The new Minister of Tertiary Education Paul Goldsmith was keen to learn about Te Wānanga o Aotearoa during a recent visit to Hamilton.

Te Taiurungi Jim Mather, Te Taituara John Whaanga and Te Waenga Hoe Whakatere Jocelyn Mikaere met with Mr Goldsmith at Mangakōtukutuku campus on March 1.

Te Taiurungi provided an overview of TWoA to the minister, who started his role in Prime Minister Bill English’s new-look cabinet last December.

The overview looked at the stability of the organisation in responding to changes in the education sector and the wants and needs of our tauira.

Te Taiurungi explained the purpose of TWoA and our focus - tauira success - and how we have a number of cultural, community and commercial outcomes that we want to achieve through Te Pae Tawhiti, our 10-year strategic plan.

Te Taituarā talked about the sustainability of TWoA in the future and how there are exciting opportunities ahead in terms of our programme provision and delivery and partnerships.

The minister, who wrote notes through much of the meeting, was particularly interested in TWoA’s provision of Youth Guarantee programmes, of which TWoA is the biggest provider in New Zealand.

Mr Goldsmith is returning for another meeting with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Tāmaki Makaurau next month.