Aronui-Focus 2020 – Highlights!

Nick Sheppard and Hare Paniora open Aronui-Focus 2020

In a true display of takitahi (working/weaving together), MC Nick Sheppard and Matua Hare Paniora opened Tuesday’s Aronui-Focus event together with a moving welcome, in both te reo Māori and English. It set the tone for what was an inspiring and thought-provoking occasion.

The theme of the all-staff Aronui-Focus 2020 event was Takitahi: He ngākau takitahi, e kore e nuku – Together we’re stronger. Before Merran spoke, a video captured the spirit of Unitec, capturing recent highlights, starring students, staff and our campus.

Merran shared her key highlights from 2019 – what she was particularly proud of. She touched on the launch of our Renewal Strategy: Manaakitia te Rito and the launch of strategies focusing on Waitākere, Māori Success and Pacific Success.

She also talked about our excellent Performance Based Research Funding results, the opening of two research centres: Nga Wai a te Tūī (our Māori Research Centre) and our Environmental Research Centre, the launch of a new Bachelor Vet Nursing and Diploma in Cyber security, and successful events including Industry Connect and the 10th anniversary of Ngakau Maahaki. Merran was also pleased to see the improvement in student NPS and the increase in staff engagement, indicating that our staff and students are happier.

Looking ahead to this year, Merran encouraged our people to focus on quality learning and teaching, and working towards financial sustainability.

Datacom’s David Eaton listens as Merran answers a question during the panel session

She said “We will be unwavering and unapologetic in our mission to achieve greatness for the students who choose Unitec as their place of study. 2020 will be a defining year. Be confident in what we can achieve together.”

Guest speaker Tui Ah Loo spoke of her long journey with Unitec, including her family’s involvement in the construction of Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae. She said “Unitec has foresight and vision, that’s what sets us apart… Unitec is rich in whakapapa, in legacy, in whenua (land), in tangata (people), and iconic firsts.” Tui acknowleded Merran and the ELT for their leadership during significant change, resulting in our Renewal Strategy: Manaakitia Te Rito.

Tui also facilitated a panel session, where the audience heard different perspectives of studying at, and working in partnership with Unitec. The panel comprised:

Hare Rua – Tumuaki/Principal, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae
Hanelle Harris – Grad BPSA 2011 and Post Grad Creative Practice 2014, Writer/Director/Producer/Actor
Patrick Drumm – Headmaster, Mt Albert Grammar
David Eaton – Associate Director, Cybersecurity Services, Datacom

The panellists shared their unique stories of their experiences with Unitec.

Tanya White explains how to whiri (plait) while Glenn Mckay demonstrates

David Eaton, who has worked with our School of Computing to develop the new Diploma in Cyber Security, said “We’re in a world that is moving fast and Unitec is closer than many others to see what is on the horizon.”

Hanelle Harris said she found that Unitec has the best balance of theory and hands-on training to prepare for work in the film industry: “As a former Unitec student and now an employer, my preference is for Unitec trained as they have the right mix of practical and academic experience.”

As well as being Tumuaki/Principal at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae, Hare Rua sits on Unitec’s Runanga so initially made a connection with Tumu, Glenn Mckay. His relationship with our UPC team and our Schools has grown, creating opportunities for the tamariki at his kura to explore options for their future.

“They’re there for us, it’s about genuine connection with the community… Unitec doesn’t just tick boxes. It’s hard to develop pathways from school, but having connections with Unitec helps build those pathways.”

Patrick Drumm said he’s delighted with the relationship that Mt Albert Grammar school has developed with Unitec.

“The drive is for personalised pathways and future-focused education. [Through our partnership with Unitec] our young people are staying involved in education – one foot still in Mt Albert Grammar, and one foot at Unitec. Young people need a sense of purpose and engagement. I absolutely believe that our relationship with Unitec is helping us move towards that.”

After a brief Q&A session, the last segment – a weaving activity – was led by our Kaitiaki, Tanya White. Each attendee was given a bunch of harakeke (flax) strands, and Tanya demonstrated how to plait (whiri) these together. There was a feeling of teamwork and fun while people helped each other to plait their harakeke. The result was over 400 whiri (plaits), which will be woven together, into one beautiful artwork as a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.

Keep an eye on the Nest for the opportunity to help with the whatu (weaving together) process in Puukenga. The completed artwork will be displayed at Mt Albert campus.

The panel: David Eaton, Datacom; Merran Davis; Hanelle Harris – Unitec alumnus; Patrick Drumm – Headmaster, Mt Albert Grammar School; Hare Rua – Tuamaki/Principal, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae; Tui Ah Loo – Chair of Unitec Runanga.