EIT | Te Pūkenga graduate youngest to win Young Winemaker of the Year | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

Alena Kamper, a graduate of the Bachelor of Viticulture & Wine Science Concurrent at EIT | Te Pūkenga, is the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey North Island Young Winemaker of the Year.

An EIT | Te Pūkenga graduate has been named the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year.

At 22 years old, Alena Kamper, who now works as a Cellar Hand at Sacred Hill Winery in Hawke’s Bay, is the youngest person to win the coveted title.

“I am over the moon. It still feels quite surreal,” Alena says.

“Especially with the calibre of the contestants this year, I think it could have been anyone’s game. So incredible to take it out. I feel very very honoured.”

The national final took place at The Bone Line in North Canterbury on Tuesday (October 31). The  three finalists delivered their speeches at the Altogether Unique Wine Industry Celebration in Christchurch the following evening, when the overall winner was announced.

It comes just a year into Alena’s career, having completed the Bachelor of Viticulture & Wine Science Concurrent at EIT | Te Pūkenga at the end of last year, and graduated in August.

Alena was initially nervous to enter the competition but is glad she took the plunge. She first won the North Island Young Winemaker of the Year in September, qualifying her for the national final. 

“I definitely felt like I was quite the underdog in the situation. So just so surreal when they called my name out. It’s been an incredible experience. I’ve learned so much.”

Alena won two section prizes; the Fruitfed Supplies best speech and the Indevin Wine Judging Section.

The speech topic was: “Why is your region unique and how does it complement other regions to make New Zealand wine altogether unique?” Each contestant had the same topic and had to speak on their specific region.

“That was definitely a highlight, especially when you get the chance to talk highly of your region. It just felt so easy to write and I truly believe that Hawke’s Bay is the best wine region of New Zealand, so it was awesome.”

Alena looks back at her time at EIT | Te Pūkenga with fondness, saying the programme was recommended to her by an old science teacher of hers at the school she attended, Sacred Heart College.

She says she loved the degree and was pleased that the lecturers gave one-on-one help to students.

“I think it’s just been the perfect launch platform. They give you just so many skills to be able to ask the questions and interpret all the things that you come across in the industry. It gave me great connections to start off with and it’s been awesome.”

As NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, Alena took home a prize package that includes $1000 cash, a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey cooperage in Burgundy, France, and the opportunity to be an associate judge in the 2024 New World Wine Awards and review some of her favourite wines in DrinksBiz magazine.

The Head of the EIT | Te Pūkenga School of Viticulture and Wine Science, Sue Blackmore said they are so excited for Alena.

“An incredible achievement for someone less that a year out of study. We wish her all the best for what will be an amazing career in the Wine industry.”

High performance coach and biomechanist adds strength to EIT | Te Pūkenga sport and exercise science programmes | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

22 mins ago

Dr Mike Schofield, a bio mechanist and well-known strength and conditioning practitioner, has joined EIT | Te Pūkenga as a sport and exercise science lecturer.

A strength and conditioning coach to some of New Zealand’s top athletes has joined EIT | Te Pūkenga as a sport and exercise science lecturer.

Dr Mike Schofield, a biomechanist and well-known strength and conditioning practitioner for New Zealand Athletics and High Performance Sport NZ, began his role in July. It includes a partial secondment to the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust (HBCFCT) as a strength and conditioning coach.

“I’ve coached multiple people to Olympic or World Championship Standard in throws. I’ve been a part of multiple programmes and coached youth and junior world and Olympic champions.”

“I grew up in the Wairarapa, just south of here and played sport since I was young. It was probably a failed sporting career and the want to figure out how to be better that led me into the sports science field.”

“From there it just evolved into me coaching athletes and then some of the results we achieved led to me being employed as a coach. I still coach a few of those kids that I started with when I was in Auckland as they’re now mature young adults.”

He says the coaching is via distance, with trips to Auckland for him and here for the athletes. His next focus is the Olympics where he is coaching a young thrower who has qualified.

His role at the Community Fitness Centre Trust is as a weightlifting coach.

“It means that I am keeping in touch with the practice elements while I’m lecturing which is pretty important. I’m currently leading the second year degree skill acquisition, biomechanics, and strength and conditioning papers.”

“I’ve always enjoyed education. I’ve done a few lectures here and there and always enjoyed lecturing. I think it’s a cool way to give back to sport and help the next generation of budding strength conditioning coaches or coaches to refine their skills.”

Mike says that while he had known about the EIT brand, he had no direct connection with the institute before he began teaching here. He decided to move here for a change of lifestyle and also to be closer to his parents who live in Masterton.

“My partner and I moved down here. I’m a little bit closer to my parents in Masterton, so I get to catch up with them a little bit more. Over the last few years of travelling, I haven’t really had a chance to see them much.”

EIT | Te Pūkenga Head of School for Health and Sport Science, Dr Helen Ryan-Stewart said: “It is fantastic not only for EIT | Te Pūkenga but also for the wider region to have attracted a practitioner of Mike’s quality to Hawke’s Bay. Experience working alongside elite level athletes is reserved to so few sport scientists in New Zealand, that Mike’s ability to share that with our students is exciting.”

“He has already started making some great connections with various sports clubs, and creating opportunities for our students to work with athletes of all standards and stages of development. This authentic, real-world learning is just what our students need to succeed in their future employment goals in the sports industry. Mike brings a unique approach to our team, and we’re excited to see the future developments in this space.”

EIT | Te Pūkenga services pathway programme taught student to push herself | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

Malia Pasileia Mataele has enjoyed the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Services Pathway) (Level 3) at EIT | Te Pūkenga.

A keen sportswoman at school, Malia Pasileia Mataele says that enrolling in the Services Pathway programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga taught her to push herself when faced with physical and mental challenges.

Pasileia, 19, who was born in Tonga and emigrated to New Zealand when she was about six, signed up for the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Services Pathway) (Level 3) at EIT | Te Pūkenga Tairāwhiti last year. She was also awarded a Te Toka Scholarship – Māori and Pasifika Trades Training, which is an initiative supporting Māori and Pasifika people into trades training programmes in Tairāwhiti.

She says she loved the programme and the scholarship was a big help to her.

“They really helped me with stuff in the background. They help you with your driver’s license, by paying for lessons and for you to get your full licence.”

She says there was also financial support as well as counselling services available to scholarship recipients.

Pasileia’s main objective in doing the Services Pathway programme was to eventually get into the New Zealand Air Force. She has applied and while her application has been put on hold while a medical condition is being assessed, she is still hopeful that she will be able to follow her dream.

However, she believes if that door does not open she does have other options available to her.

“I really like healthcare because originally my first selection for going to the Air Force was being a medic in the Air Force.”

“There is a nursing programme at EIT that I have being eyeing out. The nurse who took my medical checkup for the Air Force was an EIT student. I asked her how she liked it and she said it was her last year. I could just see the joy and passion for it that she had.”

Pasileia, who lives with her family in Gisborne, says that she has no doubt that she would recommend the Services Pathway programme to others.

“If you put in the work for yourself, you see your success. What our tutor always told us was, ‘You are here because of you. I’m here to push you all the way, but you need to put in the work yourself.’”

“I think that was quite a motivational piece. We had to do our homework. The course only ran maybe five hours a day, and so the rest of the day was up to you. Put in the homework, do more fitness. If you feel like you need to improve in the academic area, research that too.”

Whatever the future holds, Pasileia says she is looking forward to following a path that she is passionate about.

EIT | Te Pūkenga Services Pathway Tutor Zac Te Maro said the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparations (Services) Level 3 is designed to support students towards passing the academic and physical entry requirements to their chosen service.

“The course is also academically designed to assist students as they progress through the initial stages of their service careers. Pasileia was a natural candidate for the course, having attended a services cadet programme at high school. Pasileia is academically strong and achieved excellent marks for her course assignments.”

“She was always available to assist fellow students and is well liked by her peers. Pasileia worked hard on her physical attributes while on the course. Having personal discipline and drive to conduct physical activities away from class was hugely beneficial to her ever-improving fitness performance. Within the first two weeks of the course, she was meeting and then exceeding the fitness requirements.”

“Much so, the NZDF recruiters were “blown away” (their words) by her performance for the initial entry fitness level, remarking that no previous female candidate had attained the fitness level Pasileia had achieved. Pasileia had passed the aptitude exam and physical entry requirements for the Air Force whilst attending the course and subsequently accepted to attend initial training at Woodbourne Air Base. Two weeks prior to initial training, Pasileia attended the final fitness test which she also exceeded. With one week before leaving to Woodbourne she learnt through recruiters, that her application was on hold while a medical condition is being assessed.”

Zac said the recruiters were disappointed when learning of Pasileia’s application, as they had found an exceptional candidate for the NZ Defence Force.

“This set back will not deter Pasileia. She is a focused and determine young lady and will do exceptionally well in any vocation she chooses. “

Toihoukura graduate combines mechanical engineering with design to create tradition artwork | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

6 mins ago

Heremaia Barlow is combining traditional Māori art with mechanical engineering to create artwork.

A Toihoukura graduate, who also did a certificate in mechanical engineering at EIT | Te Pūkenga, is using that knowledge to create work using traditional Māori techniques.

Heremaia Barlow (Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Whātua) enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Māori) at Toihoukura, the School of Māori Visual Arts at EIT | Te Pūkenga, in 2019. He followed this up with  the New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering L3 last year.

His focus in recent months has been an exhibition at the Tairāwhiti Museum., with one of his exhibits fabricated while studying at EIT|Te Pūkenga.

Heremaia, who is a full-time artist and also teaches in the Trades Academy at EIT | Te Pūkenga, says he was excited to share this exhibition, his first solo one, to show the journey of his growth in toi Māori.

Ataata is a reflection on the origins of whakairo and its journey through history, noting the inevitable changes incurred through the introduction of western tools and materials.

Retelling the pūrākau of Ruatepupuke, the origin story of whakairo, Heremaia Barlow endeavours to continue this narrative by asking, where to from here? Influenced by Raharuhi Rukupo, Cliff Whiting and Lyonel Grant, Heremaia makes his own journey through mediums pushing his own skill set and boundaries to a new horizon.

Since beginning his whakairo journey, he has employed traditional techniques of shadow-casting with steel chisels on native timber. Quickly realising that native timber is becoming a rare commodity, Heremaia has chosen to use similar techniques, with newer readily available materials such as MDF, acrylic and mild steel to create with.

Heremaia says he enjoyed studying at Toihoukura, despite it being in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“We did go through COVID-19, so that was an interesting experience, in the end it did affect my final exhibition meaning my family couldn’t be there. But otherwise, besides that, it was an overall great experience.”

Heremaia, 31 grew up in Auckland and says that he wanted to study at Toihoukura since he was a teenager.

“It’s got a reputation throughout the country for Māori Art and produces some of the best Ta Moko artists today.”

He says that moving down to Gisborne had initially been quite hard.

“I didn’t have any family or friends here when I moved down. Also, the housing situation’s pretty tough. Especially when I came down, trying to find a boarding situation wasn’t easy. So, I just packed my stuff into my car and drove down and managed to find somewhere to stay in the day that I got here.”

After five years, he’s made Tūranganui a Kiwa home. He says the decision to study mechanical engineering was a natural progression.

“I’ve always been into cars and working on them. I think of myself as a tutu, so an opportunity to create artwork out of metal was an exciting proposition.”

“The idea behind it was to upskill into a different medium. People think it’s weird to go from art to engineering, I know I can adapt the skills and methods from the course and apply them into my art practice.”

“And if you look at the current landscape of public art, especially Māori art, it’s all going towards steel – the corten steel look. So, I think this is an opportunity to bridge the gap between Māori art and mechanical engineering.”

Tracey Tangihaere, the Executive Director of the Tairāwhiti Campus of EIT|Te Pūkenga and Acting Head of Toihoukura, says: “Heremaia is an excellent role model for potential students, as he has made a commitment to develop his creativity and always maintained his focus on creativity, entrepreneurship and health and wellbeing.”

“He has made a fantastic contribution to our Trades Academy Programme Pikitoi with our secondary school students. I am sure Heremaia will do well pursuing his dreams.”

Conversation with winemaker led to study opportunity at EIT Te Pūkenga for student | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 mins ago

Casey Macintosh is enjoying the third year of her Bachelor of Viticulture & Wine Science at EIT | Te Pūkenga.

Casey Mackintosh was working in Wellington when a chance conversation with a Hawke’s Bay winemaker led to her enrolling at EIT | Te Pūkenga.

Currently a third year Bachelor of Viticulture & Wine Science student, the move seems to have paid off because Casey recently came second in the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey North Island Young Winemaker of the Year, following the competition held at Indevin’s Gimblett Gravels winery.

Originally from Northland, Casey’s wine journey began with a chance encounter in Wellington.

“I was working in Wellington in a pharmacy technician role, and I really enjoyed the chemistry aspect of it, but it was just kind of lacking the passion behind it. So I’ve always really liked wine, and I opted into a sales role in Wellington.”

“That’s when I met Gordon Russell, who was the Esk Valley winemaker at the time, and just the way he spoke about wine, incredibly passionate, prompted me to move to Hawke’s Bay two weeks later to pursue this wine career.”

“I just felt like the North Island was just a better fit for me. Hawke’s Bay is amazing and I just felt like I particularly liked Chardonnay. It’s also quite a long growing season and there’s a lot of different fruit in the area.”

Casey, 28, has not looked back since then and is loving the degree. While a fulltime student, she is still keeping her hand in by working at Villa Maria, which is now owned by Indevin.

“They’ve just given me a lot of opportunity to upskill and to keep challenging myself. So once I moved into the production side about three years ago, I started for my first vintage as cellar hand and absolutely loved it and sort of was able to organise to work vintages as well as study full-time.”

“So Villa kept me on as a part-time student during the off season, and in exchange, I would work vintage and every year I’ve managed to secure supervisor positions and just every year, they’ve just given me more and more opportunity to upskill. Yeah, they’ve been phenomenal.”

She says it has been challenging doing both.

“But I really enjoy learning the theory. The lecturers are amazing and passionate, but being able to actually see that happen in the winery has really flicked the switch for me.”

“It’s just kind of solidified those theory learnings into actual practical processes that happen in the winery, so it’s kind of really solidified what I’m learning and it’s been extremely helpful.”

Now working as a junior assistant winemaker at Villa Maria and is enjoying it.

“I am staying on with Villa, I hope to progress further and further into winemaking. I definitely want to get some overseas experience and be able to bring that back. I think it’s vital.”

“Although I joined the wine industry for the love of wine, I feel like I’ve stayed in it because of the people that I’ve met, and just extremely generous with knowledge and the kindness that I’ve been shown is incredible. People are really willing to share things with you if you are interested enough to learn about them,” says Casey.

Sue Blackmore, the Head of the School of Viticulture and Wine Science, said: “The Viticulture and Wine Science School congratulate Casey on her successes academically, professionally and in the Young Winemaker competition.”

“Casey will complete her degree at the end of this year but started study with us with the introductory Cellar Operations course in 2021. As part of her final year degree, she completed a research project on ‘Wine consumption and Behaviour of Gen Z in New Zealand’ that has been greeted with interest by the Wine Industry.”

“Well done, Casey!”

New EIT | Te Pūkenga art and design tutor encouraging students to create community connections | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

29 mins ago

Steph Barnett is enjoying her new role as EIT | Te Pūkenga art and design tutor in Tairāwhiti.

Encouraging students (ākonga) to action their learning outside of the classroom is the focus of new EIT | Te Pūkenga art and design tutor, Steph Barnett.

Steph, who describes herself as a “creative from day dot”, has recently joined the IDEAschool team in Tairāwhiti to teach the New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 3 and 4) programmes.

She brings with her a personal creative practice as well as experience as an educator, including in trauma-informed education. She is now focused on giving her akonga every opportunity to develop their skills and creativity.

“I’ve always loved art. My earliest happy memories are of creating. I’ve been varied in my creative and professional practice. I would definitely say that I like new challenges, and I really like cross-disciplinary practices.”

“One of the reasons why this role specifically appealed to me was that it is wide ranging. It’s printmaking, fashion design, graphic design, photography, and fine art. Those are all things that I get excited about, and it’s a bit of a taster for emerging creatives, to find out what is working for them, before they decide to go down one path.”

She says it is important for tutors to link what they are teaching in the classroom to the wider creative world.

“We need to be creating community connections and enabling our ākonga to see themselves outside of the classroom.”

Steph has a diverse background with her work in trauma-informed education and learning te reo Māori in a full-immersion course at Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

“Trauma-informed education is another passion of mine. It is around positive social change, community change, and definitely a huge part of my teaching ethos is recognising everyone’s potential to grow and to develop. The learning pathway looks different for different people.”

“The full immersion year was super impactful for me. It really shifted my perspective. I gained a much deeper appreciation for te ao Māori, and how powerful an indigenous perspective is. I think that a Māori lens on our global issues right now holds potential for healing and regenerative practice for our whole world. Especially in relation to climate change, wealth inequality and our relationship with technology and AI” 

As for her personal artistic practice, Steph is currently working towards having her own exhibition.

“It is centred around the female experience, and in particular looks at female cycles, like our menstruation, and then how that relates to our environmental and social context.”

“I celebrate growth in my work, this comes through in native plants and flowers of Aotearoa present in most of my work.”

Steph says she is loving her new position and credits her colleagues for supporting her and ākonga for being passionate about creativity.

“They are just so wonderful. They’re so supportive of each other, and they’re very impressive artists already. I feel like I’m learning so much from them.”

“They are comfortable with experimenting, pushing different ideas, dreaming big, and really aiming for a high standard in their work. They are also really open to trying new opportunities and saying yes.”

The Acting Head of IDEAschool, Sue Blackmore, said: “IDEAschool welcomes Steph to the team. She is a fantastic asset to EIT | Te Pūkenga, bringing with her a wealth of experience and strong relationships within the Tairāwhiti creative community.”

EIT | Te Pūkenga graduate named as Young Winemaker of the Year | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

15 mins ago

Alena Kamper, a graduate of the Viticulture & Wine Science Concurrent Degree at EIT | Te Pūkenga, is the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey North Island Young Winemaker of the Year.

Alena Kamper, a graduate of the Viticulture & Wine Science Concurrent Degree at EIT | Te Pūkenga, is the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey North Island Young Winemaker of the Year, following the competition held at Indevin’s Gimblett Gravels winery.

Not only did Alena, 22, who now works at Sacred Hill Winery, win the competition, but Casey Mackintosh, a current Bachelor of Viticulture & Wine Science  student came second.

Alena said she had been nervous to enter the competition, which made the win unexpected.

“I had heard great things about the competition and that it was a great way to make connections in the industry and to really challenge yourself.”

“At first I didn’t feel ready because I was quite new into the industry. It’s going to be my first year of full-time work. And then what got me over the line to apply was people were saying, it’s really a great place to learn and see what you don’t know.”

“They were talking about how they regretted not entering and so that made it seem less intimidating, which is what pushed me to apply.”

To win the competition, Alena had to prove her skills in a range of tasks from blending, wine market knowledge, cellar skills, wine tasting and an interview.

The awards dinner was held at Brookfields Winery where the contestants delivered their Fruitfed speeches, which focused on hot topics for the wine industry. Alena says her speech was on Hawke’s Bay neeing a new varietal to entice new age wine drinkers.

“it was a super cool topic. I really enjoyed writing that. I had a lot of fun with the speech. I was quite happy with the topic I got.”

For her efforts Alena won $1,000 cash, premium wines, a Dale Carnegie leadership course and an educational trip sponsored by Fruitfed Supplies. This trip will take place early next year.

Alena now goes on to represent the North Island in the National Final of the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year on 31 October at The Bone Line in Waipara, North Canterbury.

She says she is looking forward to the national competition, but realises it will be a step up.

Alena looks back at her time at EIT | Te Pūkenga with fondness, saying the programme was recommended to her by an old science teacher of hers at the school she attended, Sacred Heart College.

“I always loved science and did really well in that area at school. When I was about to leave high school, I was unsure of what I wanted to do. I wanted it to be science-based, but I didn’t want that to be the core of the degree. So when the teacher recommended the course, I signed up for it.”

“I was lacking knowledge in  wine and experience in wine but I loved it and I never looked back. I was really happy I made that decision.”

She says she loved the degree and was pleased that the lecturers gave one-on-one help to students.

“Some of our lecturers were from the industry, so they were teaching us real-life wine industry related content..”

“I think it was a really good, well-rounded degree and I think it was really easy to ask for help and receive help, which made it feel a little bit less intimidating when we’re going into study.”

Alena finished her degree last year, but only graduated this year because of Cyclone Gabrielle delays.

She wasted no time in getting employment in the industry. She did two vintages at Villa Maria and then got an opportunity to do one at Sacred Hill, where she was offered a permanent role as a cellar hand.

Sue Blackmore, the Head of the School of Viticulture and Wine Science at EIT | Te Pūkenga, said: “The Viticulture and Wine Science School congratulate Elena on both her success in the Young Winemaker but also forging ahead with her career in the Wine world. We aim to assist our graduates to find their feet quickly and find exciting career paths in an exciting NZ industry.”

Love of gardens lures mature student back into study at EIT | Te Pūkenga | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

Sophie Worsnop is now in a career she enjoys after graduating from EIT | Te Pūkenga.

A love of gardens and a desire to work outdoors led a mature student to overcome her nerves and study at EIT | Te Pūkenga.

Having left school in 2012, Sophie Worsnop worked in hospitality for ten years before COVID-19 lockdowns made her realise she wanted to work outdoors. She returned home from Australia and was attracted to the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) at EIT | Te Pūkenga. She followed that up with the NZ Certificate in Sustainable Primary Production (Level 4).

“I had wanted to go to university post high school. I graduated 2012, but I had a really bad injury and couldn’t go to school, so I couldn’t go to university. So I went and did hospitality and I got that hospitality bug and did it for 10 years.”

“I lived in Wellington and then got stuck in Melbourne through COVID-19 and decided that I hated being stuck inside. I found my biggest peace through all the lockdowns in Melbourne going to the botanical gardens. So I came home in July 2021 and didn’t really know what to do with my life. I knew that I didn’t want to stay in hospitality anymore just because of how COVID-19 had treated things.”

She says she happened to notice the horticulture programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga.

“I saw it and thought, ‘Oh, that’s something that I really love’. I was keen to work in gardens and work with people. I was a bit nervous about being an adult student but I thought I’d give it a go.

Having grown up on a farm, Sophie always had an interest in landscaping and gardening. This passion was cultivated in Melbourne where she had about 300 house plants during the lockdowns.

“I think really recognising the anxiety and frustration that being cooped up inside was giving me, made me really want to appreciate my outdoors. I was raised on a farm out in Tukituki so everyone’s always told me that I’m an earth baby. I’ve always enjoyed being out and tutu-ing around in the garden.”

“It’s always been there, but I don’t think I really ever thought about it as a career or furthering my education until after COVID-19.”

Sophie says she loved studying at EIT | Te Pūkenga and enjoyed learning from the tutors, whose passion, she says, was “second to none”.

“It was inspiring to help me let go of a lot of stress and anxiety and I guess the hustle of the world.”

“I think that industry works at the same rate as things grow. So in winter we get to slow down a little bit more because everything slows down and stops growing. And in summer we work a bit harder and faster because everything grows a bit harder and faster.”

She also says she found that she was well supported as a mature student.

Since finishing studying, Sophie has been working at garden and ground care specialists, Bark Limited. She is a team leader working in a number of retirement centres around Hawke’s Bay.

“Our shirts say Great Gardens, Great Service. And to me that’s the joy of bringing people and their gardens together, creating that network for them”.

Programme Coordinator Lisa Turnbull says: “It’s great to see a person with a passion for horticulture get a formal education and end up with a great job in the industry”.

Gerard Henry, programme tutor says: “The introductory Level 3 Horticulture programme offers so much more than growing and gardening skills but also an opportunity to rekindle or discover new practices and passion for the plant kingdom and the environment. Sophie is a fine example of a learner that was unsure where the programme might take her at the outset but eventually became focused toward the end of the course to seek new work opportunities.”

IDEAschool graduate named as finalist in national design competition | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 days ago

EIT | Te Pūkenga graduate Yenny Lopdell has been named as a finalist in the Best Design Awards.

A recent IDEAschool graduate at EIT | Te Pūkenga has been named as a finalist in New Zealand’s premier design competition.

Yenny Lopdell and her sustainable spatial screen ‘Sketsel’ is a finalist in the Student Product Category at The Best Design Awards by the Designers Institute of New Zealand.

The Best Design Awards is an annual showcase of excellence in Graphic, Spatial, Product, Digital and Moving Image along with three special awards – Value of Design, Public Good and Toitanga.

“It means a lot to me to be recognised as a finalist. At the beginning of the project, I would have never thought I would be entering, let alone become a finalist in any awards.”

‘Sketsel’ was Yenny’s final third year project.

Originally from Indonesia, Yenny incorporated the Javanese Batik pattern of ‘Parang’ into her work. The end result is a spatial screen using paper waste, which is formed together by the arrangement of intertwining diagonal S shapes.

“The screen is precisely cut with laser technology and assembled by hand. Lighting is also deeply considered so that when backlit, the complex spatial interplay diffuses light creating a range of exciting and dynamic tones on the screen surfaces.”

The 42-year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Practice (Design) earlier this year and is now working as a Graphic Designer at Napier-based design agency Band.

She first started the level 4 certificate in 2017 before embarking on the degree.

“I had been searching for what I wanted to do, and I came to the right place. EIT has helped me find my passion and understand how I can use where I’m from and extract that and incorporate it into my work. They have helped bring me out from no one to someone.”

Yenny says EIT | IDEAschool design lecturer James Smith encouraged her to make a submission.

“James was really helpful and guided me through the submission process.”

She is now planning to gift her screens to EIT | Te Pūkenga and is exploring what the possibilities are for Sketsel.

“I’m hoping this screen will inspire other students. The last project is important for the future and can open so many doors.”

EIT | Te Pūkenga Design Lecturer James Smith said: “Everyone at IDEAschool is immensely proud of Yenny and her remarkable accomplishments with her graduate project, ‘Sketsel’.”

“We witnessed her unwavering enthusiasm, effort, and dedication in creating these elegantly crafted, sustainable spatial object designs. Yenny’s well deserved recognition as a finalist in the Best Awards and as a top emerging designer in Aotearoa is a testament to her outstanding talent and commitment.”

 The Awards will be held on October 6.

Top EIT | Te Pūkenga researcher promoted to Associate Professor | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 mins ago

A Top EIT | Te Pūkenga academic has been promoted to Associate Professor in recognition of her internationally recognised research and academic leadership.

Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula, now an Associate Professor at EIT | Te Pūkenga School of Business, is well known for her research on the international student recruitment industry and sustainability.

She has been the author and co-editor of two books this year – Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education and Sustainable Education Abroad: Striving for Change.

EIT | Te Pūkenga Executive Director Glen Harkness congratulated Dr Nikula, saying: “Pii-Tuuliais an internationally recognised researcher and innovative educator with extensive industry, teaching and research experience in the fields of management, sustainability, higher education and international education.”

 “Pii-Tuulia is a good examples of the depth of research talent EIT | Te Pūkenga has and has brought much recognition for our research capabilities at EIT | Te Pūkenga.”

“With talent like this in our Professoriate, research at EIT | Te Pūkenga is in good health.”

Dr Nikula says she is excited to have been promoted.

“I want to acknowledge my academic and industry referees for their support. I’d also like to thank everyone who has supported, inspired and guided me throughout my academic journey, including my students, colleagues, managers, and academic and industry collaborators.”

“I’ll continue my leadership with the goal of making a positive impact at EIT and beyond!”

Dr Nikula teaches courses in sustainable organisations, global strategies and research methods and supervises under- and postgraduate level students. She also has extensive experience in course and curriculum design and programme and course coordination roles.

Before her academic career, Nikula worked as an entrepreneur and held management and leadership roles within the international student recruitment sector.

She is co-founder of Climate Action Network for International Educators (www.canie.org) and is the Chair of the School of Business and School of Computing Research Committee. She also serves as an editorial board member for Higher Education Quarterly and as an associate editor for Higher Education Research and Development and Journal of International Students.