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Kia ora, Kia orāna, Tālofa, Mālo e lelei, Nisa bula vinaka, Mauri, Mālo ni, Fakalofa lahi atu, Fakatalofa atu, Aloha, Halo, Alii, Ekamowir omo, Noa’ia e mauri, and Moana greetings from the 1200 languages from our Pacific region.

As Pacific relatives, we honour and acknowledge Te Tiriti O Waitangi, and the Mana whenua Ngati Haua, Ngati Wairere, Ngati Mahanga, Ngati Koroki kahukura. Our vision is that Pacific cultures are woven into the fabric of Wintec. Our mission is to inspire Pacific excellence at Wintec.

We want our Pacific students/ākonga to feel that Wintec is a home for them, where their individual identities are welcomed and celebrated, and their learning journey is supported.

Through honouring the cultural traditions, ceremonies, and practices of the different islands that make up the Moana, we embrace every aspect of our students/ākonga journey which includes their families and communities who help shape and inform their successes.

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Meet our Pacific team

Rose Marsters

Rose is a proud Cook Islands woman. Currently, our Strategic Pacific Director at Wintec Te Pukenga, her superpower is her contagious laugh.
Contact Rose at Rose.Marsters@wintec.ac.nz.

Melisa Fotu

Melisa is proud to be of Cook Islands and Tonga heritage. Currently holding our Community and Partnership portfolio under the Pacific strategy, she is one of our Kaiarahi Pacific team members. Contact Melisa at Melisa.fotu@wintec.ac.nz.

Maluseu Monise

Maluseu is proud to be of Rotuman and Tuvaluan heritage. Currently holding the Capabilities and Learner Success portfolio under the Pacific strategy, Maluseu is a Hanujuologist and a Hanisi practitioner. Contact Maluseu at Maluseu.monise@wintec.ac.nz.

Leni Lolohea

Leni is proud to be of Tongan, Uvea, and Samoan heritage. Currently holding the Transition and Research Development portfolio under the Pacific strategy, he is one of our Kaiarahi Pacific team members. Contact Leni at Leni.lolohea@wintec.ac.nz.

Wansolwara – Pacific Staff Reference Group

The Wansolwara Pacific Staff Reference Group are staff members who, alongside our team, are responsible for helping develop and deliver Pacific initiatives that promote the sustainability of all our Pacific students/ākonga, families, and community. The group members come from various areas of Wintec and play an important role in consultation and decision-making, bringing their individual strengths, cultures, and knowledge to help the Pacific strategy come to life.

Lumitugetha Pacific Student Leadership Group

The Lumitugetha Pacific Student Leadership Group meets with our Strategic Pacific Director monthly to share voice, receive updates, and check in on matters concerning Wintec, internally or externally. The Lumitugetha Pacific Student Leadership Group was founded through the voice of our students/ākonga identifying in a fono that they wanted their voices heard and considered in decision-making. Lumitugetha is vital and plays an essential role in consultation and advisory to our team. Their leadership roles enable incoming Pacific students/ākonga to strive and be in a similar position throughout their own study journey.

Manu Moana – Pacific Stakeholders

The Manu Moana Pacific Stakeholders meet once every quarter to discuss important issues that help shape the future of our Pacific students/ākonga, team, and the more comprehensive Wintec staff network. In this collective, memberships range from leaders in our sector, region, and nationally. Their voices can be heard in the corridors of the health sector, social services, housing sector, education, corrections, and more. The Manu Moana collective play a vital role in the consultation and decision-making of our Pacific team.

Support and how to contact us

There is lots of support available at Wintec to help with study support, personal matters, and much more. Check out the Student Resources page for more details on the different services we offer to help you with your learning journey.

Wintec joined a group of Iwi and Pacific community groups, employers, and ITOs to develop the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative that brings together the best support, experience, and learning — for free. For information on our Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT), click here.

You can also like and follow our Wintec Māori and Pasifika Facebook page, where we share our Māori and Pacific news stories and information about Wintec and community events.

If you would like to contact us, please get in touch with our Strategic Pacific Director Rose Marsters.

Pacific Learning Hub

Through our annual fono, our Pacific students/ākonga voiced a need for a space where they can “be and let be”.
The Pacific Learning Hub offers our Pacific ākonga (students) further academic and wellbeing support. Wellbeing checks and inspiration flow during the first half hour. Followed by an hour of self-directed studies (doing the do), working on assignments, and asking any questions.

Are you a Pacific ākonga (student) at Wintec? Join us and find out how we can support you on your journey.

Date: Running every Wednesday
Time: 7:30pm-9pm
Venues: The Hub, City Campus or email us to join online

Videos

Press the play buttons below to watch some of our events and activities.

News

Wintec honours its top adult learners

Thursday, 08 September 2022

Wintec Adult learner Awards nominees and winners
Left to right: Carmen Banks, Torez Wiperi-Karauria-Heta (Award winner), Kimberly Adams, Donna Reihana (Award winner), Jennifer Wright, Rainbow Blossom, Matthew Murdoch, Molly Hottman, Nikitia Donovan (Award winner), Dylan de Morais (Award winner), Zabrina Laing.
Absent: Libby Jackson (Award winner), Ching-Hui Chang, Zane Eramiha.
This week, as part of Adult Learners’ Week, He Tangata Matauranga (1-8 September), Wintec, a business division of Te Pūkenga, celebrated the success of its top adult learners.

The Adult Learner Awards are a highlight of the Wintec calendar and were hosted in the Atrium on Wintec’s city campus. Five exceptional adult learners were honoured and celebrated. All had embraced their learning with enthusiasm and a drive to succeed, challenged themselves and supported others in their learning journeys.

The recipients of the awards, who each received $1000, came from a diverse range of backgrounds and studied a wide variety of subjects including electrical engineering, midwifery, horticulture, nursing and counselling.

Recipients of this year’s two Adult Learner Awards were Donna Reihana (Bachelor of Nursing) and Libby Jackson (Bachelor of Midwifery).

The two Māori and Pacific Adult Learner Awards were awarded to Nikitia Donovan (Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling) and Torez Wiperi-Karauria-Heta (Advanced Horticultural Trades (Level 4) (Arboriculture)).

Dylan de Morais (Electrical Engineering Level 3) received the Foundation Adult Learner Award.

Wintec Executive Dean, Shelley Wilson, says, “The award winners are all ākonga who have made an impact while studying at Wintec – they were standout students to their tutors and it’s great to be able to celebrate them this way.”

Wilson acknowledges that returning to learning as an adult is often not an easy road, with Covid adding yet another layer of complexity. “This year has been particularly challenging for many of our adult learners as they have faced extra obstacles due to COVID-19. The resilience and tenacity of these students has really shone through, and we’re so proud of their continued efforts and achievements in the face of adversity.”

“Making this investment in their futures often comes with sacrifices including balancing study and home life, work commitments and other challenges that life throws their way”, says Wilson.

“It’s really important we acknowledge these factors and celebrate those adult learners who have shown great commitment and effort to their studies, often having to overcome many challenging circumstances.

“Our adult learners come to their studies with a wealth of life and work experience and skills, which can bring many benefits and help them succeed at tertiary level study. Often, they are clearer of their direction than their younger counterparts, fuelling their passion for their area of study and driving them to set and achieve their learning goals. Their enthusiasm can often be infectious, helping to drive their fellow students to achieve. With 52 per cent of ākonga at Wintec being adult learners, their wide range of life experiences add richness to class discussions, enhancing the learning environment for their peers.” says Wilson.

“If extra support is needed for our adult learners, we offer workshops, pastoral care including kaiāwhina support, and specific support for international students as well.”

About the Adult Learner Awards

To be nominated for an Adult Learner Award, students must be over 25 years old, enrolled in a full or part-time programme at Wintec, and balance roles and responsibilities associated with being an adult learner.

Nominees should demonstrate enthusiasm, determination, show support and encouragement to other learners, share new skills, knowledge and abilities, and challenge themselves and others with new ideas.

Wintec’s Adult Learner Awards are part of The Festival of Adult Learning, Ahurei Ākonga a UNESCO initiative supported by the Tertiary Education Commission, adult and community education providers, and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.

Events

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