Background - and what ever happened to Wai-Tech?

In May 2006, after many years of delivering courses nationally, Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust’s tertiary education provider, Wai-Tech Limited, was closed.  It aimed to review its strategic direction and performance against its mission and has completed this.

In March 2008, the Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust established the Waipareira Education Taskforce, chaired by Whaea Evelyn Taumanu. The Taskforce held the inaugural 21st Century Education Summit – The Waipareira Way, in April 2008, at the Trust’s Stadium in partnership with Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua.

A number of significant contributions were made at the summit which have informed the direction of the education group and led to a further two summits - the second in Christchurch led by Nga Maata Waka, the third in Manukau City led by the Manukau Urban Maori Authority. It now points to the potential for a national education strategy for Urban Maori led by the National Urban Maori Authority.

In 2008, the Trust’s education service was relaunched and a new strategic direction was set. The economic sustainability of Wai-Tech will be improved by lifting student numbers and by the percentages of learners who graduate. This will be helped along by new courses, by improving the multimedia interface of existing courses, and by lifting the kaupapa Maori capacity among Wai-Tech staff.

Wai-Tech's economic sustainability will be greatly assisted by applying a significant distance education methodology to new courses which will be supplemented with kanohi ki te kanohi support via tutorials, classroom work and home visits. 

We have investigated the financial viability of delivering some courses through wananga and other tertiary providers. This may provide an antidote to the barriers to our growth plans and the subsequent financial constraints imposed by current government policies.

The Learning Post

In July 2008, the Trust acquired The Learning Post, a leading provider of distance learning programmes offering computer, business administration, and practical accounting courses to over 300 students throughout New Zealand. 

It is the only provider in the country of Level 3-5 IT Diplomas and Computer Programming qualifications entirely by distance. 

Its current student base is 50 percent Maori, 7 percent Pacific and that proportion is expected to increase as new courses are introduced. 

The two tertiary providers, Wai-Tech Ltd and The Learning Post, are merged into a single provider, Wai-Tech, trading as Learning Post or Wai-Tech for short. 

An Advisory group, chaired by Tracey Adams has been appointed for 12 months to manage the digestion of Learning Post into Wai-Tech. 

Wai-Tech is currently gearing up to offer new foundation and certificate courses in 2009 in: 

• Adult literary, whanau literacy
• Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga
• Financial literacy
• Digital and multi media literacy
• Employment qualifications in trades and other occupations

Go to Learning Post website here

The Waipareira Alternative Education Unit

The Waipareira Alternative Education Unit is over 16 years old. It is the first and largest unit in Aotearoa that stands alone.  Its students (13-16 year olds) are alienated and excluded from mainstream, and they excel in a smaller whanau learning unit.

Many of the students needs include basic literacy and numeracy, and behavioural, physical and emotional needs. They come from Iwi Social Services, whanau, schools, CYFS, Youth Justice, Epuni, northern residential and Felix Donnelly College.

The Trust has an advisory body and is supported by Mt Albert Grammar and the Central Auckland Consortium with Ministry of Education funding.

The unit provides a basic curriculum and a variety of learning modules under kaupapa Maori. This year girls studying Earth Science went to camp and investigated Waitomo. They were under the guidance of new teacher Pia Harre and international student Florence Crawley. Bill Smith works in technology and whakairo, Robert Wilson provides sports leadership, Denise Burke provides administration skills, Pia Harre offers general subjects, and Mere Tunks is  the director. Other Trust services that support the unit include health, kai and nutrition, iwi support, and rangatahi and whanau mental health.

The focus is to move students from mainstream education at 16 years to a tertiary training provider. However, there will always be those who do not fit this prescribed pattern.

Due to limited funding, the unit is applying for additional financial support. Grants have been received by ASB, Lottery Grants Boards we would like to acknowledge these organisations for their support.

For the tutors, students and whanau, Amokura is a reminder of the social service past inspired by men like Haki Wihongi. It is also a reminder to Trustees and CEO that although economic sustainability is vital, those who are frequently helpless to respond to their need, is the reason why we are here.

Wai-Whanau

The Wai Whanau Project is a joint venture with the Waitakere City Council. This city wide project aims to build wealth in our poorest, most disadvantaged whanau by supporting their engagement in education for themselves and their children – in particular through financial literacy, literacy and Te Reo Maori.

Early childhood centres

Te Rito O Waipareira acknowledges Nga Korowai and Te Whariki, which over the past 20 years has been used as the learning and teaching framework used by Te Kohanga Reo and Early Childhood Centres. Te Rito O Waipareira is unique because it has taken both He Korowai and Te Whariki models as its learning platform.

Significant recent achievements include attaining accreditation for the next three years following an audit completed by the Education Review Office.

Some features of the centre include:

• 95 percent of enrolments are Maori
• A large proportion of tamariki have parents, extended whanau and grandparents who are in full time employment
• The majority of tamariki are extended whanau within Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust
• Te Rito enables tamariki and their whanau direct access to social services, health and education provided by the Trust
• Te Rito operating hours accommodates working parents, grandparents, caregivers and whanau
• Te Rito head teacher and supervisor is responsible for the learning curriculum and has a teaching degree in Early Childhood Education
• All teaching staff have, or are completing, a Diploma in Early Childhood
• The centre manager works alongside the quality management team ensuring that all ERO outcomes are on track
• All staff are of Maori descent and are from tribal areas throughout Aotearoa

The centre is aiming for:

• More regular involvement of Te Roopu Kaumatua and Kuia
• Establishment of best practice guidelines in recruiting and retaining qualified ECE staff who are competent in Te Reo and tikanga
• A continuous quality improvement programme that supports high quality learning and development for tamariki
• Use of Wai Health Well Child services
• Ensuring the capacity to meet the growing demand for the service 

Hapaitia Nga Kaupapa O Te Whariki 

Whakapapa - Tikanga - Kawa - Whakawhanaungatanga - Ira Atua - Ira Tangata

It has been a joy to hear and see our tamariki in the centre speaking confidently and learning from each other.

To locate any of our education services go to our contacts page here.