Listen Now: 
Manukau Institutute of Technology is celebrating 20 years since the opening of its marae with a refresh and a review of the institute’s commitment to Māori.
Deputy chief executive Robert Sullivan says over the past year it has dramatically improved completion and retention rates for Māori and Pasifika students enrolled in trades and engineering courses through the Hokule’a early advisement programme.
Critical to MIT's outreach to Māori is Ngā Kete Wānanga, which he says is an open hearted gateway to the institution.
The marae will be rededicated on Thursday morning with the unveiling of a new poutokomanawa carved by Fred Harrison, son of the late tohunga whakairo Pakariki Harrison, the master carver of the whare.
"So the old poutokomanawa, which also depicted Tūmatatauenga and Tamatewānanga also had a bit of a crack at the top so we decided to install the new pou and it's quite a mighty creation," Dr Sullivan says.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
