Students warmly welcomed into NorthTec

Students warmly welcomed into NorthTec

Almost 600 people turned out for NorthTec’s first day of term at its Raumanga campus on Monday, marking the start of an exciting journey ahead for those studying at NorthTec in 2012.

As is the tradition for Northland’s largest tertiary institution, a powhiri was held at Te Puna ō Te Matauranga wharenui at the Raumanga campus in Whangarei, launching the start of the new academic year and its Orientation week. Powhiri and whakatau were also held at the same time at other NorthTec campuses and learning centres across the region. All students and new staff were warmly welcomed onto the wharenui at the Whangarei campus as part of the powhiri. Due to the numbers that turned out, some had to follow the proceedings in the wharenui from outside, under the cover of a shaded marquee.

Following the ceremonies, Chief Executive, Paul Binney, addressed the students and staff. He said that it was events such as Orientation and the Graduation ceremonies next month that are important reminders for the staff about why they are there.

He noted that everyone has different reasons why they are studying and that the institution is committed to giving people a good return for the time and money they are investing into their educations with NorthTec.

Mr Binney highlighted that NorthTec’s success rate already compares well to other tertiary institutions throughout New Zealand with its overall performance improving. “We want to be one of the top performers in the country in terms of educational success for our students. We want employers in Northland to prefer to employ NorthTec graduates over other tertiary providers and we are working hard to achieve those goals,” he explained.

Three new students soaking up the experience of a powhiri were Jim Louo, Ervin Qui, and Rex Yu, of Guangzhou, China, who enrolled on the one year Diploma in Digital Multi-Media Production (Level 5) course.

It was Jim’s first powhiri and he thought that it was “wonderful,” with everyone he met very friendly and kind.

All three students said they were looking forward to learning about the different aspects of the multi-media industry and being able to create their own media projects before putting those skills into practice for work.

NorthTec’s Orientation week concluded yesterday, with the week’s Orientation activities rounded off with a carnival that gave students from a range of different programme areas a chance to showcase some of their talented work. There was also a sausage sizzle and the local radio station Mai FM also dropped by to provide music for the event and to show its close association with Northland’s largest tertiary institution.

ENDS