Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology is the vocational education provider in New Zealand.[1] In February 2019, the Government announced that the country's sixteen Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) would merge to form the new organisation; the merger was effective on 1 April 2020.[2] The NZIST head office is located in Hamilton and the chief executive is Stephen Town.[3]

Background

Chris Hipkins, the Minister of Education, announced in February 2018 that the education sector—from preschool to tertiary—was up for review. The details were outlined in a cabinet paper and this included "a programme of change for the institute of technology and polytechnic (ITP) subsector and for vocational education more generally".[4][5] After consultation with the education sector, Hipkins released a proposal in February 2019 that went much further than the options discussed in consultation, with all 16 ITPs to merge into one organisation.

The 16 ITPs are:[6]

Hipkins admitted that "change on this scale will be disruptive".[6] This merger was confirmed on 1 August 2019 alongside the working title "New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology",[7] and the following day, Hipkins announced the membership of an establishment ten-person-board based in the Christchurch suburb of Addington[8] and starting work on 5 August 2019:[9]

  • Barry Jordan (chair) – Wellington
  • Kim Ngārimu (deputy chair) – Gisborne
  • Shane Culham
  • Maryann Geddes
  • Kathy Grant
  • Dr Sandra Grey
  • Tania Hodges
  • Brett O'Riley
  • Dr Linda Sissons
  • Peter Winder

Regions were invited to submit proposals for the head office location. The Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) asked for registrations of interest from 6 December 2019 to 15 January 2020. The outcome was to be announced in March 2020[10] but when New Zealand went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, this process was put on hold.[11]

The Minister of Education announced the first seven members of the governing council on 18 March 2020:[12]

  • Murray Strong (chair; 3-year term)
  • Kim Ngārimu (deputy chair; 3-year term)
  • Maryann Geddes (3-year term)
  • Kathy Grant (3-year term)
  • Tania Hodges (3-year term)
  • Sam Huggard (4-year term)
  • Peter Winder (3-year term)

Chris Collins, the chief executive of Eastern Institute of Technology, was appointed interim chief executive for NZIST.[13] Stephen Town, former CEO of Auckland Council; was appointed chief executive for NZIST.[14] He started his new role at the end of June 2020.

Naming

Forty Māori language names were under consideration for the organisation, and as of 2 March 2020, five of those have been shortlisted:[15]

  • Korowai Mātauranga (A journey under the guidance and protection of a cloak of expertise)
  • Pūkenga Aotearoa (A skills-based Institute with Aotearoa at its heart)
  • Takiura Aotearoa (Traditional learning places for knowledge of a higher level)
  • Te Pū Mātauranga (A foundation or source of knowledge)
  • Te Rau Mātangi (A supported journey to gain knowledge and understanding)

It was expected that the name would be decided before the start of NZIST but the Establishment Board asked for more time.[11]

In September 2020, Chris Hipkins announced the institute's permanent name, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. The name describes the "gaining and mastery of valuable skills through passing knowledge down from person to person".[1]

Organisational description

Te Pūkenga has almost 10,000 staff, 280,000 students, and assets worth NZ$2 billion.[2] The student body includes those studying at New Zealand's 16 ITPs and various apprentice and industry training programmes.[6] The organisation is led by Stephen Town, the outgoing CEO of Auckland Council; the announcement from Auckland Council as well as his new role was made on 4 February 2020. Town started his new role at the end of June 2020, with a salary of NZ$688,235.[14][16]

The legislation under which this reform could proceed is the Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Bill. This bill amended the Education Act 1989 and repealed the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992 to create a unified and cohesive vocational education and training system. The bill received royal assent on 24 February 2020 and came into force on 1 April 2020.[17][18]

References
  1. "Introducing Te Pūkenga". Te Pūkenga. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  2. Kenny, Lee (29 October 2019). "Wanted: 'Sophisticated' leader to head NZ's mega polytech". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  3. "The NZIST Head Office will be located in Hamilton". NZIST. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. Hipkins, Chris (14 February 2018). "Education Portfolio Work Programme: Purpose, Objectives and Overview" (PDF). Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  5. Bracewell-Worrall, Anna; Jolliff, Emma (21 February 2018). "Major overhaul: Govt eyes up education from preschool to tertiary". Newshub. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. Collins, Simon (13 February 2019). "Polytechnic mega-merger will take over apprentices and industry trainees". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  7. Small, Zane (1 August 2019). "Government confirms polytechnics will merge as single entity in 2020". Newshub. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  8. "Contact Us". IST Establishment. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. Hipkins, Chris (2 August 2019). "Expert group to steer formation of new Institute of skills and technology" (Press release). Wellington: Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  10. Strong, Murray (25 January 2020). "Regional Kōrero: continuing the conversation". IST Establishment. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  11. Jordan, Barry (31 March 2020). "Establishment work comes to an end". IST Establishment. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  12. Hipkins, Chris (18 March 2020). "First governing council of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST)" (Press release). Wellington: Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. Jordan, Barry. "NZIST Council and New Interim CE for NZIST". IST Establishment. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  14. Niall, Todd (5 February 2020). "Auckland Council chief executive goes 'full circle' to head mega-polytech". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  15. Kenny, Lee (1 March 2020). "Pūkenga Aotearoa one of five names shortlisted for new polytechnic merger". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  16. "Auckland Council Chief Executive resigns" (Press release). Auckland: Auckland Council. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  17.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license."Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  18. "Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Legislation. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
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