The Auto Zone: Where collaboration sparks Automotive Learning

That vision has come to life with The Auto Zone — a vibrant space designed to connect automotive ākonga (students) with the resources that power their learning.

Born from a collaboration between School of Trades and Services and Library teams at our Mt Albert Campus, The Auto Zone now sits proudly within Te Puna (B180), transforming a once underutilised section of the main library into a dynamic hub for automotive ākonga.

The initiative was born in response to student feedback that they wanted more resources to stimulate their learning journeys and increase engagement between automotive students and the library.

When Unitec Academic Programme Manager Bryan Davis connected Lecturer Ian Green with Subject Librarian (Pacific) Sana Saleem, the conversation quickly shifted from improving a display to reimagining how students engage with knowledge.

“After looking at the area together, we came up with ways to bring some life back into that section,” Mr Green says.

Together, they transformed a simple display table into The Auto Zone — a car-themed space featuring workshop props like headlights and tyres, instantly bridging the gap between theory and hands-on practice. A vibrant green noticeboard now anchors the space, sharing useful information, publications, and opportunities tailored specifically for automotive ākonga.

But The Auto Zone is more than eye-catching design. It represents purposeful collaboration. Ms Saleem, in her new liaison role with Trades and Services, has been building strong connections with teaching staff through talanoa — open, meaningful conversations focused on student success. Through these discussions, it became clear that while automotive students are plentiful, the library’s rich collection was often overlooked and underutilised.

“Many of our students did not realise how valuable the resources are, especially the Haynes manuals that help with the DIY repairs they often do on weekends,” Mr Green says.

By actively promoting these resources, alongside industry-leading materials from Bosch, the library is ensuring students can access high-quality technical information aligned with real-world industry standards.

“We also rescued a number of archived books that, while older, are still very relevant and useful for students, and placed them within easy reach in the workshop foyer so students can access them anytime,” Ian Green says.

“The space feels familiar, practical, and welcoming,” says Ms Saleem. “It’s a space that reflects the identity of our learners which tells them the library is not separate from the workshop — it is an extension of it.”

Ms Saleem says they have created an environment where automotive ākonga can engage more deeply, learn more confidently, and see the direct connection between their studies and their future careers.

The Auto Zone is collaboration in action which puts our students firmly in the driver’s seat of their learning journey.