New Executive Directors welcomed in Taranaki

This week WITT | Te Pūkenga welcomed Olivia Hall (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitane, Ngāti Kuia) and Mark Oldershaw to Taranaki as the recently appointed Tumu Whenua ā-Rohe 3 | Executive Directors, Region 3.

“The appointment of Olivia and Mark as co-leads for our region, signifies a new huarahi for this kura that has been part of the Taranaki landscape for 50 years. While there are challenges uniting 26 entities into one, those challenges are well worth the opportunities this community and employers will gain,” says WITT Te Pūkenga Deputy Chief Executive Allie Hemara-Wahanui.  

The four-day Taranaki stop included meeting with Taranaki-based Te Pūkenga kaimahi including those at New Plymouth and Hāwera campuses. 

While Olivia is based in Nelson and Mark in Wellington, the pair have day-to-day relationships with Te Pūkenga kaimahi in Taranaki. They also expect to spend time working at campuses across the region, including WITT | Te Pūkenga.

“I know Olivia and Mark are looking forward to many more trips up our way and working with the wider Taranaki community who have supported this kura over the past 50 years,” says Allie Hemara-Wahanui. 

Olivia was previously Executive Director for NMIT (Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology) | Te Pūkenga, while Mark was Executive Director at Whitireia and WelTec (Wellington Institute of Technology) | Te Pūkenga.  

"Together Olivia and Mark will lead their region’s kaimahi to transform the way vocational education and training is delivered. They will build partnerships with Hapū, Iwi, employers, local communities and stakeholders, including Regional Skills Leadership Groups," says Te Pūkenga Pourangi Ako | DCE Ako Delivery Gus Gilmore.  

"To begin with they’ll be responsible for online and on-campus delivery, but they’ll work closely with the WBL Managing Director and our rohe 3 work-based learning kaimahi.  

"Te Pūkenga has four operational regions and will have regional co-leads in each. These roles are a key way we will put into action the partnership between Māori and Te Pūkenga." 

Rohe 3 | Region 3 includes Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Te Tauihu-o-te-Waka a Māui Top of the South Island.  

For over nine years, Olivia has dedicated her time and energy to the success of NMIT kaimahi and ākonga, including roles as Academic Staff Member, Curriculum Manager, Director Māori and Executive Director. Olivia is also the Board Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua, and the Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group of the National Iwi Chairs Forum. Olivia has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Māori, Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning and a Master of Business Administration from Massey University.   

“I am confident Mark and I will provide a strong voice for the needs of Te Tauihu, Te Whanganui-ā-Tara, Whanganui, Horowhenua and Taranaki. I am also really looking forward to crossing the strait regularly to visit our campuses in Rohe 3 and to spend time with the kaimahi who make such a difference to our ākonga and communities," says Olivia Hall.  

Mark joined Whitireia and WelTec in 2020. Prior to becoming Chief Executive at Whitireia and WelTec, he held a range of chief executive and senior leadership roles across the public, private and tertiary sectors, including Chief Executive of the Industry Training Federation and Deputy Chief Executive, Acting Chief Executive of Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT). He has a postgraduate degree in economics from Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University and a master’s degree in Public Administration through the Australia New Zealand School of Government.  

"Olivia and I are excited to get to know our regional kaimahi, and deepen our relationships with Te Tiriti partners, regional employers, and education leaders. As a community, we can enable greater access for ākonga to undertake their learning as they balance life, work and study,” says Mark Oldershaw.  

Both Olivia and Mark have deep sector experience and are well-connected with iwi.

Wharehoka Wano was on the appointments panel on behalf of Taranaki iwi and joined other iwi and Te Pūkenga leadership in the appointment of Olivia and Mark.