Unitec and Maori TV partnership celebrates Maori success

Unitec and Maori Television partnership celebrates Maori success

8 May 2014
For immediate release

Unitec Institute of Technology and Maori Television have entered into a unique partnership that celebrates the success of Maori students and their whanau.

From the beginning of May, Unitec will be sponsoring two of the stations premier programmes; a new reality series 'City Slickers' which features rangatahi getting trained in the art of rodeo, and flagship sports programme 'CODE' which has just returned for its tenth season. The partnership has also seen the development of two new television commercials featuring one Maori student and two Maori graduates along with their whanau, which will go to air today.

View the commercials here and here.

The partnership comes at a time when Unitec is seeing strong gains in success, retention and completion rates for Maori students.

"This is a unique opportunity for Unitec to work with a well-respected partner in the Maori community, and is testament to Unitec's committment to supporting Maori achievement at all levels," says Carol Ngawati, Director of Unitec's Maori Student and Community Engagement. "Since Unitec launched its Maori Success Strategy in 2009 we have seen significant improvements in Maori student success rates; course completion rates have increased by more than 4% to 75%, and qualification completion rates have increased by 14%."

The television adverts, which highlight the importance of whanau in achieving success, feature one current student and two graduates who are committed to giving back to their communities and are excellent role models for Maori and their whanau.

"The three people featured in the advertisements are deeply passionate about the power of education, and by sharing their stories we hope to inspire more Maori to engage in higher education at Unitec and give back to their whanau and communities," says Ms Ngawati.

"Through this partnership, and through sharing the stories of our Maori students, we want to show that Unitec is a place where Maori are welcomed, supported and celebrated."

As part of the CODE sponsorship Unitec will have a fanzone in the live studio and will also be running an inter-school 1st IV 'haka-off' competition which will play out through the CODE season.

City Slickers airs Fridays at 8.00pm and CODE Thursdays at 8.30pm on Maori Television.

ENDS

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