Skills Active Aotearoa launches new tertiary education organisation

Skills Active Aotearoa has today officially launched its new tertiary education organisation, Te Mahi Ako – aimed at providing high-quality, tailored services to support real-life learning and workforce development within Kiwi businesses, iwi and communities.  

The independent tertiary education organisation will take over the Skills Active mahi (Maori for work) of the past 30 years.

Skills Active and Te Mahi Ako interim Chief Executive Maren Frerichs advises “after two years of hard work, planning, consultations, application processes, new systems, brand creation, and many press releases, we are finally there.

“Today is an apt moment to reflect on what this new organisation is about, and our aspirations for ourselves and our learners.

“As we switch from an industry training organisation to an independent provider, we’re adjusting our approach slightly, although our staunch commitment to our learners remains the same.

“At Te Mahi Ako, our mission is to help learners unlock their potential and realise their ambitions for themselves, their whanau (Māori for extended family), their customers and their communities.

“We want to stand out as an organisation that gives effect to Te Tiriti, fuels a passion for lifelong learning, and supports ākonga (Maori for students) and workforce success through flexible, tailored learning.”

Frerichs adds “the wero (Maori for challenge) for us now is to do right by the kaupapa (Maori for a principle or policy) that saw the creation of Skills Active 30 years ago. The same kaupapa  which more recently inspired us and our industries to pursue this new, independent path. This is the work we love, and the sectors we care about, so we can’t wait to get stuck in.”