NorthTec facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
NorthTec

Tai Tokerau Wānanga
Former names	Northland Community College (1978–1987), Northland Polytechnic (1987–2006)
Type	Public NZ TEI
Established	1978
Academic staff	182 FTE Tutors
Students	7,835 students or 3,221 EFTS
Location	Northland Region , New Zealand
Campus	Whangarei, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Dargaville

NorthTec (also known as Tai Tokerau Wānanga) is a school for older students in northern New Zealand. Its main campus is in Raumanga, Whangarei. NorthTec offers many courses. You can study for certificates, diplomas, and even degrees. These degrees are checked by the country. They can help you go on to study at universities later. NorthTec also works with businesses and industries in New Zealand.

NorthTec's History and Growth

NorthTec started as Northland Community College. It opened its own campus in Raumanga Valley, Whangarei, on April 1, 1978. Its main goal was to teach trade skills and offer community classes. Noel Harrison was the first leader.

The college grew quickly. It helped supply skilled workers to Refining NZ at Marsden Point. By 1981, it offered over 50 different courses. In 1983, the college began taking over nurse training from Northland Base Hospital.

In 1989, the Whangarei District Council created the Northland University Foundation. Their aim was to start a university in Northland. Today, NorthTec offers six bachelor's degrees that are like university degrees. Many courses here can count towards degrees at other schools.

By the mid-1980s, other private schools started offering similar courses. This led the college to offer more advanced and academic classes. In 1988, it became a polytechnic and was called Northland Polytechnic for 17 years. Later in 1988, it offered degrees and diplomas that were very good quality.

In 1990, Northland Polytechnic made a deal with the University of Waikato. This meant courses taught at Northland Polytechnic could count towards degrees at that university. By 2006, similar deals were made with other universities. These included Massey University and Auckland University of Technology.

NorthTec has staff with high academic qualifications. Many have master's or doctor's degrees. A Council guides NorthTec and supports its Chief Executive. The current Council Chair is Vern Dark.

On April 1, 2020, NorthTec joined the New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology. This group includes 15 other Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs).

NorthTec Campuses and Learning Centres

NorthTec has campuses and learning centres all over Northland. The main campus is in Whangarei. There are also campuses and centres in Dargaville, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, and Kerikeri.

Whangarei Campus Facilities

NorthTec's main campus is on Raumanga Valley Road in Whangarei. The Raumanga campus has a park-like setting. Its facilities include:

• Library
• Health Centre
• Student Cafe
• The Apprentice Restaurant – a training restaurant open to the public
• Hair and Beauty Salon – a training salon open to the public
• Geoff Wilson Art Gallery

Classes are also taught at other places in Whangarei, like Future Trades and ASB Stadium.

Dargaville Campus Focus

NorthTec Dargaville focuses on trades and land-based training. You can study things like: Agriculture, Construction, Forestry, Horticulture, and Hospitality.

Kaikohe Campus Offerings

The NorthTec Kaikohe campus opened in a new spot on September 19, 2016. Areas of study include: Agriculture, Automotive Engineering, Business, Construction, Forestry, Horticulture, Social Services, and Te Reo.

Kaitaia Campus Courses

NorthTec's northernmost campus is on Oxford Street in Kaitaia. The Kaitaia Learning Centre offers courses from horticulture to business. You can also study construction and social services. The campus has classrooms, a computer room, and two large workshops for hands-on trade programs.

Kerikeri Campus Partnership

NorthTec’s Bay of Islands campus, Te Pou o Manako, is on Hone Heke Road in Kerikeri. It reopened in 2018. This happened in partnership with local Māori groups, after it closed in December 2017.

Rawene Learning Centre

The Rawene Learning Centre closed in December 2017. The campus is still open for community groups. It is on Nimmo Street, in the small historic town of Rawene.

Auckland Campus for International Students

The Auckland campus is mainly for international students. It is located on Queen Street in Auckland.

Programmes and Study Areas

NorthTec offers over 90 courses at different levels. These include Bachelor's degrees, Diplomas, Certificates, and Graduate diplomas. Some of the subjects you can study are:

NorthTec's Diverse Student Body

In 2011, NorthTec taught 7,835 students. About 46% of these students have Māori ancestors. Māori culture is a big part of NorthTec's activities. This is shown by the Te Puna o Te Matauranga Marae (Māori meeting house) complex on the Whangarei campus.

Students from other countries also come to NorthTec. They come from places like China, Japan, India, the USA, and North Africa. They study English, hospitality, business, nursing, and other courses. Many of these students do not speak English as their first language. They are also new to the local culture. NorthTec has an active International Office to help them. This office offers English classes. It also has peer mentors who know about East Asian cultures. Sometimes, older students from similar backgrounds can help too.

About 40% of the students attend classes at the main campus in Whangarei. This campus is about 160 km north of Auckland. The rest of the students go to the regional campuses listed above.