Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) has signed a formal agreement with Murihiku Regeneration, a group representing the four papatipu rūnanga (ancestral land guardians) of Southland, with the goal of making stronger connections with the Māori community. 

The collaboration agreement, signed in January, is the culmination of a series of discussions over the past year between SIT Management, led by Dr. Keri Milne-Ihimaera, SIT’s General Manager of Māori Development, and Murihiku Regeneration Upoko (leadership), Michael Skerrett. 

SIT and Murihiku Regeneration have agreed to work collaboratively to plan, design and implement programmes to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, focusing on three key areas. 

These are; to explore Secondary Tertiary Partnership opportunities to ensure a smoother transition for Māori youth into SIT programmes, to assist SIT to link with the four papatipu rūnanga to work collaboratively to include more local Māori knowledge in SIT programmes and delivery, and to align programmes to local industry need and innovation, in order to develop effective learner pathways. 

Dr. Milne-Ihimaera said SIT is keen to develop stronger relationships with its Māori community and the agreement is one way of demonstrating that commitment. 

Established to work closely and collaboratively with the crown and be a voice in the Treaty of Waitangi partnership, Murihiku Regeneration say their function is to ensure a clear, coherent plan for a prosperous Southland. 

Improved educational outcomes for Māori in southern communities endorses that vision, they say. 

SIT Chief Executive Onno Mulder, says he is delighted with the collaboration.

“We look forward to working together to improve Māori participation in vocational education at SIT, as well as improving learning experiences and course completion rates. Currently, 14% of SIT total learners identify as being Māori.” 

Mulder says the collaboration agreement will also help drive a greater involvement of local Māori knowledge in SIT programme development and delivery. 

“Progress to date, has been the creation of the Māori Development GM position, the signing of this agreement, and the employment of key staff to focus on the outcomes of the agreement,” he says.