infectious. Unwittingly, he quickly
became a role model to his classmates
and caught the eye of agriculture tutor
Wayne Tonks. Toward the end of the
year, Wayne pulled him aside and
suggested he apply for a position as
tutorial assistant for Waiariki, which
he did, albeit with some hesitation.
“To tell you the truth,” Don says,
“when Wayne told me to apply for
the job, I honestly didn’t think I’d get
it. I’m glad I did apply for it.”
Wayne said he could see Don’s
strong work ethic and, perhaps more
Economics, University of Reading,
UK, 1976
Suwaree Ashton
PhD, Hotel Management, University
of Queensland, Australia, 2010
Lynne Chepulis
PhD, Health Science, University of
Waikato, 2008
Ken Kennedy
Honorary PhD, Philosophy,
RIWATCH, 2012
Christine Mercer
PhD, Nursing, Massey University,
2006
Craig Morley
PhD, Zoology/Ecology, University of
Canterbury, 2000
Clarke Raymond
PhD, Neuroscience, University of
Otago, NZ, 1999
Qilong Zhang
EdD, University of Auckland, 2012
From gang member to successful tutor and
role model
Don Tahere, flanked by sons Joseph (left) and Werehana.
importantly, his ability to connect
with the students. Don says he’s just
being himself.
“I can really see myself in a lot of the
kids around here.”
It seems the study bug has bitten. Don
is now studying social science courses
online with another provider while
still assistant teaching with Waiariki.
“I’m trying to further myself. With
that degree I’ll be able to help people
or children at risk. I was one of those
naughty kids once upon a time. I
want to be able to give back to the
community I took so much from.
“It’s been tough because I still have
mates around here that can’t believe
what I’m doing. They’ve said that
I’ve changed. But, like I tell my
mates, the only thing I represent
now is Waiariki. Because I’m a
casual tutor now, I see that as a lot
of responsibility, you can’t go around
doing the things I used to do.
“I really wish I did this when I
was younger.”
Student profile
Laura Keys
Bachelor of Nursing
Babies and nursing seem to be the central
theme in Laura Keys’ young life.
For the moment, however, she’s focusing on
the latter, working her way toward earning
the Bachelor of Nursing from Waiariki.
“My mum was a nurse, and I’ve got an
aunty who is a nurse, and another aunty
who’s training to be a nurse as well. We
started [training] at the same time. It’s
a coincidence, each of us didn’t know the
other was applying.”
Incidentally, Laura’s 18-year-old sister
is studying at Waiariki, as well, toward
the Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood
Education).
Laura laughs and says she had different
career ambitions earlier in life.
“When I was younger, a family friend had
twins who ended up in SCBU because
they were quite small. I was about 10 or
something. I had [written] in my diary that
I wanted to be a singer or dancer but I
can’t sing or dance so [becoming a nurse]
was the sensible thing to do, really.”
Since that defining moment, Laura knew
she wanted to become a nurse and
specialise in working with babies in a
hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
She’d like to stay in Rotorua, but will go
where the jobs are, she says.
She will finish her degree in November.
She says studying has been a bit stressful
at times but she deals with it by reducing
her work schedule (she has a part time
job at McDonald’s), running (“not so much
in winter, though”), taking one day at
a time, and giving in to the occasional
chocolate cravings.
Having skipped Year 13 at Rotorua Girls’
High School so she could start her tertiary
study early, she says, “I didn’t enjoy
school, I was very keen to escape.”
Laura will be the youngest in the nursing
school to graduate in November and she
will just beat the age cut-off by two months
to sit the nursing registration exams
(graduates must be 20 to sit the exam).
She’s looking forward to getting the muchneeded
nursing experience in hospital
before she can apply to work in SCBU.
“I just love babies, I really love babies.”
0800 924 274 Waiariki Today |
PAGE 11