Waiariki Today Issue 14

Rotorua | Taupo | Tokoroa | Whakatane Issue 14 June 2011

Perfect Mix

In Hospitality and Hotel Management training

“In the past five years Waiariki has almost doubled in size.” – Chief Executive Pim Borren, PhD PLUS: From Waiariki graduate to business owner • Trades academy for secondary students a success • Going for gold at Toque d’Or • Aiming for a fossil-fuel free Rotorua • Sports academy home of world and NZ champions • and more inside!

waiariki.ac.nz

Kia Ora

Rotorua | Taupo | Tokoroa | Whakatane Issue 14 June 2011

Issue:

14

Next Issue:

October 2011

Deputy Chief Executive:

John Snook

Editor:

Lyn Maner

Sub-editor:

Sue Gunn, Maketing Manager

Contributing Writers:

Ingrid Tiriana, Dr Toby Curtis

Photos:

Kristin O’Driscoll

Designer:

Tracey Greene, Fuel Advertising

Printer:

APN Print

E-mail:

marketing@waiariki.ac.nz

Kia ora Waiariki Community,

Waiariki Today is our major externally focused community publication. We produce three issues per annum. It’s mostly for you, our Waiariki community. Our community is diverse.

It stretches from Waiouru in the south to Te Kaha in the north-east and encompasses central and eastern Bay of Plenty as well as South Waikato. Our main towns (and campuses) are Rotorua, Taupo, Tokoroa, Whakatane. Our largest school (Nursing and Health Studies) also covers the Western BoP, with about half of our Bachelor of Nursing degree students based in Tauranga.

Our community includes old and young, working and nonworking, employers and employees, Māori and non-Māori.

We support people from all walks of life in achieving their career aspirations and our local industry with a skilled workforce for their futures.

Address: Marketing Department Waiariki Institute of Technology Private Bag 3028 Rotorua 3046

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Missed an issue of Waiariki Today?

This is already Issue 14 of our three-times-per-year publication bringing you the news, events and happenings of Waiariki Institute of Technology, its staff and students.

If you missed previous issues, you can view them online at www.waiariki.ac.nz, or email marketing@waiariki.ac.nz and we’ll send the one/s you’re missing free of charge.

Front cover photo: Laura Adriano is studying toward the Diploma in Hospitality Management. She gains practical skills and puts her hospitality education into action while working at Rydges Rotorua.

Enrol NOW For Semester 2!

Pick up Waiariki’s 2011 Prospectus and Career Guide from any Waiariki campus and see all the exciting new qualifications on offer, as well as the time-tested, high quality favourites for which the institute is known.

Certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications – they’re all here!

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Waiariki is the major public sector tertiary educator across our region. We teach over 6,000 students annually (around 10% are international students) and employ over 500 staff across multiple sites. Over the past five years we have focused especially on continuous quality improvement. This publication is no different. Each issue attempts to surpass the previous issue in terms of presentation and professionalism in the way we share our many success stories.

Many staff contribute to the stories that make up Waiariki Today, and over time as our staff become increasingly effective as educators, our stories become even more interesting and exciting. In the past five years Waiariki has almost doubled in size. In 2010 we earned almost $50 million in revenues. The multiplier effects for our community are much greater as students live, play, and spend; adding to our region’s economy in so many ways.

I am sure you are as excited as I am about the continuous progress your local institute of technology is making to our region’s economic and social development.

Enjoy!

Dr Toby Curtis Chairperson, Te Arawa Lakes Trust Te mea tuatahi maaku hai mihi atu ki to taatou rangatira a Putu mo waana mahi pakari aataahua hoki, I a ia e haapai ana woo taatau rangatahi, kia whai I te huarahi oranga ngakau, mo to whanau, hapu me raatou ake.

Takoto e te rangatira, okioko, moe mai ra. Putu Mihaka will be sorely missed by Ngati Pikiao and indeed Te Arawa whaanui.

Along with Atareta Maxwell, Sir Howard Morrison, Arapeta Tahana, Taini Morrison and Hawea Vercoe. Putu is another plume that has gone from our midst. Moe mai koutou katoa.

Visit to China The purpose of the trip was a celebration to commemorate the opening of the main reception room, with decor resembling a wharenui, at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing. The Prime Minister of the day, The Right Honourable David Lange, officially opened it in 1986.

Twenty-five years ago I was the youngest member of a group of 10 iwi representatives, led by Hiwi Tauroa who at the time was the Race Relations Conciliator. This time around, I was the oldest member of the group!

We travelled to Beijing where we were welcomed with a banquet, stayed the night, then flew the next day to Guizhou Prefecture (Province) where we visited Guiyang Ethnic Middle School. Travelled that afternoon to Kaili city and visited Kaili Senior School. That evening we were treated to another scrumptious banquet. The next morning we visited Qiandongnan Nationalities Museum and the Langde Miao People’s Village. Here we experienced a traditional welcome ceremony – I suspect it was their kind of pohiri. Returned to Beijing, and the next day commemorated the opening of He Pakiaka, the culturally decorated room, at the embassy.

1. The Guizhou people were keen to develop a strong relationship with Māori before exploring business

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exciting developments which are important to Waiariki today and over the three month period leading up to the release of each issue.

Iwi News

A Pathway Forward The principal outcomes of the visit focused on the Chinese intention and commitment. your

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Establishing Waiariki Today was my own idea. It is just one of many successful projects we have undertaken over the past five years that I have led the institute. John Snook (Deputy CEO – Academic Quality and Strategy) is our editor. He is well supported by a small but dedicated marketing team ably led by our Marketing Manager, Sue Gunn. The purpose of the publication is to share with our community a range of

Throughout the four days we kept meeting business, council and political leaders at both provincial and national levels. In Guizhou Province we were hosted by the Miao and Judong Minority peoples.

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opportunities with iwi. They realise that we both have the same commitment in caring for others – te manaaki tangata.

2. They desire Māori to assist them to upgrade the professionalism of their teachers at pre-tertiary and tertiary levels.

3. They want their students to learn te reo Māori and its attendant culture. They are keen to teach our student te reo Chinese and the culture that goes with it. When pressed with the “WHY?” their response was immediate: if a business undertaking fails to achieve its intended outcome, the relationship will remain intact.

4. This is the first time I have experienced this active desire of the Chinese people to have a strong social and economic relationship with Māori since I was there 20 years ago.

5. The province has a Minorities population of close to 40 million people. In many ways they are encouraged by the Chinese government to behave independently to forge international links and engage with other people and nations.

6. I am firmly of the view that this province could be of value to Te Arawa, Rotorua District Council and Waiariki if we wish to broaden and strengthen our focus and opportunities for development in the international arena.

LakesWater Quality Symposium This international symposium run in April by the LakesWater Quality Society would have to rank as one of the most successful held in the past decade. The theme was “Fix a Lake and Grow a City”. The chair, John Green, and his team of committed enthusiasts who want to see Rotorua as a premiere world destination, were right on target with a programme that underscored the potential of this reality. We have such wonderful natural resources that are literally at our feet, that the presentation by John Sax of Treetops Lodge and Estate was more than timely. I agree with his dream. We have in Rotorua a strong sense of love, joy and peace.

Waiariki’s contribution to this symposium was greatly appreciated by the Society. The input of Warren Webber, project manager for the Waiariki Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sustainability and the special dinner evening, enhanced Sax’s dream.

Let this dream be our dream as well.

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Adventure, tourism and culture are part of the life source of Rotorua Nick Chater’s passion for adventure tourism and all things New Zealand is rather infectious.

The Head Lecturer of Waiariki’s adventure tourism courses is all energy and there’s no doubting his dedication to the cause.

He says “bums on seats” tourism is on the way out. Today’s tourists want a high quality experience and while safety is paramount in the adventure tourism sector, the key to success is mitigating risk without taking away the sense of adventure.

The latter is certainly something Mr Chater has always had.

Rotorua born and raised, he attended Selwyn Primary School, Kaitao Intermediate and Western Heights High School. He left school at 16, put a backpack on his back and hitched around the South Island, picking up short-term work along the way.

On his return, encouraged by his father, he qualified as a chef and worked in Rotorua and Wellington. Then he discovered rafting.

His role as chef became part-time and he became a rafting guide, attending Waiariki’s first adventure tourism programme to build on his skills. By 1992 he was helping teach students, as well as rafting in New Zealand, California and Costa Rica.

As a rafting guide working summers in the States, a young Mr Chater met his American wife Kimi, who hails from Lake Tahoe and was raised in Yosemite Valley, California. She was a photographer on the river he worked.

The couple have two children, 9-year-old Ani and 12-year-old Tenaya, who they love to take mountain biking, swimming and walking.

The family lives near Okere Falls, right by the Kaituna River, Mr Chater’s backyard playground as well as his training ground. He’s in training with the New Zealand men’s rafting team ahead of the world championships in Costa Rica later this year. It’s a Rotorua team which qualified to represent New Zealand, alongside a local women’s team.

Between his Waiariki job, family time and training, he’s also busy helping his team fundraise for the trip to Costa Rica.

But wait, there’s more! Mr Chater is on the executive committee of the New Zealand Rafting Association, for which he also conducts training seminars; he’s studying toward a two-year Certificate in Adult Teaching; and

is into waka ama and more recently, stand-up paddling. While his role at the institute means he’s had to step back from the day-to-day running of his private company, Multi-Day Adventures, he still has some involvement.

That leaves very little time free but Mr Chater isn’t one to sit still for long and even in his “down time” is always on the move.

“...we do everything we can to not be touristy, so the client doesn’t feel like a tourist but like whanau.

I want them to leave and to get what it is to be Kiwi.”

Nick Chater, Head Lecturer of adventure tourism His first adventure tourism business was Tread and River Expeditions which he established about the same time as taking over the job of training Waiariki’s adventure tourism students, in 1999/2000. It was later merged with another business to become Multi-Day Adventures.

By 2005 the business was experiencing massive growth so Mr Chater stepped back from tutoring, focusing for the next four years on the business.

He took on a partner, Takarua “Tak” Mutu – also a former Waiariki student – and with the business going great guns, he wasn’t looking for a new job. Then in January last year his current position came up.

“They wanted me to develop a second-year diploma… I realised how much I really loved teaching. I really enjoy the student relationships and seeing people grow and develop.

“You tend to get really close doing what I do because you’re spending so much time with the students, out doing activities, camping and having a really good time.”

Mr Chater’s business specialises in taking

Nick Chater, wife Kimi, and their daughters Tenaya (sitting) and Ani, near their home at Lake Rotoiti.

tours for international schools and in high-end tourism, an area he says has huge potential for growth.

Māori culture with international students and tourists and they have become regular visitors at the marae.

“I love my country, its culture and our rivers – my church is the rivers and mountains,” he says.

“I wanted to establish a company that showed that, and we do everything we can to not be touristy, so the client doesn’t feel like a tourist but like whanau. I want them to leave and to get what it is to be Kiwi.”

While Ohiwa is his cultural home, Mr Chater also spends a lot of time at Maketu but says Rotorua is “absolutely home” and he strongly believes the tourism courses at Waiariki are crucial to growth in tourism in his home town.

An “adopted” member of the Roimata Marae at Ohiwa, Mr Chater loves to share his passion for

“People say I’m so lucky – and there is an element of luck – but it’s about making the most of every opportunity … giving it 100 percent and not getting caught up in the small stuff.”

Encouraging innovation in enterprise and small business No idea is a bad idea in Jack Keogh’s book.

The Business Lecturer reckons if you have an idea, you shouldn’t hold back. Go for it.

People thought the founders of the likes of TradeMe and Google were crazy but when the world finally caught on, they were already up and running.

As Mr Keogh puts it, crazy became reality.

That’s the kind of thinking he tries to engender in his students – don’t kill the dream just because it might be considered a little crazy.

Figure out how to get there and people will catch up sooner or later.

Mr Keogh says Kiwis have to stop thinking all the big things happen overseas. It’s time to make them start happening here and technology means businesses now have a global market for their products and services.

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Technology is the key to New Zealand’s future, according to Mr Keogh, and he wants to prepare his students to make the most of their ideas and the opportunities that will come their way.

Meanwhile, Skype is a great communication tool, allowing business people to interact with their clients, partners and customers anywhere in the world.

“I get them to picture Rotorua in five years’ time and what they’d like to see, then come back to today and figure out how to make [that vision] happen.”

Mr Keogh says because of ongoing advances in technology, customers now expect immediate action and businesses must be mobile and able to deal with situations immediately.

Social networking has become a legitimate business tool, a way to build up contacts and get your ideas, product or service in front of your target markets.

Such marketing tools have taken over from conventional methods like advertising, and business people need to be up to date with technology and the latest online developments and use them to their advantage, says Mr Keogh.

For a younger market, Facebook is an ideal place to start, he says.

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“If you can’t deal with something straight away, customers will go elsewhere.

“The great thing about technology like iPads and mobile phones is that you can take your office with you wherever you go and deal with things as they arise. Technology makes you mobile.”

Mr Keogh has been at Waiariki since last year but lives in Tauranga and still has a business in Wellington, a one-stop sports medicine centre.

He grew up at Mount Maunganui so grabbed

Business Lecturer Jack Keogh says technology means businesses now have a global market for their products and services.

the chance to return home after several years in Wellington, where he lectured at Whitireia.

“I have wanted to get back to where it all began for me and I’m loving it at Waiariki,” he says.

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Hotel management is “the best career in the world” hotel where she was a cleaner never eventuated.

She had previously been human resources manager at the Novotel Phuket before she and her husband moved to Australia.

Dr Ashton discovered she loved the academic world – reading, learning, writing and researching. During the course of her studies she was also offered tutoring work and found a passion for teaching.

Staff profile

“I love passing on my skills, experience and knowledge.”

Joanne Duncan

Dr Ashton’s areas of expertise include branding, consumer behaviour and human resources management.

Head of Business, and Lecturer, School of Business and Tourism

She says hotel management is an excellent career with many opportunities.

When Joanne Duncan decided to reinvent herself by gaining a tourism degree she never imaged she would become an education leader.

Born in Opotiki, she says education was not an option available to her when she was younger.

Dr Suwaree “Ann” Ashton joins Waiariki as a lecturer for the Diploma in Hotel Management and the Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management.

Having worked in education for many years, when the nest started emptying she wanted to do something different with her life and was encouraged to take up study. Being an adult student was at first nerve wracking but Ms Duncan worked hard and soon found it a great experience – a revelation for someone who hadn’t enjoyed school and whose father used to tease her that she only went to eat her lunch.

Taking a job in Rotorua wasn’t just a career move for Dr Suwaree “Ann” Ashton – Invercargill was getting a bit too cold for her liking.

The beauty of education, says Ms Duncan, is there’s no age limit on learning and since her own transformation she’s seen many people of all ages reinventing themselves through education.

Ms Duncan, who completed her Master of Management Studies this year before pursuing her doctorate, commutes between her homes in Hamilton and Rotorua, providing her with “two lives” – a professional one and a home life based around her family.

Set to marry later this year, Ms Duncan and her partner Bruce have four children, a son and daughter each to previous relationships and a new grandson, their first grandchild.

Ms Duncan loves seeing students reach their study goals and go on to succeed in their chosen industries. She says education keeps her humble.

“It’s a privilege to facilitate knowledge and help people on their journey of learning... I know how difficult it is and what a challenge it can be to get to that final goalpost and graduate. Knowing you’ve been a part of getting someone there is really satisfying.”

The Thai national and her Australian husband moved to New Zealand’s “deep south” from Queensland where they lived for 13 years before heading across the Tasman where Dr Ashton was Programme Manager in the Hospitality School at Southern Institute of Technology.

“I wanted to do something totally different and do more research and that was an exciting part of working [in Invercargill].

“Taking the job at Waiariki was a good career move and gives me the chance to share my knowledge from my PhD,” she says. Dr Ashton will be lecturing students undertaking the Diploma in Hotel Management and the Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management.

That PhD, in hospitality, from the University of Queensland where she studied and tutored, along with the Master of Business which preceded it, were the rewards of five years’ hard work – but worth every minute to Dr Ashton.

She had turned to studying when the promotion to a desk job she’d hoped for at the Queensland

Waiariki’s top two accounting students were recognised by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) for their hard work and high grades over the past year.

Both Paige Willenbrock and Leanne Broad maintained ‘A’ grades throughout the year while they studied toward the Diploma in Accounting.

Siobhan Warren, a Sales Executive for NZICA, praised Waiariki’s accounting lecturers for their role in producing top students. She also commended the graduates for their efforts toward earning a valuable diploma they can take anywhere in the world.

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As a lecturer, she hopes to turn out well-rounded graduates with both practical and theoretical knowledge and skills. Above all, she wants to pass on her passion for the hotel industry.

“I always tell my students they have chosen the best career in the world.”

“Having an internationally recognised qualification is really important today, especially for anyone who wants to go overseas for work,” she says.

“Even though I was already working before I did this diploma,” she says, “I felt like it was an advancement in my career’s stepping stone.

Doing the diploma is helping my career along the way.”

Michelle Hill of Michelle Rendall & Associates says that Ms Willenbrock has been working for them for the last five years.

“She is very much a valued team member of the practice. We congratulate her on her achievements to date, we are enormously proud of her.”

Training Chile’s future tourism leaders

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A good hotel manager, Dr Ashton says, must have the right attitude. They must have respect for others and the ability to listen to people.

“I’m proud of my achievement as I strived to do the best I could,” she says. “I’m glad there was an award in place as it meant there was something to work towards and to show the amount of time and energy I put into my diploma.

She says she liked Waiariki’s focus on valuing staff, the growth it had gone through and its future vision, and was excited about the prospect of being part of that.

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“It’s very easy to adapt as all hotels, anywhere in the world, operate basically the same.”

in Rotorua while she was studying.

She says the award from NZICA is something that will be held in high regards by prospective employers.

“Through applied learning students become more work ready and can step into the workplace with broader set of skills and knowledge base after completing their business qualifications at Waiariki.”

It’s also a very mobile career with good managers able to transfer to hotels all over the world.

Waiariki accounting students receive well-deserved rewards

Ms Duncan was in retail management and special needs education before working at Wintec in Hamilton. She was acting head of the business school there when a similar position at Waiariki came up.

New Zealand’s business environment, she says, is in a state of constant change because it has to respond to the many national and international forces beyond its control. To be competitive, Waiariki needs to have an edge and understand what employers need from their future employees which means maintaining strong relationships with industry.

“You get to meet people from all around the world. I had a wonderful career. I worked in hotels since the age of 22, starting as a secretary and working my way up.”

Ms Broad worked at Len Watson Accountants

Waiariki is investing in new student markets all the time and Chile is among the more recent opportunities opening.

Allison Lawton, Director, School of Business and Tourism, says the government in Chile is keen to upskill its young people and, with an eye on growing its tourism industry, it has established a relationship with Waiariki and several other New Zealand institutes, sending students here on scholarships.

It’s taken a big effort with “a lot of red tape” to overcome with the authorities in Chile but Ms Lawton is confident it is worth the effort and will benefit all involved.

Kim Mear, Business Management Lecturer at Waiariki, says that the awards are a good way to motivate future students.

“International students are very important to us and we are trying to diversify.”

Indian students are already a big part of campus life at Waiariki, the Chinese market has huge potential and the institute is also working to attract students from Brazil, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

While there are just three students from Chile at Waiariki this year, Ms Lawton says a recent trip there by a team from the institute has resulted in 70 follow-up inquiries from Chilean students.

Overseas students, Ms Lawton says, bring globalisation and provide a richness of cultures which benefits everyone at the

Top accounting students Paige Willenbrock (left) and Leanne Broad were commended for their efforts.

“By having these awards Waiariki is not only improving the relationship with NZICA, but also encouraging present and future students to study with us and study hard.”

institute and the community.

“Our local students get an international experience staying home. The overseas students are much more than revenue drivers,” she says.

“It means we are more exposed to other cultures and if our students graduate and decide to work overseas they’ll have a good head start because they have experienced these cultures [while studying in Rotorua].”

Ms Lawton says Waiariki strives to give all its international students a “wonderful experience” in New Zealand as well as providing them with skills and learning they can take back home with them.

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Business owners look to Waiariki for upskilling When given the options of business mentoring or business courses at Waiariki, two lucky winners chose Waiariki.

Marion Bright and Debbie Littlewood, business owners in Taupo, will take advantage of the prize package by studying courses that will improve their companies’ operations and success.

The prizes have come from the committee members of the Focus on Women and Business conference series who, when they wrapped up the series, decided that left over money would be paid forward to three deserving Taupo businesswomen.

Ms Bright plans to use the $2,000 business development package toward a combination of mentoring and study. She and husband Jeremy own and operate the photography business Grabb – For Image Excellence. Ms Bright will start the Fundamentals of Marketing course in Semester 2 at Waiariki’s Taupo campus.

“We’re a husband and wife business and officially opened under one roof on December 1st, 2010.

The business is still quite new, so as much knowledge as I can glean to help us succeed is very welcome. Marketing is an important aspect in making your business succeed.”

She will study part-time, fitting her course work around family (she and Jeremy have a teenager at home) and business obligations.

“I have studied before so study is not new to me. I’ve juggled both before. I’m really looking forward to it, actually.

“In this day and age, if it means returning to tertiary study and upskilling and enhancing your abilities in the workplace, then I think it’s worth going for. None of us can be complacent any more.”

Student profile Laura Adriano Diploma in Hospitality Management Some people have their futures all planned out.

Taupo business owners Marion Bright and Debbie Littlewood have chosen to study business management courses at Waiariki.

She points out that the ups and downs of the business economy indicate we “can’t rest on our laurels.”

Ms Littlewood is also not new to study. She’s been working her way through the courses for the New Zealand Diploma in Business, mostly taking advantage of online and video conferencing study options at Waiariki. She’s got two courses to complete and hopes to earn the diploma by the end of the year.

by the horns. If you just do it, you find it just fits in. For me, flexi-study means that evenings and days off are spent in front of the computer. I can do it in the evenings to suit my own time.”

Studying one course per semester keeps her focused and yet not overwhelmed, she says, and she’s been reaping rewards from the beginning.

Plus, the flexibility to tailor her curriculum allows her to put her efforts into the course areas she needs most to run her business successfully.

Running her shop, Mainly Silver, and being involved in Her Business and other organisations keeps Ms Littlewood busy but she lost no opportunity enrolling “straight away”.

“It’s already helped me tremendously. There wouldn’t be one paper that hasn’t helped me. You just learn so many aspects of business that you can incorporate into your own business.

“I have people asking me all the time [how I manage the workload]. I tell them it’s really just getting the first paper started, it’s taking the bull

“There are so many optional papers, then your core papers. With your optional papers, you choose to do what you like.”

Mr Vosse is excited to lead the Waiariki team again, saying the biggest challenge is meeting the under-25 age criteria as a lot of students are older. Another challenge is finding students who are actively working in industry and can

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Both options could see her working anywhere in the world and travel is certainly part of the appeal for the Rotorua resident.

The only thing Miss Adriano seems unsure about is her future prospects as a beauty queen.

It was her mother who put Miss Adriano up to entering the pageant and she’s now considering taking a run at the Miss New Zealand title although she’s quick to say she hasn’t thrown her tiara into the ring yet.

“I’m not sure yet. I need to focus on my studies first,” she says.

The trio are among a group of lecturers from institutes around the country who are responsible for coaching would-be stars in this year’s premier student culinary competition, Nestlé Toque d’Or, being held in Auckland in July. It will involve an intense two-and-a-halfhour live cook off and meal service.

Cookery students Sally Vazey and Sanjoy Solomon have to develop their own menu and ensure their skills meet strict judging criteria, covering areas such professionalism, work methods, knife skills and recipe development.

“I can’t be a flight attendant forever. After I finish I can go into hospitality management,” the 19-year-old says.

“It was fun but I never thought I would win.”

Waiariki’s Culinary Arts Lecturers Bart Vosse and Jonathan Chemis, and Senior Hospitality Management Lecturer Thomas George are coaching New Zealand’s rising culinary and hospitality stars for a prestigious student competition.

“Their knowledge, experience and skills are simply invaluable for preparing the students for the fast-paced pressure and demands of a live cook off,” he says.

While Miss Adriano’s immediate plans for the future involve becoming a flight attendant – something she has always wanted to do – she is currently studying toward the Diploma in Hospitality Management to future-proof her career pathway.

She is the current Miss Philippines Asia Pacific, a title she earned in Auckland last year and an accomplishment which could lead to other pageants.

Going for gold at national competition

Event organiser Pip Duncan says the team trainers play a vital role in the competition’s overall success.

Laura Adriano knows exactly where she’s headed and her hospitality studies at Waiariki will pave the way.

Then there’s her work commitments at the Rydges Rotorua hotel where she has been a food and beverage attendant for about nine months. Juggling work and studies with the pomp and circumstance of beauty contests could make life quite full-on for Miss Adriano.

This year’s Toque d’Or team: Sally Vazey, Jonathan Chemis (lecturer), Sanjoy Solomon, Bart Vosse (lecturer), Hao Xu and Thomas George (lecturer).

bring the experience and speed needed in such a competition.

Extending the training team this year to include Mr Chemis is very exciting, says Mr Vosse. He says Mr Chemis brings a calm and passionate persona to the team.

Mr George, as restaurant service trainer, will mentor Hao Xu who will serve the competition’s guests a four-course menu accompanied with wine.

Restaurant service judging criteria include personal presentation, excellent customer

service skills, and menu and wine knowledge.

Last year’s competitors, who earned silver and gold medals, have used their Toque d’Or experience to maximise their career progression in hospitality management.

The team trainers will have their sights set on winning the overall top spot and the Innovation Award, which will be presented to the training establishment that best demonstrates innovative use of Nestlé Professional products across a menu or in a particular dish.

Studying toward the diploma has been interesting and “very challenging” for Miss Adriano but she’s enjoying the camaraderie and friendship of the other students and the “helpful” tutors.

Interacting with people from around the world is something she enjoys and was part of the attraction of the qualification and entering the hospitality industry.

“I enjoy talking to tourists and learning about other people, other cultures and other countries, interacting with people from different cultures,” she says.

With travel plans and a future career in hospitality – both on the ground and in the air – Miss Adriano’s experiences as a student at Waiariki and in her work at Rydges hotel are set to stand her in good stead.

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Student’s visit to Dubai provides cultural insight A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has left a huge impression on a Waiariki student.

Delise Waerea, a mum of four who hails from Putaruru, was chosen to attend a conference in Dubai – with all expenses paid. She says the trip was beneficial on both a personal and professional level.

Ms Waerea is studying toward the Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), a Level 7, three-year qualification. She and another student received scholarships to allow them to attend a women’s conference focussing on cultural issues relating to education. They were in Dubai for eight days.

“We chose Delise [for the scholarship] because she is mature, she’s wise and she’s quite insightful,” said Early Childhood Education Lecturer Paula Cown. “We knew that she would really make the best of the experience. She’s particularly interested in extending her understanding of other cultures and how those cultures shape people’s lives.”

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Pecan Toffee Sauce

Now living in Mt Maunganui with her children and partner, Ms Waerea is in her final year of study, gaining practicum experience at Mount Community Kindy and commuting to Rotorua three times a week for her courses. The trip supported her interest in learning about teaching practices that may vary due to cultural differences.

“I’ve always worked with kohanga reo. I decided to do mainstream training for early childhood because I wanted to combine the training of both worlds. We [Māori] have a pedagogy suitable for our own culture, but an understanding of the different theories and what that looks likes inside your practice – all things that enhance your practice – I wanted to incorporate that. We gain knowledge from all sides.

“This trip was awesome as it gave me different insights into other cultures. I was able to see the different ways of bringing up children. It was important to know as I will be able to establish relationships with children of different cultures by understanding their beliefs and values.

“I noticed that a lot of the customs in Dubai were a lot like Māori customs. It was nice to see that New Zealand and Dubai had things in common that they found sacred.”

Now with a broader view on the world, another culture and how children are taught, Ms Waerea is able to go back to her work and share her experience and knowledge with her co-workers at the childcare centre.

The conference organisers were so impressed with Ms Waerea they have invited her to return to Dubai for the next event to act as a mentor and support person to help the next cohort of women who attend.

“Being picked by Waiariki was a huge honour. I owe them a lot. This was like my big O.E., I’ve never been overseas before, I would recommend this to anyone.”

150g butter soft 300g caster sugar 4 eggs, beaten 350g self-raising flour, sifted 350g dates, chopped 350ml boiling water 1 tsp vanilla essence 4 tsp coffee essence 1½ tsp baking soda For the sauce 350g soft brown sugar 220g butter 180ml cream 50g pecans, chopped Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Coat a 9x11 baking dish with non-stick spray. You could also use a muffin tin for individual portions.

In a large bowl, combine chopped dates, boiling water, vanilla, coffee essence and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

In another large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until the mixture goes pale. Gradually add the beaten eggs. Fold the sifted flour into this mixture, then fold in the date mixture. The batter will look rather sloppy.

Pour mixture into baking dish (or fill muffin tin to just below the rim). Bake for about 25 minutes or until knife inserted into mixture comes out clean. If using muffin tin, leave to cool before removing from tin.

Early childhood education student Delise Waerea was selected by Waiariki to attend a women’s conference in Dubai.

The Politics of Polytechnics A spotlight on the National Government Budget 2011, what it means for Waiariki Institute of Technology and its students.

Student Loans Improving the repayment rate (i.e., reducing the write-off rate) for student loans is a key focus in this budget. There are various measures designed to let fewer people get away with not repaying their loans. But there are also measures aimed at tightening access to loans in the first place:

2,500 to 7,500, from 2012.

Trades Academies An additional $66.5 million for trades academies over the next four years (within the overall Youth Guarantee programme).

This will fund the expected rate of growth of the trades academies programme.

• students over 55 years old can now borrow only for course fees;

Skills for Canterbury There is a $42 million contingency for trades training within the Skills for Canterbury package.

To make the sauce, heat all the ingredients in a sauce pan until the sugar has melted.

• loan defaulters with overdue repayment obligations of $500 for one or more years will not be eligible for further borrowing;

Subsidy Changes Subsidies for degree and postgraduate courses will increase by 2 percent.

To serve, pour some warm sauce over plated individual slices or muffins and top with whipped cream and/or ice cream. Pour remaining sauce in a gravy boat for guests to add more if desired.

• part-time, full-year learners can no longer borrow for course-related costs (puts them on the same footing as part-time, part-year students; this does not change eligibility to borrow for fees).

Fees The Annual Maximum Fee Movement will allow for 4 percent increase in fees for government-funded courses in 2012.

The pudding or muffins can be frozen and defrosted as needed.

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Youth Guarantee An expanded Youth Guarantee programme is being created by combining the current Youth Guarantee and Youth Training programmes. Total number of places goes up from about

Summary No major funding increases or further cuts, meaning the sector needs to continue finding efficiencies needed to be sustainable.

Focus on Youth Guarantee is positive and consistent with pre-election commentary.

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Recent Waiariki graduate buys his own business A recent graduate says Waiariki gave him the confidence to run his own business – immediately after graduating.

Trevor Van Niekerk earned the Diploma in Fashion Technology in November 2010. He was the top in his class academically, took on lots of commissioned work for one-off designs, and was a finalist in the 2010 Westfield Style Pasifika Awards.

Gardening Tips

Now he’s running his own curtain design company, Drapes by Design, on Hinemoa Street in Rotorua’s CBD.

Early winter is the time for organising, tidying, and when the weather is bad, sitting in front of a blazing fire with mug in hand, looking through seed catalogues and planning the next summer’s harvest.

Mr Van Niekerk believes that Waiariki helped in giving him the personal and professional growth he needed for managing his own business.

When the weather permits, dig over your vacant ground and spread your organic manures. Check the pH of the soil and add lime if needed. Prepare the beds for asparagus and root crops such as carrots, turnips, beetroot, parsnips and swedes.

“My time spent at Waiariki was fantastic,” he says. “It helped me focus on what was important to me and showed me ways to improve and grow. I gained much knowledge in not only the lectures or technical information but personal growth during my time at Waiariki.”

Root crops are an important garden feature this season as they provide some of our most-used vegetables. Packed with comforting carbohydrates, root vegetables are ideal for soups, roasts and casseroles.

Mr Van Niekerk said he was unsure what his next step out of Waiariki would be, when the opportunity to own a design company arose.

He was hesitant to begin with, but felt like he had enough experience and knowledge to take on the challenge.

“Toward the end of my time at Waiariki I was faced with the question of where to? Now, once I have completed my diploma, what is the next stage? Looking at the options in the greater picture, I was presented with an option to take on Drapes by Design, an existing custom-made curtain retail outlet. The thought was a bit daunting, but with a bit of time and encouragement, the decision almost became the next logical step.

“Being at Waiariki helped me gain my self confidence back and armed me with a better understanding of problem solving and being creative amongst many everyday skills I use

Winter is also a perfect time to plant an orchard. Garden centres will be packed with different varieties of fruit trees.

Make sure you pick those suitable for your climate. If space allows, and with a little research, it is possible to extend the harvesting season by choosing varieties that fruit at different times throughout the year.

Waiariki graduate Trevor Van Niekerk now owns and operates Drapes by Design in Rotorua. See him and fellow graduate Paula Downer if you’re in need of new window treatments for your home.

in the day-to-day running of my business.”

Mr Van Niekerk has been busy enough to require a new staff member. He hired Paula Downer, a former classmate.

“I hired Paula because when we were at tech together she was always on the ball, friendly and helpful. Because we studied together I knew who I was employing and knew what skills she had.”

From metropolitan Beijing to rural Whakapapa Village Waiariki staff do their best to make all students welcome, especially those who have left their home country and come to New Zealand to study.

Rose Wood, Senior Lecturer of tourism management, had the pleasure of teaching Yuxiang He who graduated with the Bachelor of Tourism Management from Waiariki earlier this year. She caught up with him recently to talk about his journey. This is his story.

“I spent three years at the Beijing College of Finance and Commerce (BCFC) studying hotel management. After that I decided to continue on with my studies and complete a tourism degree in New Zealand. Lots of my friends went to America for their further education. My friends thought I was crazy.

Yuxiang He says life is really different in the small Whakapapa Village on Mt Ruapehu compared to his home city of Beijing but he loves it.

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“During my studies at Waiariki my tutors were at all times helpful and always found the time to offer advice on matters. At my homestay, I had fun with my landlords, a lovely Kiwi couple.

I worked for three different hotels in Rotorua.

I learned many things through these jobs, especially at Millennium Hotel.

“After completing my studies in December 2010, I decided to shift to Whakapapa Village, starting a new job at Skotel Alpine Resort. This decision was as crazy as the decision I made three years ago because Whakapapa Village is an isolated and rural tourism destination.

However, I love those spectacular volcanoes around the village.

“I am happy to talk with our worldwide guests every day and enjoy their colourful travel stories.

I am lucky to have this opportunity to learn real tourism and to chat with passionate tourists from around the world.

“Honestly, from Beijing to Rotorua then Rotorua to Whakapapa Village, it is an incredible change for me. Sometimes I laugh at myself because it took me three years to change from being a city boy to a country boy. Three years ago I cannot imagine I will spend some years in such an isolated but magnetic place.”

If you are only able to plant one tree ensure that it is self fertile (does not need another pollinator to set fruit).

Most labels on the trees will give this information. If in doubt ask!

Remember a tree can grow quite large (unless buying a dwarf stock), so care must be taken in choosing where to plant it. Many a tree has suffered extreme pruning or even been chopped down because it was planted in the wrong place. Provide at least three to four metres of space around the tree.

Plant strawberries. They are increasingly available in four-packs, six-packs and punnets from now until late spring. Plant them in a sunny warm spot and space them 20-30 cm apart. Planting at least 20 means you will be picking berries by the bowlful in the near future. Always keep the plants well-fed and cover them with straw to reduce fungal problems.

During the autumn and winter months compost heaps can get wet and smelly if they are not covered. Cover the heap with a plastic tarpaulin, an old piece of hessian-backed carpet or something similar as you still need a little moisture for the composting process. Not only will the tarpaulin keep the rain out, it will keep the heat in too. Watch out for vermin though as they find the conditions in a compost heap ideal for overwintering.

Enjoy the winter months and enjoy the crops your garden will produce for you. Hearty soups and tasty casseroles are a comfort and a way to stay toasty and warm.

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Can Rotorua become fossil fuel free?

Waiariki has a clear vision for the future.

Waiariki’s new Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sustainability plans a number of initiatives to increase the awareness of environmental issues and how to incorporate sustainability practices.

Waiariki Kaumatua Ken Kennedy

Mō te hunga ako kāore i hāere ki ngā kōhanga, ā, ko te reo Pākehā tā rātau reo tuatahi, ko te huarahi tino whai hua ki a rātau ko tērā o te timata mai i te pānui, i te tuhituhi i te reo Pākehā. Ka tāea tonutia ngā mahi tuhituhi, mahi pānui ki te reo Māori, ngā mahi rānei e Māori ana te kaupapa. Ko tēnei ara mō ngā tamariki kāore i hāere ki te kōhanga reo, kāore rānei i kōrero Māori i te tomokanga mai ki te kura kua kitea he āhuatanga tino whakaihiihi, i momoho hoki ki ētahi kura. Inā tirohia whānuitia, he māmā ake, he momoho ake te ako ki te pānui, ki te tuhituhi i tōu reo tuatahi, te reo e tino matatau ana koe. Ko te mea nui kē e tere ake ana, e ngāwari ake ana. Ā tōna wā anō neke atu ai ki te taha pānui, taha tuhituhi i te reo Māori mēnā kei rēira te hiahia e takoto ana. Me hāere tonu, me whakapakari tonu anō hoki te taha pānui, tuhituhi i te reo Pākeha.

For learners who did not attend Kōhanga, and speak English as their first language, beginning reading and writing in English may be the most successful approach. Māori literacy activities in theme and study topic work can still be done. This approach for non-Kōhanga children who are non-Māori speaking on entry has been very interesting and successful for several schools. In general it is easiest and most successful to learn to read and write in your first language or the language in which you are the strongest speaker. It is simply more efficient and faster. Transfer can then be made later to Māori literacy, providing learner motivation is established.

English literacy development needs to continue as well.

Nāku noa, Nā Ken Kennedy Kaumātua Te Arawa / Te Whare Takiūra o Waiāriki

Fuel mix at Sandviksverket plant, Sweden

Mega watts per year

It is a future with clean rivers, pristine lakes, minimal climate change, sustainable land use and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. It is a commitment to ensure sufficiency of natural resources for our generations to come.

The centre has a focus on three key pillars of influence: campus, curriculum and community. Much of the early efforts will go into improving the understanding of what This graph tracks the change from oil to biomass for the production of heat and electricity it means to be sustainable, and to ‘winning in Växjö, Sweden. the hearts and minds’ of staff, students and the community as we work together to shift the paradigm. political decision that Växjö would become a fossil fuel-free Paradigm is an interesting word with a meaning which has city. Their stated goal was that emissions of carbon dioxide from evolved in this context to imply ‘a significant change in a way fossil fuels shall be reduced by at least 50 percent per capita of thinking’. by the year 2010, and 70 percent by 2025, when compared to emissions in 1993. By mid-2009 they had achieved a 34 Our membership to the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) percent reduction. is helping to drive the introduction of sustainability processes and methodology and helps to invigorate our implementation.

On-campus recycling is now in place, energy audits have been completed, and the Waipa campus has vermi-composting and other initiatives underway.

A series of community seminars will run in the latter half of this year, including relevant documentaries for which Waiariki has purchased the screening rights. Watch out for Water Whisperers – Tangaroa coming your way soon.

Last month Waiariki was a sponsor of the LakesWater Quality Symposium “Fix a Lake and Grow a City”. Keynote speaker Mayor Bo Frank from the Swedish city of Växjö showed what it means to shift the paradigm. In 1996 there was a unanimous

Växjö has shifted their paradigm – the graph above tracks a change from oil to biomass for the production of heat and electricity – and the city has much in common with Rotorua.

It is surrounded by many small lakes, and much forestry; it has a population of 83,000 (Rotorua’s was 65,901 at the 2006 census). The average temperature is lower than in Rotorua (6.6 vs. 12.8 degrees), with an average minimum of minus 5 degrees (vs. Rotorua at 8 degrees), and an average high of 22 degrees (vs.18 degrees).

What else can Rotorua have in common with Växjö – how much further will we have progressed on the sustainability journey by 2050?

Don your red socks for Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week Get out your red socks and help Waiariki celebrate Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week in July.

The adventurous sailor, explorer and champion for the environment was known for his lucky red socks so the Sir Peter Blake Trust created Red Socks Day last year to wrap up the annual Leadership Week.

This year’s Leadership Week will be celebrated nationwide July 4-8. The theme is “Great New Zealand Teams”. One of Sir Peter Blake’s greatest attributes was his ability to build and lead great teams. He understood that his dream could not be achieved on his own and that a certain magic happens when a team of people share the dream and are committed to achieving it.

Waiariki will be honouring the New Zealand hero by hosting a Leadership Day on July 6 with four students from 20 of the region’s high schools. The 80 students will spend the day with Waiariki’s adventure tourism lecturer and Multi-Day Adventures owner Nick Chater.

“The aim,” he says, “is to give these students some information on good, effective leadership skills and leadership styles that will

help them interact with groups and peers in various situations.

“We’re creating activities where they can experience leadership in a fun, adventurous and interesting environment, to get them leading people and groups they are unfamiliar with, and to put some pressures of time and problem solving in a competition format.

They’re going to have a really good time!”

Mr Chater says working with the secondary students is important because “they are finding their independence, developing leadership skills and personal independence. They’re moving from being kids into adult life and the next level of work, education and life. It’s also about gaining self confidence.”

Foodstuffs CEO praises Tokoroa students New chef and hospitality students shined during a special event in Tokoroa.

Earlier this year Tokoroa became the proud home of a bigger and brighter New World Supermarket. Store owner Damon Jakeman had heard the food that Waiariki’s chef students were creating was top quality and the front-of-house students were the best people for serving guests.

Café operations student Hannah Winikerei serves canapés to Dave Hargreaves, CEO Liquor, Foodstuffs New Zealand.

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He contacted Lorna and Peter Skelton who tutor these students in Tokoroa and asked if their students could work together to create and serve canapés for nearly 200 guests for

the store’s opening night. The event went off without a hitch.

“The students have only been training since February,” Mr Skelton says, “so there were a few nerves at the start of the night, but this slipped away and everyone was buzzing after so many great comments about the service and quality of food.”

Ms Skelton says, “One of the best comments we had was from the CEO of Foodstuffs New Zealand who told us he would like to use our services for all of their store openings. It was a great night for the Tokoroa Waiariki hospitality and chef students. They did all of Waiariki proud.”

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Foodie programme reaches out to community

Keep Healthy and Fit this Winter Winter’s here and the days of playing backyard cricket in a t-shirt and stubbies are behind us for a while. But, there are still plenty of ways to stay motivated, active and eating healthy. Don’t let the cooler temperatures and less-than-desirable weather equate to extra kilos this year.

Try this for fun and fitness Snowboarding Brisk walk through the neighbourhood or local park Trainers in training: Tenia Mita and Rob Reid, of the Rotorua Community Youth Centre, are learning how to pass on their nutritional knowledge though Waiariki’s Pataka Kai programme.

A Waiariki initiative has been awarded $5,000 from Zonta Club of Rotorua to extend its efforts in the community.

Pataka Kai, which Waiariki launched in 2009, aims to teach people how to make healthier, smarter decisions when it comes to nutrition and eating.

Rosie Waller, Pataka Kai coordinator, says, “We teach nutrition here, so it’s a flow-on into the community from what we teach here as far as healthy lifestyles and good decisions.”

Ms Waller shows people it is possible to eat healthy meals without breaking the bank. She also encourages them to start a garden, even if it’s a small one, to supplement store-bought food with home-grown produce.

“We teach people to ‘construct’ meals as opposed to ‘create’ meals,” she says. “We show

them how to make things like bolognaise sauce and dressings, rather than just open bottles, jars and packets. Then we talk about how to use the food once they grow it.”

These are vital skills to learn, especially for those in lower socio-economic groups who tend to be more at risk from health problems due to poor nutrition and obesity. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are on the rise in New Zealand, now considered by the government to be “crucial issues” for the country.

“I’m using [the $5,000] to train two people from the Rotorua Community Youth Centre. I’ll be training them to pass on their knowledge of healthy cooking and eating skills to the youth they work with and those around them.

“It’s about passing on the knowledge by those in their own communities because that’s the model that works for change behaviour. It’s based

on the Australian programme, Community Foodies, which is very successful.

“Those who use the centre will be encouraged to become involved in the garden there. At harvest time, we’ll show them how to create meals from the produce – it’s the seeds-to-table stuff. So if there are 20 pumpkins, we’ll send everyone home with a pumpkin, show them ways to use it, plus we’ll provide the nutritional information to go along with it so they know the nutritional value of what they’re eating.”

Pataka Kai has been successful, says Ms Waller, mentioning many positive outcomes that have resulted.

“People are starting to grow their own gardens, and many marae have started growing their own gardens and holding cooking classes on the marae for young children. The flow-on effect has been amazing.”

Research is applied and practical Research at Waiariki is different, says Professor Cris Brack, PhD, chair of the School of Forestry and Primary Industries.

“It is different,” he says, “from research at many universities who strive to push back the boundaries of ignorance. It is even different from how research was done at this institute just five years ago.

“Our research is ‘applied’ and designed to make a practical and beneficial difference to the way things are done. Research at Waiariki is increasingly being seen as a vital activity that improves the teaching here, makes a difference to our industry and iwi partners, and improves the employment opportunities for our students.”

One of the major activities in research is telling the appropriate people about the reasons, the findings and the “so what” of the research. And for Waiariki, one of the best places to tell them is during a conference attended by industry and other stakeholders.

The international conference for the Australian and New Zealand Institutes of Forestry (ANZIF) was one such opportunity recently.

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All three research projects were developed in conjunction with industry partners, including Interpine Forestry and Ribbonwood New Zealand. The New Zealand government, via the Ministry for Environment, was also interested in the practical outcomes of the research and supported the projects through the provision of valuable data. There was even international

Swimming (if you’re in Rotorua, the Aquatic Centre has a 50m outdoor heated lap pool!)

Tai Chi or Yoga Join the Waiariki Community Recreation Centre (memberships available to the public) where you can play squash, join the Wednesday night badminton club, or other indoor sports leagues (soccer, netball, volleyball and more), use the weights room, or take a fitness class such as Balance, Zumba and others Motivation When it’s cold and wet outside sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to keep moving and get excited about exercising. Keep in mind the following next time you are thinking of skipping it: • No matter how you feel at the time always get up, get dressed and get going for the first 10 minutes of any workout and if after 10 minutes you still feel terrible then at least you gave it a go • If you have a cold and it’s just in your head (sniffly nose) you can still exercise, if it’s in your chest you can stay home • Exercising regularly will give you more energy • Exercise in breathable natural fabrics such as merino with a wind breaker or light waterproof jacket on top (plenty of layers) so when you finish your workout you can keep warm while you stretch and/or travel home

The theme was “Making a Difference in Forestry Around the Pacific”, and because Waiariki has an objective of making a difference, Dr Brack and three Waiariki students – Alvaro Ramirez Carreno (Diploma in Forest Management), Robert Stagg Saranglao (Bachelor of Applied Management (Forestry Management) and Susana Gonzalez Aracil (Waiariki intern working with Dr Brack) – attended.

“And these students made a difference too!” says Dr Brack. All three presented posters of their research into forest operations and management.

Ms Aracil was awarded a $500 cash prize for the best poster in the conference, while Mr Carreno was awarded the Mary Sutherland Scholarship to support the rest of his diploma study.

Mountain biking in the forest, or cycling to the Saturday market instead of driving

• Focus on having a positive attitude and the rest will fall into place • Lastly, keep in mind the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have

Alvaro Ramirez Carreno, Diploma in Forest Management student, accepting the Mary Sutherland Scholarship from Minister of Forestry, Hon David Carter.

interest from Universidad de Alcala (Spain) in student research projects at Waiariki.

Congratulations go to the students of Waiariki.

The quality of their work is being acknowledged not only by the industry but also the relevant professional institutions.

Eat healthy It’s still important to get your five-a-day fruits and vegetables. Make an effort to include some with every meal. Since your options are a little more limited during the winter months, now’s the time to get creative by trying new recipes as well as sampling produce you haven’t eaten before.

Winter food options • Porridge or eggs on toast • Soups and salads • Casseroles, roasts • Crock pots – anything in a slow cooker works wonders, prepare and walk away...

Keep drinking plenty of water and for those alcohol drinkers mulled wine is always a winner in front of the fire on a cold night.

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Practice makes perfect for aspiring performers

Stepping Stones Working in partnership for youth

Packing suitcases, travelling and rubbing shoulders with top New Zealand vocalists and musicians are just part and parcel of a week in the life of Waiariki Academy of Singing and Music students.

Trades Academy a success

Since February more than 30 students who aspire to be professional performers have been hitting the stages of concert venues, schools and marae to hone their talents.

“We’re in week 11 of the semester and so far the construction students have had 100 percent attendance. That says a lot for these students. They’re dedicated, they’re involved, they want to be here,” a proud Rosemary Johnson said in May.

Ngapera Riley, Manager of the academy, reckons around 10 kapa haka, quartet, acoustic and solo performances have been heard around the region and beyond. The more exposure and practice, the better for these hopeful professionals, she says.

The students are also required to keep up with the coursework required for the qualifications toward which they are studying.

“The music industry is tough to break into and hard work to stay in. It requires commitment, consistency and a good attitude. These are crucial components of being a successful artist and these are values I want to instil in my students,” she says.

The kapa haka group recently performed on New Zealand’s largest stage at Vector Arena during New Zealand Music Month. There the students met Taisha, Che Fu, Anna Coddington, Opshop’s Jason Kerrison and others.

They’ve had song-writing workshops with Maisey Rika and Tama Waipara, and plans are in the works for Rugby World Cup performances.

Three students, Atutahi Potaka-Dewes, Kalani Marsters, and Neihana Mackey-Harrison, auditioned and were selected for an eight-show tour in the United States later this year.

“These students will achieve professional and international status through this opportunity which came about as a result of our performance at Vector Arena a few weeks ago,” says Ms Riley.

The country’s first secondary school trades academy to be run by a tertiary institute has had a great start.

As Regional Development Manager at Waiariki’s Whakatane campus, Ms Johnson works with seven secondary schools in the area who send their students to Waiariki one day each week to attend the new Eastern Bay of Plenty Trades Academy (EBOPTA).

These students are getting a head-start in an industry-related career while gaining knowledge and practical skills as well as NZQA credit toward tertiary qualifications at Levels 2 or 3.

They are also still achieving NCEA credit.

Government has recognised that too many students are leaving school or performing poorly simply because they are bored with academic subjects. They have little interest in progressing to university; they’d rather get their hands into some practical work skills they can use when they start work.

Claude Opperman, Trident High School student, says of the academy: “It’s like the best thing ever. You get to do what you love while you’re still at school.”

In February, Minister of Education Hon Anne Tolley opened the academy doors at Cutler Crescent. One hundred Year 12 and 13 students were eager to get started studying agriculture, automotive engineering, construction, electrical engineering, forestry, cookery, or business administration.

Edgecumbe College student Cody Marr was wiring up a relay switch system in the electrical engineering class. He said he enrolled in the academy “to see what it was like, to see if I could go the distance.”

Three months later while visiting the campus, it’s easy to see the success of the programme. The students are engaged, they’re switched on and working well with each other and their lecturers.

Out of nearly 20 students spoken to, most of them say they’re enjoying being treated like adults, and appreciate

Waiariki is looking for up to 45 students to study for one year free of fees, starting in Semester 2.

Keith Ikin, Deputy Chief Executive M¯ aori, says the Youth Guarantee programme acts as a stepping stone from secondary to tertiary study.

Through the government-funded Youth Guarantee programme, 16- and 17-year-olds who have left school or are in the process of leaving school early are encouraged to undertake some tertiary study before going into the workforce.

They can enrol full-time or part-time.

Youth Guarantee is part of the government’s plan to increase the education of our youth by encouraging the transition from school to tertiary education. The government hopes this will lead to improved labour forces that earn higher wages and in turn create wealthier communities throughout New Zealand.

The programme was launched at the beginning of the year and has already proved successful for many Waiariki students.

Keith Ikin, Waiariki Deputy Chief Executive Māori, says the

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Waiariki Semester 2: 11 July – 18 November* Waiariki Open Day, Wednesday, 10 August

Academy students Neihana Mackey-Harrison (right) and Kalani Marsters are two of the three singers selected for an eight-show tour in the United States later this year.

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Caleb Foster from Trident High School said he enrolled to gain the practical skills. “I want to be a builder because I’m not good academically, I’m better with my hands.”

“People around here need to learn,” says Edgecumbe College student Donnell Hohaia. “Prices are going up, you’ve got to take care of your family, look after your parents, so you need a good job.”

Free fees for 16- and 17-year-olds

As this issue of Waiariki Today goes to print, the singers, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, rappers, beatboxers and others have been busy practicing a very big night: the Matariki Showcase at Aorangi Peak Restaurant.

“This is the showcase of our entire academy six months after the launch and will include the kapa haka group, choir, male vocal quartet, band and original music from our soloists. It _ will be a fantastic celebration of the M aori New Year in one of the most beautiful venues in the country.”

the responsibility they’re given by their lecturers. They know they’re gaining real-life skills that have value.

Secondary school students are invited to visit Waiariki’s Mokoia Campus in Rotorua for tours and to get more information about courses and qualifications offered at Waiariki in 2012. All students are welcome for this fun day of hands-on workshops, classroom visits and more. Free transport to and from secondary schools is available. Contact us for more details.

objective of the programme is to be a stepping stone into tertiary education for students to use and then go into higher level courses in trades, nursing, social work and others.

“The Youth Guarantee programme is progressing well. A lot of students don’t enjoy their secondary schooling so they find the tertiary environment a lot more to their liking,” he says. “They have flexibility, work with other adults and are responsible for their own education. It is a completely different environment.

“The new [government] budget approved raising the number of students accepted into Youth Guarantee so we have put forward that Waiariki would like to increase its numbers. We are looking to extend Youth Guarantee to all four campuses.”

Youth Guarantee students receive extra learning support to improve their language, literacy and numeracy skills, ensuring their success and an increased level of learning. Through a very supportive environment, Youth Guarantee can be a safety net, a year of no fees, and a way to get back on track to becoming productive workers and members of our community.

Most Semester 2 courses begin July 11 so contact Waiariki now if you or someone you know could qualify for the Youth Guarantee programme.

Early enrolment is vital for school leavers If you haven’t enrolled yet for Semester 2 at Waiariki, it is imperative to start the process as soon as possible. Changes in government funding to tertiary institutes and universities means places are limited and filling very quickly.

Even if you qualify under the Free Fees or Youth Guarantee schemes, it is still important to enrol early and arrange your student loan through StudyLink to secure your place.

Waiariki Prospectus and Career Guide Waiariki’s Prospectus and Career Guide is your guide for qualifications and career information. Visit our website for a complete list of qualifications or call in to any Waiariki campus for a copy of the 2011 guide. The 2012 guide will be available in August of this year. *Some courses may vary

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BLING, WINGS SINGS IN THE ACADEMY OF SPORT Academy of AND Sport – Pushing the sporting envelope Ngā mea Parirau me ngā Waiata i te Tīrā Tākaro

WHAEA ERENA IS BACK Year #1 in the ANZ Netball Championship for the Magic, primary teaching student Erena Mikaere (Tuhourangi) is straight back to social netball at the rec centre.

BRINGING HOME THE BACON The Waiariki Waka crew took 3 from 3 to bring home the Waka Gold at UniGames 2011. (Left to Right): Dale Thomas (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Whakaue, photography student), Sikeli Vorenasu (business student), Adrian Ashmore (Ngati Pikiao, business student), Luuka Jones (communications student), Mika Tuilave-Charteris (Te Arawa, business student), Nick Chater (adult teaching student)

BATTLE OF THE SIX-PACK BOYS Sikeli Vorenasu (rugby, business student), Tavita Solomona (golfer, business student), and Chanse Perham (cricketer, Ngati Tuwharetoa, forestry student) race for the title of fastest man in the academy.

TOUGH TO PADDLE WITHOUT A BOAT Contrary to popular thought, New Zealand kayaker Lou Jull (communications student) was not arrested for hijacking a police car in Shannon, she was assisting law enforcement in the hunt for stolen kayaks at a training camp in the Manawatu.

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Golfer and computing youngster Chantelle Cassidy (Nga Puhi) joins the talent of Cecilia Cho, Lydia Ko, and Emily Perry in the New Zealand Women’s Team off to the UK for the British Amateur and Five Nations tournaments.

EARNING HIS KEEP AND UPPING WAIARIKI REC AND TRAINING OFFERINGS New Zealand MTB #1 Carl Jones builds Waiariki’s new MTB track around the golf course.

0800 924 274

New Zealand CHAMPION #1 Carl Jones (XC-MTB, double Waiariki graduate)

New Zealand CHAMPION #2 Callum Gibb (Canoe slalom K1 U18, business student)

New Zealand CHAMPION #3 Katie O'Neill (XC-MTB U23, business student)

PEDAL TO THE METAL Rally co-driver and nursing student Tarryn Cox (Ngati Kahungunu) is selected into New Zealand Motorsport’s Elite Academy, a first for co-drivers.

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BECOME A LEGEND

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TOURISM Business Management • Diplomas in Accounting, Business Administration, Business and Information Systems, Business Studies, Commerce, Human Resource Management, and Marketing • New Zealand Diploma in Business • Bachelor of Applied Management • Bachelor of Commerce (Lincoln University and University of Canterbury) • Bachelor of Management Studies (The University of Waikato) • Graduate Diploma in Applied Management • National Certificate in Business (First Line Management)

The tutors could never do enough for you. The support and encouragement they gave all of us was definitely a big advantage to our studies.

Tourism • Diplomas in Adventure Tourism, Applied Tourism Management, and Tourism Management • Bachelor of Tourism Management • Graduate Diploma in Tourism Management

Fletcher Tabuteau, head of the Future Pathways Faculty and Year 13 at Rotorua Boys’ High School and a graduate of Waiariki with the New Zealand Diploma in Business.

Hospitality • Diplomas in Hospitality Management, and Hotel Management • Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management

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*Conditions Apply

ENROL NOW Call 0800 924 274 or visit waiariki.ac.nz

Study at Waiariki this semester! *Conditions apply

Semester 2 begins July 11th!

If you’re looking for study options to fit into your busy schedule, why not study part-time at Waiariki?

• More than 300 courses available • Online and distance study is available for many courses • Upskill or gain new skills • Study toward a certificate, diploma or degree at your own pace To request a copy of the 2011 Part-time Study Options planner, which lists many of our courses, phone 0800 924 274 or email enquiries@waiariki.ac.nz. To see the full list of what’s on offer, visit www.waiariki.ac.nz.

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