NZMA and Waikato-Tainui partnering for future generations

16 April 2019 –  A strategic partnership between New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA) and Waikato-Tainui will ensure future generations of Iwi learners gain access to quality education pathways, appropriate support and sustainable employment.

NZMA is a Category 1 private training establishment, and has been in the Waikato region for over a decade, firmly believing in changing lives through vocational education programmes.  With a brand-new campus in Hamilton, aimed at attracting and retaining students, a partnership with Waikato-Tainui will provide tribal members with wide-ranging support and a number of programmes to engage learners.

With new Iwi Influenced Investment funding from the Tertiary Education Commission, NZMA is working closely with the Waikato-Tainui to develop tailored programmes and employment pathways through the Iwi to jointly identify tertiary education goals and support broader cultural, social, environmental and economic aspirations.  Waikato-Tainui will provide a cohort of learners and pastoral support, and NZMA will provide the programmes and qualifications.  Both organisations will work together to provide strong and sustainable employment pathways.

NZMA Chief Executive Officer, Mark Worsop said, “The aim is to empower our students to achieve their goals, become role models within their communities, and to transition to sustainable employment”.

With a new campus designed to ensure teaching environments are conducive to hands-on and active learning, Mark continued, “The opportunity is to blend the best teaching and learning practices with the cultural leadership and manaakitanga of Waikato-Tainui and other key stakeholders, is one to embrace.  It’s an exciting time for NZMA and the Waikato community.”

NZMA as the education provider will be responsible for learning methods, all forms of delivery, accountability and reporting of educational performance.  Waikato-Tainui and NZMA will work together to develop a bespoke pastoral care approach that recognises the services that are already in place through NZMA and will add components to be supported by Waikato-Tainui during the agreement.

Raewyn Mahara General Manager, Education and Career Pathways said, “Waikato-Tainui is invested in ensuring all tribal learners achieve at minimum a Level 4 Tertiary qualification in a sustainable career pathway that will lead to meaningful employment.”

“This partnership is a part of our strategy Te Mana Maatauranga which aims to create meaningful and reciprocal partnerships with others to better serve our tribal learners and give them a quality pathway education experience, working with NZMA will support us to achieve this,” she said.

Waikato-Tainui will support all registered tribal members who study in Hamilton or South Auckland in a one-to-one and group mentoring programme, and support NZMA staff by providing cultural learning.