Hon Hekia Parata

Minister of Education
18 April 2017 Media Statement

New appointments to Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced three appointments to the Board of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura).

“Te Kura is a fantastic option for distance education, providing personalised learning programmes to students from early childhood to Year 13.

“I am delighted to see Dr Stuart Middleton staying on for a further term, and would like to welcome the newly appointed Ruma Karaitiana and Mele Wendt as members of Te Kura’s Board for terms of three years,” Ms Parata says.

Dr Middleton and Mr Karaitiana’s appointments are effective immediately. Ms Wendt will take up the role from 1 July following the resignation of Paul Adams.

“These appointments are a great result for Te Kura. Dr Middleton has performed well in his role, and his experience in South Auckland communities and the Pacific are highly respected. The perspectives Mr Karaitiana and Ms Wendt will bring from Māori and Pasifika communities, as well as their experience within the education sector adds further valuable expertise to the Board.

“I would also like to thank the outgoing Paul Adams for his immense contribution to the financial and business strength of Te Kura over the past five years, and his commitment to seeing young people succeed.”

Biographical details of the appointees

Stuart Middleton, ONZM JP, Auckland

Dr Middleton is the Director of External Relations at the Manukau Institute of Technology where he is responsible for educational pathways/transitions and Pasifika development. Dr Middleton is a member of the Ministerial Cross Sector Forum on Raising Achievement and previously chaired the Youth Guarantee Advisory Group. Dr Middleton also contributed to the Minister of Education’s Principals Lead Group. He worked as a consultant throughout the Pacific and has taught at many South Auckland schools, including as Principal of Aorere College.

Ngaruma (Ruma) Karaitiana, Palmerston North

Ruma Karaitiana is the former Chief Executive of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation. He was previously the Chief Executive of Sweet Line Limited and Palmerston North Enterprise Trust. Mr Karaitiana is currently on the Boards of the Industry Training Federation, Education Services Ltd (Chair) and the Construction Industry Council. He is a former Board member of Learning State Limited, Accident Compensation Corporation and Manawatu Polytechnic Council.

Mele Wendt, Wellington

Mele Wendt is a certified director with governance experience on a range of boards, trusts and advisory bodies including as a member of the Pasifika Education Centre Board, MBIE Pacific Think Tank and the Canada Fund Advisory Committee (providing advice to the Canadian High Commission on applications to its development fund for projects in the Pacific). She works as consultant in the areas of leadership, governance, Pacific development, diversity strategies, organisational capacity building, and events. Ms Wendt is also a founding Director of Scholarship Services Aotearoa Ltd (SSA), a social enterprise that helps organisations and individuals offer/manage scholarships and related programmes.

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