News stories

A taste of Equine Therapy for our Bachelor of Counselling ākonga

This is the second time miniature horses have been brought onto the Ōtara campus for our students to get an understanding of Equine Therapy. Equine Therapy is a specialist form of therapy popular in the United States, using the Eagala system - a global standard in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and has some established roots in New Zealand.

MIT | Te Pūkenga culinary students watch internationally respected NZ chef in action

From day one, MIT | Te Pūkenga cooking students are immersed in the fast-paced world of culinary, whether it’s food preparation, advanced cookery, or full chef training. Recently, one of New Zealand’s most internationally respected chefs, Graham Brown, ran a demonstration with the help of MIT cookery student Eunique Lakshman.

MIT ākonga makes screen debut in Down for Love

Charlize Wilson, an ākonga in our NZ Skills for Living for Supported Learners programme, featured on a recent episode of Down for Love (Season 2, episode 3). The show featured a clip of 18-year-old Charlize in class at our Ōtara campus with lecturer Cushla Wilson and her classmates.

MIT | Te Pūkenga Student Engagement Advisor recognised for her “grassroots approach” at Social Work Awards 2023

Florence Tamehana always wanted to work with youth. So, after spending many years in the military, she retrained as a social worker. Since then, she’s worked with some of New Zealand’s most at-risk young people. Today, she is a Student Engagement Advisor at MIT | Te Pūkenga in the School of Secondary-Tertiary Studies (SSTS), supporting students completing their NCEA qualifications and University Entrance. Recently, she won the Tangata-ō te whenua Practice Award at the Social Work Awards 2023.

BCITO | Te Pūkenga graduate first female to win coveted Silver Trowel Award

For the past 35 years, the brick and block laying ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award has gone to a male apprentice. In 2023, BCITO graduate Kiri Cooper made history by becoming the first female to take home the Silver Trowel. Kiri Cooper’s plan had always been to study medicine. But, as we all know, life can take you in a different direction.

MIT Te Pūkenga digital technologies students solve real-world problems at the annual AI Hackathon

The AI for the Environment Hackathon Festival is a chance for people from all walks of life to collaborate and build solutions to some of New Zealand’s most pressing environmental challenges. In 2023, 13 MIT | Te Pūkenga students and graduates attended the festival. Here’s what happened.

Carpentry cabins providing homes for whānau in Northland

Cabins built by our pre-trade carpentry students are providing homes for whānau in the Far North, helping to alleviate the region’s housing crisis. John Haines’ local construction company YES Kiwi has been working with Oranga Tamariki to provide warm and dry cabins at low cost to those whānau most in need, delivering them as far afield as Peria, Kaitaia and Tuakau.

Wellington Trades Academy takes top honours at national schools’ culinary challenge hosted by MIT Te Pūkenga

Culinary creations using cauliflower and chicken were on the menu at the National Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge held at MIT Te Pūkenga on 23 August 2023. The national cook-off was won by hospitality students from Wellington Trades Academy, the secondary-tertiary programme run by Whitireia and WelTec Te Pūkenga.

New Counsellors in Schools programme a win-win for MIT Te Pūkenga and I Am Hope foundation

Students from our Bachelor of Applied Counselling course have caught the attention of national mental health advocate Mike King and his I Am Hope foundation. Part of the three-year degree programme, which includes on-campus, self-directed and online learning, is a 200-hour practicum placement under the supervision of a trained counsellor.

Graduate Profile 2023: Anusuthi Lakhiani, Bachelor of Applied Management

When Anusuthi arrived in New Zealand like many other international students chasing dreams of freedom and independence, she thought she’d be able to return to India to see friends and family within twelve months.

However, the COVID pandemic meant the human resources and project management major found herself unable to go home for two and a half years.