Issue 17 • June 2012 - Waiariki Institute of Technology

New technology for journalism students
Rotorua Boys’ High School students thought Waiariki’s new journalism equipment was a real hit at the recent
Rotorua Careers Expo.
More than $50,000 has been spent
on new equipment that will give
Waiariki’s journalism students
hands-on experience with the current
technology used in the industry.
While the curriculum for this new
equipment is yet to be finalised,
students are already getting familiar
with the set up, use and take down
of the cameras, lights, microphones,
green screen and the myriad cords
that link it all to a system (software
and hardware) that records whatever
they’re working on.
“It’s essentially a portable studio,
it takes what would take up three
rooms’ worth of filming and editing
equipment and put it into a large box,”
says Leon Thomas, contract lecturer at
Waiariki and multimedia designer.
“The new studio equipment will
provide the practical experience
students need. Previously, there was
no practical experience, just theory,
as all equipment was basic but not
industry standard. Now they’ll be up
to speed technologically.”
The NewTek TriCaster is the system
that records the interviews or
newscasts that students set up. It also
has an editing program, Premiere, that
can be used for edits on the go.
“It’s definitely becoming the norm
now,” Mr Thomas says. “In the
last four years systems like this are
coming out. This one is primarily
made for schools.”
Mr Thomas has been contracting
for Waiariki for the past three years,
teaching 3-D, computer-aided design
(CAD) and digital photography.
He brings a wealth of knowledge
and experience to the classroom,
has an extensive background in the
film industry and has worked in
Wellington with Peter Jackson on
More than 25 years teaching English
Noeline Lewis (centre, in blue) with a class of international students
studying English.
For more than a quarter of a century,
Waiariki has been the go-to institute
for people who want to learn English
if English is not their first language.
To date, more than 3,500 students
have come from at least 50 countries
to learn or improve their English
speaking, pronunciation, listening and
writing skills.
Waiariki’s first overseas student was
Nicole Oschger, who came from
South Africa in 1986 and studied
English before enrolling on a hotel
reception course.
A year later, the next international
student arrived. This one came from
Japan and, interestingly, she enrolled
on a Japanese course in order to meet
New Zealanders who were interested
in Japanese.
This was Noeline Lewis’ second year
teaching at Waiariki and she recalls,
“It was the best thing for me as I got
used to having experts in my class
while I was teaching!”
A full-time Japanese programme ran
several movies.
“Now we can teach work flow and
techniques that students can apply in a
real-world situation. This is a massive
step forward for the polytech and
especially the journalism students.
“The three rooms that are contained in
this box represent what the students
will be doing on the job. The big thing
here is that this is the studio part, the
live broadcast side of television. As far
as this system goes, we can do both –
live recording and transmitting – we
could create a production live, a realworld
work flow that is relevant to
what they’ll do on the job.”
While the curriculum is being
developed, Waiariki is also looking
to create a recording studio for
permanent set up of some of the
equipment, similar to the live radio
studio already on campus.
from 1992 to 2001. Ada Chen, now a
Waiariki employee interim directing
the International Centre, was top
student 2001.
In 1994, the Certificate in English
was introduced at Waiariki and
started with one tutor and three
Japanese students. There were also
groups of Japanese students joining
the programme for two to three
weeks each year during the first years.
Student numbers – and the countries
represented – have continued to grow
ever since and the Waiariki campus
has welcomed people from China,
Thailand, Philippines, Korea, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Chile, Fiji, Samoa,
Cook Islands, French Polynesia, various
African countries, and so many more.
Wanting to provide more services to
our international students, Waiariki
became an official International
English Language Testing System
(IELTS) site in the late 1990s.
Students’ level of English proficiency
is tested upon arrival to determine
at which level to begin their studies.
They can also use the test to provide
proof of proficiency to meet study
requirements for mainstream
qualifications at Waiariki and other
tertiary providers.
Night with a
Dame a chance of
a lifetime
When Dame Kiri Te Kanawa returned to the
stage at Rotorua Convention Centre and
thanked the crowd with her signature song
Pokarekare Ana, a once-in-a-lifetime occasion
for many was complete.
Dame Kiri performed her one-off New Zealand
concert with New Zealand tenor Ben Makisi and
pianist Terence Dennis and it was an evening
of glitz and glamour as Rotorua locals and
people from further afield turned out for the
black tie event.
Among the audience were Waiariki and The
Daily Post competition winners, mother and
daughter Pauline and Olive Bushett.
“I really loved the last song – and I want her
dress!” 16-year-old Olive told The Daily Post on
the night.
Olive is an aspiring singer who sang Pokarekare
Ana at her uncle’s wedding when she was just
eight years old.
Pauline had hoped the opportunity would renew
Olive’s interest in singing following the death of
her brother Tima in January.
Olive sings classical and other styles and
performs in two choirs at her high school,
Western Heights.
She’s also been involved in other musical
ventures at the school but hadn’t been singing
since her brother’s death.
Dame Kiri certainly seems to have sparked
something with Olive, one of many Rotorua
hopefuls who turned out for the New Zealand’s
Got Talent Rotorua auditions in late May.
Waiariki Academy of Music and Singing
students also took part in the auditions.
The programme, hosted by broadcaster Tamati
Coffey, will air later in the year. We will then
find out just how far any Rotorua talent goes
up against the rest of New Zealand.
As part of further sponsorship, Waiariki Academy
of Music and Singing manager Richard Anaru
will offer an appropriate academy scholarship to
Rotorua’s best-performing hopeful.
Pauline Bushett (right) was the lucky winner of two
tickets to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa’s recent concert
sponsored by Waiariki. Ms Bushett brought along her
daughter Olive, who is an avid singer.
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