Ammunson set to take on executive job at Te Pukenga

Wairarapa local Paora Ammunson has been appointed deputy chief executive for tiriti [treaty] outcomes at the polytech super-body Te Pukenga.

Ammunson is moving to Te Pukenga from his current role as Tertiary Education Commission deputy chief executive.

Te Pukenga was created in 2020 through a merger of New Zealand’s sixteen institutes of technology and polytechs – including Wairarapa’s UCOL Campus, which officially merged with the education provider last year.

The organisation has had a string of deputy chief executives resign soon after joining.

Richard Forgan quit after two months on February 2023, Meeran Davis quit after eight months in April 2021, and chief financial officer Matthew Walker quit after three months in September last year.

Last year, then-chief executive Stephen Town also left the organisation after weeks of national controversy arising from him taking unspecified personal leave while
earning over $670,000 a year.

Despite the recent troubles, Ammunson said he was looking forward to joining the education provider.

“I’m excited by the opportunity to support the establishment of Te Pukenga to help Wairarapa and New Zealand grow.

“My first job out of university was head of Maori Studies at Wairarapa Polytech, so I’m passionate about developing industry training, especially in the regions,” he said.

He said the national polytech merger will allow Wairarapa to leverage courses at scale, meaning it will be financially easier to fund a broader range of courses in Wairarapa with fewer students.

Ammunson said Te Pukenga was established with a legislated mandate to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Maori text.

“That is a significant opportunity to think differently about how we partner with hapu [sub-tribes] to shift the system so that it delivers for our rangatahi [youth].”

Chief executive Peter Winder said tiriti outcomes will set the direction and guide continuous improvement in tiriti excellence across Te Pukenga.

“Paora’s deep commitment and experience to driving progress will help us realise our pursuit of equity and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“His relationships across Wellington, government, the tertiary sector, including with Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and his background in working with and for iwi organisations will bring significant and valued expertise to our leadership team,” Winder said.

Ammunson will begin his role on March 6.