Student mentors thank former Chief Executive

Student mentors thank former Chief Executive

Representatives of NorthTec’s group of Student Mentors/Kai Awhina presented former NorthTec Chief Executive Terry Barnett with a patu rakau (short hand club) in recognition of his support for student learning during his tenure. Mr Barnett retired in March.

The taonga was carved by NorthTec applied arts tutor and carver Brian Mitchell from swamp kauri.

Student mentor Robert Major said that the mentors wanted to acknowledge Mr Barnett’s mana and to wish him well for his future journey. Fellow student mentor Himiona Munroe said that the patu rakau was a token of the aroha that NorthTec Kai Awhina feel for Mr Barnett.

Student mentor Andrew Burns thanked Mr Barnett for the gift of empowerment he had given to students and said that the student mentors and student council would be carrying on with the challenge he had laid down to them of representing and advocating for student interests within the organisation.

Mr Barnett said that he would treasure the gift particularly because it was an acknowledgement from the student body. “The most important thing for me was always the students. That’s why NorthTec exists. The student mentor programme is a shining star at NorthTec and its establishment is one of the highlights of my time as Chief Executive.”

Mr Barnett encouraged the student mentors to continue to advocate strongly for their fellow students.

NorthTec is the Tai Tokerau (Northland) region's largest provider of tertiary education, with campuses and learning centres in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rāwene, Kaikohe and Kaitaia. NorthTec also has over 60 community-based delivery points from Coatesville in rural Rodney to Ngataki in the Far North.

ENDS

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