17 February 2025

“If you’re not successful, we can’t be successful.”

That was the message delivered by Deputy Chief Executive – Learner Experience & Success, Simon Nash at Unitec’s first Orientation pōwhiri for the year.

The welcome marked the beginning of Semester 1 for 106 Healthcare and Social Practice ākonga, including Addison Rosan.

Addison left school last year and was encouraged to study at Unitec by a family member who’d had a great experience with us. She is working towards a NZ Certificate of Health and Wellbeing.

“I’ve always wanted to do psychology, so I think getting the certificate will make it easier to go into that,” Ms Rosan says.

Ericka Taylor took a year off last year and is now looking forward to returning to study, enrolling in Bachelor of Social Practice.

“I want to help other people,” she says. “One of my family members is a social worker and I got inspired by her. She’s a very caring person.”

A motivation to help our community, learn in a friendly environment and delve deeper into careers are behind Ericka Taylor (T) and Addison Rosan (B) coming to study with Unitec.

At pōwhiri, Dr Nash thanked our marae whānau for their warm welcome and guiding the tīkanga which begins every student’s journey. While also acknowledging the presence of kaimahi and past graduates who came to āwhina our latest intake.

“I want to say ‘buckle in’, I also want to say good luck,” Dr Nash told the new learners.

“This is a meaningful part of your life. There will be a tonne of work to do. There will be amazing moments of learning, self-reflection and growth. Make sure you make the most of it. We are here to support you, so your study goes as well as possible. So you are as ready as possible for your future vocations.”

Orientation day included a tour of campus, introduction to support services available and student id application process.

“I’m looking forward to meeting other people and meeting my teachers,” Ericka Taylor says of her first few days on campus. “I’ve heard it’s a really friendly place. You offer lots of help which is great because studying for the first time isn’t easy.”

“The key outcome of Orientation is finding connections,” says Annette Pitovao, Director – Student Success.

“This helps reduce the nerves of getting started on the study journey. For us, it’s all about helping new students to relax and finding their way. Many students are time poor, so the tours are always popular to help maximise what’s available and where.”

Unitec is seeing increasing interest in on campus learning. As of 16 January 2025, total student numbers were up 5.6% compared to the same date last year.