Issue nine November 2009
Prince Edward visits Whitireia
Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex) requested a performance from the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Performing Arts) on Nov 4th at Wellington Performing Arts Centre.
It was a wonderfully evocative few minutes,” said the Prince. After the show he spoke with the performers about their ambitions.
Second-year student Dawn Bregmen confided that he loved her dance solo in the performance.“He said I looked very beautiful, which was very nice of him to say,” she said. “It made me feel special being singled out.”
Chief Executive Don Campbell with Prince Edward and Deirdre Dale
Student Crystal Sciascia
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Whitireia Launches Exciting New Website
The website is built on Microsoft SharePoint Services and features images from a recent photo shoot of Whitireia students, on Porirua campus. It also has a gallery of student work and the latest in news and events at Whitireia. The ‘real’ voice of Whitireia.
The creative brief required a contemporary website with the capacity to be more interactive and student focused. Students are able to browse courses by interest, faculty or career. It also has a number of interactive resources for students and numerous online library directories and databases. Domestic and International students are now able to enrol online for courses in 2010!
A snippet of design work from the homepage
Habitat for Humanity
The Jaboon family are recipients of a new home, which will be ready for them to move into after April 2010. The home is being built through a partnership between Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Habitat for Humanity and A1 Homes.
The family, Felix Jaboon, wife Marvellous, son Ngoni (11), and daughters Ruth (9) and Rachel (8), got the first glimpse of the frame of their house this morning. Mayor Jenny Brash was present for the event.
Felix Jaboon works as a plumber and is keen to help out with the plumbing on the house further down the track. "I am just so happy" said Felix. "This is enabling me to put a roof over my family's head. I am on cloud nine."
The house has four bedrooms and measures 101 square metres.
The Jaboon Family check out the foundations of what will be their new home
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Korean Education Impresses
A recent visit to several Korean education institutions, secondary and tertiary, has impressed Whitireia Community Polytechnic Chief Executive, Don Campbell. "What is particularly impressive is the attitude to education — very positive — and regarded as a critical pathway to success. They are hungry for education and qualifications. It is also very competitive to gain entry to tertiary study and there is a lot of interest in studying and living in New Zealand".
Mr Campbell's trip involved meeting current educational partners, as well as staff from institutions looking to establish partnering relationships. At one college, he met with a group of students who are studying towards a Whitireia Community Polytechnic National Diploma in Hospitality Management in preparation for coming to New Zealand to complete their qualification. The New Zealand component will include a work experience internship which allows the student to enhance their vocational vocabulary, build employment networks and prospects and earn to support their study.
"It is a really good option for students and employees, and well regarded, especially by parents in Korea who like to see a vocational component and outcome from tertiary education. This was confirmed in discussions with the New Zealand High Commission, who keep a close eye on the educational market and opportunities," said Mr Campbell.
Mi-Jin Kim, Whitireia Marketing Manager (Korea), Don Campbell, Whitireia Chief Executive and Dr Son Sukwan, Principal of Hansol Vocational and Training Institute, with a group of Diploma in Hospitality Management students.
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Youth Guarantee
Whitireia Community Polytechnic is offering 80 places in the Youth Guarantee Scheme in 2010. Places are available in Services and Trades programmes.
These places are available to students who are 16–17 years of age and have completed a year 11 minimum, achieved NCEA Level 1 or less or haven't fully completed NCEA Level 2.
Youth Guarantee is one of the initiatives that was announced by the Government as part of a 'Youth Opportunities' package to create new work, education and training opportunities for young people.
Whitireia Chief Executive Don Campbell says "The Youth Guarantee will allow a number of students to engage in more practical education, tailored specifically to industry needs, to help them get into apprenticeships and employment."
For more information, contact schools-liaison@whitireia.ac.nz or call Schools Liaison on 0800 944 847.
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Tsunami Support
In wake of the Pacific tsunami, Whitireia staff and students banded together to support families and friends in Samoa. A service was held at the start of term four for students and staff. Music students performed a fundraising gig on 29 October. Staff were able to donate contributions at the Cashier and Whitireia management matched the donations made.
"Although it is tempting to consider using the expertise of our staff to contribute to the immediate health and rebuilding issues, this may not be the most short term practical solution," said Chief Executive Don Campbell. "One thing is clear a lot of funds will be required to address the issues, so the logical thing immediately is to arrange a collection for people to give what they are able."
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Artifact, the Exhibition
Artifact the exhibition ran from 17 September to 4 October at Pataka Museum and Gallery with artists David McGill, Alan Wehipeihana, Doug Marsden, Steven Myhre, Robert Franken and Owen Mapp.
Bone carver Owen Mapp (pictured below), is a tutor in the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Visual Arts & Design) at Whitireia Community Polytechnic. Mapp teaches carving of bone and stone to students who study sculpture and jewellery. .
"As friends, our work is often related and we influence each other," says Mapp of the five other artists, whom he has known for many years.
Owen Mapp with a Hippopotamus Skull
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Whitireia on a Mission to Reduce Emissions
Whitireia Community Polytechnic has signed up to eMission, a one year subsidised programme to help businesses achieve nationally recognised environmental accreditation and reduce their carbon footprint.
Through this programme, Whitireia will aim to reduce its emissions in waste, energy and transport, develop environmental management plans and achieve an Enviro-Mark® NZ Gold Certificate, along with 21 other businesses in the local Wellington region.
The eMission programme was launched last week by Greater Wellington Regional Chair Fran Wilde. "By participating in eMission, businesses will understand their impact on the environment and on our climate, and work to reduce it in three key areas — transport, energy and waste. Businesses that are efficient in their use of resources will be robust and successful and help make our region's economy more efficient and resilient," says Wilde.
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Unicycling up Mount Taranaki - A Risky Business
Climbing 2,518 metres up Mount Taranaki with a unicycle strapped to your back, then manoeuvring your way down through steep and rough terrain on one wheel; is not how most people would spend their weekend. But it is how Outdoor Adventure student Ben Sarten spends his weekend, or at least how he spent it for the second time on the weekend of 4 April 2009.
Ben is studying the Diploma in Outdoor Adventure at Whitireia and is a self-confessed 'Uni-cycle' lover who pushes himself to physical limits on a regular basis. "I've been uni-cycling for about 9 years, since my mum gave a unicycle to the family for Christmas, says Ben. I've spent so much time on a unicycle now that it's second to walking for me. I decided to start taking it off road and coupled the idea with my passion for mountain climbing — which led to the trip up Mount Taranaki."
Ben first climbed the Mountain when he was 13 years old and this is the second time he has done the 5.46km trip up the North Ridge track, with a Unicycle on board. Ben did the trip with a friend of his from his home town in New Plymouth. "We grew up with the mountain, it was always a part of our life and we wanted to tackle it in an interesting way." Another student on the Diploma course, Nick Ballentyne, accompanied the two riders to film their trip.
"Risk management is an imperative part of Outdoor Adventure, says Ben. The course has enabled me to do risky things because I have knowledge of how to manage those risks now. We actually attempted the last trip up Mount Taranaki a week earlier, but the weather packed it in, it was windy and dark and I knew the risks were just too great and basically out of our hands to manage."
Ben Sarten
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Lucky Student Lands Dream Job in Hospitality Industry
Guramrit Pal Singh — known to his friends in New Zealand as Lucky — has done the hard yards and landed his dream job.
Lucky came to New Zealand in 2006 from Punjab in India and began studying the National Diploma in Hospitality (Management) (Level 5) at Whitireia.
Lucky graduated from Whitireia in December 2008 and was awarded overall excellence and top student in class. "I actually thought one of my good friends in the class was going to get the award, it was an awesome surprise when I did," says Lucky. "All my hard work paid off!"
During the course Lucky did an internship and work-experience with the Quest Hotel on Willis Street and also worked part time at Burger King to help finance his studies. Lucky was offered a fulltime Duty Manager and Reception job at the Quest Hotel before he even graduated. "The course was great; it gave me all the necessary skills to step right into the industry," says Lucky.
Lucky
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Whitireia Bling goes Under the Hammer
On October 1 National Radio presenter Kim Hill presided over an auction of items made by Whitireia Bachelor of Applied Arts jewellery students in a jewellery auction to raise funds for their catalogue
Thirty pieces, including a brooch donated by Auckland designer and Whitireia workshop tutor Olivia Cook, were open for bidding.
Julia Middleton, in her final year of a Bachelor of Applied Arts, had three items in the show and says seeing her work go under the hammer wasl be difficult. "After long hours of experimentation you do become attached to your objects," she says.
But the pay-off is having a piece of work showcased in the catalogue, which she calls a "jumping off point" for future careers.
Student Sunni Gibson
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Orangutans, Wood Pigeons and Dark Spirits - 4th Floor 2009 is launched
Whitireia Community Polytechnic's new issue of 4th Floor, the online literary journal featuring writing from the Creative Writing Programme, was launched for eager web-readerson October 13. This year's edition is not only bristling with well-known authors and talented up-and-comers, it features a created cast of unusual characters in strange configurations and situations.
"There's longing and nostalgia, there's sudden romance and drenching rainstorms," says editor, Hinemoana Baker. "There's kererū in gourds and wedding receptions gone horribly wrong. There are river-crossing orangutans, elephants disappearing at the Hippodrome and airports suddenly flooded with men in skirts. One of the most intriguing characters, though, as you'd hope with any good anthology, is the language itself," says Baker, "and the ways it comes alive in the stories and poems."
4th Floor has, for several years, offered an eclectic and impressive range of new writing, showcasing the Creative Writing Programme's best and brightest emerging talents. This year's edition also features writing from some of the lecturers, tutors and guest speakers who've helped build the programme, among them Barbara Else, Rachel Bush and 2002 New Zealand Poet Laureate Elizabeth Smither.
www.whitireia.ac.nz/4thfloor
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