Open Polytechnic students receive taxation prizes

Tuesday, 14 June 2011, 9:59 am
Press Release: Open Polytechnic

Open Polytechnic
Media Release: Immediate
Date: 14 June 2011

Open Polytechnic students receive taxation prizes

Two Open Polytechnic students received $1000 awards from the TaxAgents Institute of NZ Inc (TINZ) recently for top marks in their respective taxation courses.

“We are delighted with our relationship with the Open Polytechnic. Part of TINZ’s objectives is to foster tax knowledge in New Zealand and to provide bursaries and scholarships for education,” says President of TINZ, Pene Johnstone.

Bachelor of Business student David Stark and NZ Diploma of Business student Beverley Wheoki both say they were pleasantly surprised by the news.

“I was very happy to hear that I was the top student in the tax paper. Of all the papers I was required to take, it seemed to be the most applicable to the career that I was planning on,” says David, who works as an accountant at Mead Stark in Cromwell.

“The flexibility provided by distance learning was great, although at the same time, in order to be successful I found that I had to be very disciplined in my studies,” he says.

Beverley, who is an accountant at Credit Union Baywide in Hastings, says having work experience in the field made studying a bit easier.

“I wanted to gain a qualification to validate my work experience in accounting and managerial roles that I have gained over the past 25 years,” she says.

“Distance learning can be challenging especially when a particular topic or concept is difficult to grasp and there is no opportunity for immediate discussion and feedback as in a classroom situation. However the advantage is the need to develop self-teaching skills and there is great satisfaction that comes from that achievement.”

Completing the papers through the Open Polytechnic in order to meet academic requirements of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA), David wants to build a career in accountancy in Central Otago.

“I have seen a good part of the world and I am confident in knowing that this is where I most want to be,” says David.

Beverley, who received her NZ Dip Bus at the Open Polytechnic graduation ceremony in Wellington this month, and presented with her award by the President of TINZ, says she is now weighing up her options.

“I’m deciding whether or not to continue onto the degree. Perhaps I will relax a bit and enjoy more time with my grandchildren,” Beverley says.

An incorporated society since 1976, TINZ represents tax practitioners and has more than 280 members throughout New Zealand.

“Both David and Beverley should be proud of their achievements and we wish them well with their future endeavours. Well done to them,” says Ms Johnstone.

The Open Polytechnic is one of the largest Polytechnics in the country, and is New Zealand’s specialist provider of open and distance learning, offering a wide range of courses and programmes on a national basis.

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