A talk with Paora Ammunson, Janine Kapa and Warwick Pitts from Te Pūkenga, presented as a part of the ‘Tū Mai Te Tiriti’ | ‘Upraising the Treaty in Tertiary Education’ seminars from Tuia Te Ako 2023. 

Paora Ammunson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Rārua, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rongomai)

Paora is the Deputy Chief Executive for Tiriti Outcomes at Te Pūkenga and was most recently the Deputy Chief Executive for Equity at the Tertiary Education Commission. Paora’s tertiary leadership journey began over 30 years ago, and he is a passionate believer in making a positive difference in our communities via equitable access to education. Paora is an advocate for Tiriti excellence and growing mātauranga Māori and mātauranga a-hapu, ā-iwi. 

Janine Kapa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha)

Janine is currently the Kaikōkiri (Director), Te Pae Tawhiti in Tiriti Outcomes at Te Pūkenga. In this role, Janine leads the integration and implementation of Te Pae Tawhiti – Te Tiriti o Waitangi Excellence Framework – across Te Pūkenga. Janine has been passionately involved in Māori education for over 30 years – in the compulsory and tertiary sectors; from the classroom to the board room; locally, regionally and nationally. With a background also in social research, project management, communications and strategic development, Janine co-founded Kia Māia Bicultural Communications in 1999, and has held Māori leadership roles at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (2003-2005), the University of Otago (2007-2017) and Otago Polytechnic (2017-2022). Aoraki matatū!

Warwick Pitts

Warwick is the Kaikokiri Director Learner Strategy and Experience at Te Pūkenga. He joined Te Pūkenga in July 2021 and has led the development of the organisation’s Equity and Ākonga Success Strategy, which provides a roadmap for how Te Pūkenga seeks to create equitable access, participation and success for all ākonga. It describes how, through system level change, Te Pūkenga will remove barriers to ākonga success through changes in learner support, qualification design, kaimahi and employer capability, and through an increased understanding of ākonga socio-cultural and financial realities. He has over 20 years senior management experience in the tertiary sector, across ākonga success, product management and development, enterprise strategy, quality and marketing portfolios.