Great turnout for polytech’s 2010 welcome
Diana Dobson
It was standing room only when Tairawhiti Polytechnic welcomed its new and returning students at Toihoukura’s Maia Gallery yesterday.
Around 300 to 400 students, overflowing into nearby galleries and on to the pavement outside, turned up for the whakatau (welcome).
Enrolments are up on last year and there are even waiting lists for some courses.
Polytechnic kaumatua Koro Henare Swann said he was blown away to see so many.
“My aroha goes back to when the polytechnic started many moons ago when hardly anyone came here — look at it now,” he said.
He was chuffed to see many of the tutors, themselves former students, taking their own journeys to another level.
“I compliment our tutors who have come back to awhi (embrace) you to awhi us,” he said.
And he laid down a challenge to all of those planning to study this year.
“Get stuck into it,” he said. “This is not like high school — if you don’t play ball here it is your problem.”
Polytechnic chief executive Judy Campbell said she looked forward to seeing the same faces at graduation.
The heads of schools also extended welcomes, with new head of business and humanities Dr Joe Rousseau telling students to create themselves anew in their new surrounds.
“We view education as a pathway towards a better life, a better job, more education and possibly your own business.”
Students heard there were still many scholarship opportunities available to help them with their studies, and plenty of other support as well.
Mrs Campbell said the impressive turnout was both a sign of the times and of the support the polytechnic had within the community.
“The polytechnic is looking great after a summer spruce-up and we’re in the process of creating more recreational space for students.”
New grass was being sown where the old church and swimming pool had stood, which will increase the green space on campus.
Mrs Campbell thanked the business development team led by director Glenis Philip-Barbara for putting together the whakatau programme which was short, sharp and welcoming.
A whakatau is held at the beginning of each semester and ensures that students are warmly welcomed. New students are introduced to support services and heads of school and there are always competitions, giveaways and food.
This year the winner of the main prize which included an i-Pod, a Tairawhiti Polytechnic hoodie and all sorts of other goodies, was Whetu Kaiwai, a new business studies student.