Te Pūkenga - Engagement Begins On Leadership Structure Of Vocational Education

Engagement with more than 13,000 kaimahi (staff) begins today with Te Pūkenga, New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, seeking feedback on a proposed leadership structure and business groups for Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest tertiary provider.

Te Pūkenga Acting Chief Executive Peter Winder says the proposed structure is a key step in the ongoing work to transform vocational education.

"Staff are absolutely pivotal to navigating the changes we need to make, and to better meeting the needs of ākonga (leaners) and their whanau, industry and employers. We must listen to their voices," Mr Winder says.

The proposal organises Te Pūkenga around seven vocational pathways (Ako Delivery Networks) and empowers four regions to respond to local need, working with employers, industry, unions, and communities.

"Regions will be charged with giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our Charter obligations at management, operational and delivery levels, reflecting Tiriti partnerships between Te Pūkenga Council and iwi and hapū," he says.

"The actions set out in this proposal lay the foundation. Subsequent steps will complete the transition as we bring together the 24 organisations that make up Te Pūkenga. The current proposal does not impact kaimahi in former Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, business divisions of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning or Transitional Industry Training Organisations - including their leadership teams."

Engagement will begin on Monday 15 August and will run for three weeks. During this time, Mr Winder will be conducting kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) visits across the Te Pūkenga network. Engagement will also take place with Tiriti partners, learners, employers, industry, communities and our colleagues across government.

Notes to media

Te Pūkenga, New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, was established in 2020 as one of seven key changes of the Reform of Vocational Education. Te Pūkenga is bringing together a national network of integrated learning that supports learners, employers and communities to gain the skills, knowledge, and capabilities Aotearoa needs now and for the future.

Ako Networks are organised around seven vocational pathways:

• Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics
• People, Food and Fibre
• Services
• Creative, Cultural, Recreation and Technology
• Community, Health, Education and Social Services
• Construction and Infrastructure
• Mātauranga Māori

The four proposed Regions are:

• Te Tai Tokerau | North Northland, Auckland
• Te Tai Rāwhiti | East Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay
• Te Tai Hau-ā-uru | West Taranaki, Manawatū, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman
• Te Tai Tonga | South West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, Southland

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