“My qualification isn’t my trauma”
Turning a fight for treatment into advocacy for others.
From a life of addiction to becoming a beacon of hope for others
Jessica Apanui on becoming the support she once so badly needed.
Can Artificial Intelligence help solve sustainability issues?
Creating innovative solutions aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals is the theme of a three-day GenAI Hackathon hosted this week by Unitec, in collaboration with AI company Promptech and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Taharangi appointed to champion Māori at Unitec
Vivienne Merito (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko) is our new Taharangi (Director – Māori Success).
Fijian senior lecturer wins prestigious award for backing Pasifika learners to thrive
Jone Tawaketini, who teaches in Unitec’s Bachelor of Applied Technology programme, has become the first lecturer at our institute to receive Le Moana Mua Award.
Senior Medical Imaging lecturer wins national award for creating powerful learning experiences
A Unitec kaiako has received recognition for his teaching approaches to what he calls ‘taking students on a fascinating journey inside the human body.’
Unitec student and staff team off to Tonga for annual veterinary clinic
Planning is well underway for the annual Tonga veterinary clinic, which will see a group of 24 Unitec ākonga, kaimahi, veterinarians and veterinary nurses based in a Tongan village for one week in December to support the work of South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW).
Shaping student success with Senior Lecturer Sanjeev Vellore Ranganathan
Students of Unitec's Internship Based Learning (IBL) programme share insights into what makes Senior Lecturer Sanjeev such a guiding light – in the classroom and beyond.
Mastering the art of juggling many balls
Romy Sunny, Unitec’s events and communications business partner, is the mastermind behind this year’s Open Day, slated to be one of Unitec’s most successful ever.
Unitec celebrates its biggest ever Open Day
Unitec attracted record numbers to its recent Open Day, with nearly a thousand people touring its Mt Albert and Waitākere campuses.
Celebrating high achievers in postgraduate research
Four Unitec students have received recognition for achieving A+ results in their Master’s programmes.
Cultural exchange strengthens Unitec’s partnership with key Hebei-based institution
A group of students from Unitec partner institution Hebei University of Engineering (HUE) have learnt how to create their own pounamu, cook boil up and fry bread and make and perform poi after a week-long cultural exchange at Unitec recently.
WestConnect: Connecting Unitec’s Social Practice Ākonga and Kaimahi with Industry Partners
The recent WestConnect event held at Unitec’s Waitākere campus provided a compelling platform for nearly 30 Auckland-based organisations to connect with ākonga from Bachelor of Social Practice and New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing programmes, along with kaimahi from the School of Healthcare and Social Practice.
Knowledge is in Your Hands
Acting ākonga find their voice with Chinese opera in Shanghai
Four Unitec acting ākonga from Unitec’s School of Creative Industries have returned from China after attending a three-week summer intensive at the Shanghai Theatre Academy(STA) in June, a longstanding partner of Unitec.
From Night Classes to National Acclaim – Championing Women in Carpentry
Courtney Willan has been a trailblazer since embarking on her first carpentry course in 2020, starting with a woodworking night class at a local high school. She then advanced to a Level 3 pre-trade carpentry course at Unitec and is currently pursuing a Level 4 certificate in carpentry through an apprenticeship with Edgecity Builders.
Tenth anniversary Beijing Polytechnic College partnership celebrated
Beijing Polytechnic College and Unitec celebrated ten years of successful partnership with the renewal of their Memorandum of Understanding last week.
High-flying futsal fan credits scholarship for landing dream role
Jeron Gwaite’e was the first member of his family to go on to tertiary study after leaving school, and he credits the Manaaki scholarship programme with helping him secure a life-changing opportunity.
Adam Collett – From Grief to Graduation
Please be aware that this story addresses personal experiences related to grief, depression, and suicidal ideation.
In the Aotea Centre auditorium, new architects step into the future. Among them is Adam Collett, a Unitec graduate with a Master in Architecture, whose academic accomplishments demonstrate extraordinary perseverance.
Advanced Energy Technology Research Prepares Ākonga for High-Tech Careers
An advanced energy technology programme is training technicians for the electric, cryogenic and superconducting trucks, ships, trains and planes of the near future
Unitec strengthens ties with Hebei Province
A recent visit by key executives from Hebei Bureau of Education and key local universities in Hebei Province in China has strengthened Unitec’s relationship with the region.
Exhibition celebrates success of Pacific artists from Unitec’s Creative Industries
A new art exhibition opening celebrates the success of current and past students of Pacific heritage from Unitec’s School of Creative Industries in Auckland.
Social worker comes full circle out West
Genevieve Sang-Yum, embodying hope in the face of New Zealand’s family violence statistics, educates future social workers at Unitec’s Waitakere campus, bridging theory with real-world practice to inspire impactful change.
Whaikaha’s New Innovative Learning Space at Unitec
The Whaikaha/Supported Learning team threw open the doors to their brand-new, purpose-built learning facility during an Open Day celebration at Te Puna, welcoming friends and whānau. It’s been a long journey for the team, as they navigated their growth and evolution across the Mt Albert campus over the years.
Exploring New Horizons: From the Netherlands to New Zealand
As young adults, many of us dream of independence and the opportunity to carve out our own paths. For Renée Cox from HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, this dream took the shape of a semester abroad at Unitec in New Zealand.
Practical skills lead to third place win for international postgraduate student
International student Thanh An Le is nearing the end of his Master’s in Applied Technologies (Computing). With a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Technology in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Thanh says the best part of studying at Unitec is improving his skills beyond traditional lecture halls. Recently, he proved that by taking out third place at the Smart Sustainable Development (SSD) 2024 alongside Unitec’s Dr Masoud Shakiba and Dr Iman Ardekani.
Unitec School of Architecture Students Named Dulux Colour Awards finalists
The finalists for the 38th annual Dulux Colour Awards have been announced by this year’s judging panel. A stunning 83 projects were chosen from a record 527 entries, as judged by five design industry professionals from New Zealand and Australia, and two Unitec Bachelor of Architecture students, Henry Newberry, Abigail Spence are among the New Zealand finalists.
Celebrations brings Unitec Whānau together
Graduation week at Unitec – Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka has been alive with activities and celebrations that brought together our community in meaningful ways. Firstly, the Pacific celebration, then Kahurangi, followed by the Autumn 2024 Graduation ceremony at the Aotea Centre where 786 proud ākonga crossed the stage, with a total of 1,517 graduating overall.
The World is Your Oyster as a Qualified Plumber, Says Senior Lecturer.
Over three decades ago, John Pepere completed his plumbing apprenticeship at Unitec. After 20 years working overseas, he came back to where it all started – to share his knowledge with the next generation.
Award-winning lead designer talks furniture, the future and fun
Corren Awheto: from teenage Mum to top nursing graduate
Corren Awheto says it was the support she received as a teenage mum that inspired her to pursue nursing and her determination to work with other young mums.
Unitec | Te Pūkenga Chill Zone Engages at PolyFest
The ASB Polyfest 2024, a celebration of New Zealand's diverse cultures and youth performance, took place with great success, showcasing traditional music, dance, costume, and cultural speech competitions.
Unitec Professor Collaborates on Global Climate Change Project
At the end of 2023, Dr Matthew Bradbury spent four months at the Politecnico de Milano, working on a research project in Agro Pontino – a vast reclaimed wetland south of Rome. The focus? To investigate and address future flooding and help develop innovative remediation strategies.
Bridging Education courses prove popular as alternate path into tertiary education
Unitec | Te Pūkenga bridging education courses are proving valuable in helping school leavers and career changers progress into tertiary education.
Unitec | Te Pūkenga welcomes Beijing Dance Academy back to Mt Albert Campus
Unitec | Te Pūkenga welcomed representatives from the Beijing Dance Academy to the Mt Albert campus on Tuesday 12 March for their first visit since the COVID-19 pandemic.














