Twenty new kaimahi (staff) have been formally welcomed at a pōwhiri held at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae on Monday.
The ceremony brought together members of the institution’s leadership, including Executive Director Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, alongside members of the Tāmaki Transition Group and Extended Leadership team, as the organisation continues its journey as a unified entity.
In his welcoming address, Peseta acknowledged the significance of their decision to join the institution and the wider community they are now part of.
“You bring something unique—you bring yourselves, your skills, your experience and your cultures. So don’t be afraid to bring this to our whare, and this place.”
Peseta Sam also reflected on the importance of Te Noho Kotahitanga values, which guide teaching and learning at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka.
“These values drive us every day and remind us of who we are and who we represent and serve.”
Deputy Chief Executive Academic, Professor Martin Carroll, highlighted the presence of several Unitec graduates among the new kaimahi—something he described as especially meaningful.
“One of the things we love most is when our students have such an awesome experience with us that they come back to work for us as kaimahi.”
Prof. Carroll also spoke about the institution’s future, as MIT and Unitec are now operating as a single entity this year, emphasising its role as a major tertiary provider in Tāmaki Makaurau, delivering programmes from certificate to doctoral level.
“We are a research-active provider, but our teaching and research are applied and translational—connecting directly to community and industry needs. We are well connected to the industries we serve,” he said.
With 16,000 learners currently— he noted the institution’s growing impact.
“We’re a significant player in Tāmaki Makaurau now. We are the engine that provides the skilled workforce without which Auckland wouldn’t be what it is.”
The pōwhiri marked not just a welcome, but a signal of continued growth and connection, as new kaimahi join a community of around 1,300 staff shaping the future of vocational and applied education in Auckland.
Coming Back Home: Nursing graduate returns as a Lecturer
Five weeks into her new role, Halyn van der Water says the decision to return feels less like a career move and more like a homecoming.
Now a lecturer in the School of Healthcare, Ms van der Water was officially welcomed at Monday’s pōwhiri, joined by her daughter who travelled from Dubai for the occasion. Though Halyn currently lives on Auckland’s North Shore, her roots are local—she grew up in Mt Roskill and attended Lynfield College.
Her connection to Unitec stretches back more than two decades, completing her Bachelor of Nursing at Mt Albert campus before embarking on a career that has taken her across Auckland’s healthcare system and overseas, including nine years working in Australia.
Returning now as an educator, Halyn says the sense of belonging was immediate.
“Coming back here is like coming back home,” she says. “I’ve felt really connected since returning.”
That feeling of connection—and being valued—played a central role in her decision to join Unitec.
“I really believe in working where I feel valued. That’s when you are happiest—being able to work with people you love working with.”
Ms Van der Water also points to Unitec’s strong reputation and diverse student community as key draws. But for her, the purpose behind the work matters most.
“It’s the actual mahi you do that is most important, and as long as it is something you enjoy, you’re going to be a better lecturer,” she says.
Her teaching philosophy reflects that ethos, approaching students as future peers, emphasising mutual respect and a holistic view of learning.
“I am their colleague—I tell them this from the beginning. We treat them with respect as they may be looking after me one day, especially as a nurse,” she says. “It’s that holistic view of students, not just teaching them the mahi.”
Former Student President returns as kaimahi
Just one week into her new role as Student Voice Coordinator, Christine Fusio says her decision to work here was driven by a desire to reconnect with people and give back to the student community that shaped her.
Now part of the Student Events and Communications team, Fusio brings with her a strong connection to the institution. Christine graduated in 2025 with a Master of Business, majoring in leadership, and previously served as Student Council president.
“Now that I’m on the other side, I get to apply what I learned in my master’s and use the experiences I had as a student and student council president,” she says.
After graduating, Fusio briefly worked for Xero, but soon realised she missed the human connection that had been central to her time at Unitec.
“I love talking to people and I missed the face-to-face connection, so this is why I was interested in applying for this role.”
Her new position allows her to return to a space where she felt supported and empowered—something she is now determined to pass on to others.
“I wanted to give back that sense of encouragement and empowerment to the current council and the students I will meet in this role. I wanted to be that person on the other side because I know what students need based on my own experience,” Christine says.
Fusio is already familiar with the role, having worked closely with the previous Student Voice Coordinator during her time as Student Council president.
“I worked closely with the previous student voice coordinator when I was Student President, so I have some familiarity with the role. Now I get to see the wider picture.”
Her connection to Unitec extends beyond academics and leadership. Originally from the Philippines, Fusio moved to New Zealand in 2023, having first visited family in Auckland in 2015. She says Unitec’s environment played a key role in her decision to study—and now work—there.
She was drawn to its green surroundings and strong Filipino community, describing it as a place of “familiar faces and nature.”
“When I was working in the Student Council, I loved working with our kaimahi,” she adds.
For Fusio, stepping into her new role is an opportunity to strengthen connections, support students, and contribute to a community that feels like home.
