Study with us
Meet some Open Polytechnic students.
Since he was a child, Vinesh Chand has always been fascinated by electronics. After finishing high school in Fiji, Vinesh moved to New Zealand to complete an engineering diploma.
Michelle Wire wanted a qualification that would kick start her journey towards obtaining a degree, so she chose the Open Polytechnic Certificate in Tertiary Study Skills (Level 4).
After 20 years working as a joiner by trade, Jason Pentecost (Ngai Tahu) felt it was time to put a qualification behind his experience and move to the next level of his career.
Andrew Wood wanted to challenge himself and get back into tertiary study so he enrolled with the Open Polytechnic. He chose the Diploma in Environmental Management as he wanted to study something which was both relevant to his work in the Council and which would also allow him to further explore his interest in the environment.
Crissina Toia’s main motivation in life is her family. So completing her New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) Legal Executive diploma was a proud moment for her.
Open Polytechnic Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management graduate, Henry Koia, has had an exciting and varied career; one which he believes would not have been possible without his commitment to continued higher learning.
Jennifer Dabney has had an interest in civil engineering for as long as she can remember. As soon as she finished secondary school she began study at university but other commitments prevented her from continuing at that time. Jennifer moved on with her life making a promise to herself she would do her degree when the time was right.
Open Polytechnic Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) graduate, Charlotte Green (Te Aitanga-A-Mahaki/ Tuhoe) says finishing her degree was ‘the best feeling in the world’.
Originally from Germany Anja came to New Zealand in her early 20’s and never looked back. 11 years later she’s about to graduate with a Bachelor of Applied
Science majoring in Psychology at Open Polytechnic’s Wellington graduation Ceremony and knows her future is just starting.
The drive to succeed and “just keep going” kept Open Polytechnic Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil Engineering) graduate, Stephanie Browning, motivated as she juggled finishing her degree on top of full time work, getting married and having a baby
After 13 years managing night clubs and restaurants Lucy Hallett, Open Polytechnic Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) student, says watching her three year old son develop and grow inspired her to want to become an early childhood teacher.
A few years ago Ann-Maree Kingi, a Team Leader for a Chartered Accounting firm in the Bay of Islands, realised that to become a Chartered Accountant she would need a qualification.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Management from distance learning provider the Open Polytechnic has taken her one step closer to her goal.
In his job as a Shift Manager at Summit Wool Spinners in Oamaru Colin Perkins works with a wide variety of people. He was keen to progress in his career and gain skills to help him be more effective.
“I’d had experiences where I needed to help people on a psychological level, but I lacked the skills. So I decided to study to expand my knowledge and to improve my career options.”
Dwayne Petricevich, Te Aupouri, likes having fun, travelling and playing sport. So when he needed to study for his career in the electrical industry he chose distance education with the Open Polytechnic.
“I wanted to get a qualification that I could use around the world should I choose to travel. I’ve always been interested in this area and this qualification allows me options should I decide to go out on my own later on.”
Erica Alefosio is a firm believer in the power of education to change lives. She’s studying with the Open Polytechnic to progress her career in the legal profession, and at the same time role modelling good study habits to her children.
Wanting to get the best of both worlds, Hana Whaanga enrolled with the Open Polytechnic so she could have the freedom to choose where and when she studied while she earned a living doing what she loves, working for the community as a librarian.
Hana, who is of Ngati Kahungunu descent, first tried studying a different field with a local university. But attending classes full-time while working part-time took her too far away from her real love of being immersed in the library profession.
After spending 30 years working as a theatre nurse Helen Howser decided to follow her interest in education and moved into a job as the Educator at Waikato Hospital’s Sterile Services Unit.
The job required some additional qualifications, but study had to be fitted around the job and a busy life, so Helen turned to distance study with the Open Polytechnic.
When Papakowhai School took over the running of their after school programme from a private provider it could have been a huge headache.
But good planning, great staff, and access to staff training by distance through the Open Polytechnic has seen the programme continue to grow.
When she took up study with the Open Polytechnic solo Mum Janelle Wilson wanted to show her five kids that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Wanting a better education to improve his family’s standard of living and open up his career prospects, Jimmy Funaki took up studies with the Open Polytechnic. After hard work and determination, Jimmy succeeded in his efforts, graduating with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting.
Wanting to upskill and find a career she would enjoy, Mikala Ebbett took on the ambitious task of studying full-time towards a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) while simultaneously raising three boys and working 40 hours a week.
For Uru, setting goals and achieving them is a skill he’s pleased to have mastered, and the benefits of this will pay off when he graduates with a Bachelor of Business from Open Polytechnic at their Auckland graduation ceremony this month.
Uru, a front line Sergeant for New Zealand Police decided to enrol in a Bachelor of Business as he knew it would be useful for both his career in the Police force and also for other jobs in the future.
Open Polytechnic Certificate in Manufacturing Jewellery (L3) student, Nick Hensman is well on his way to making a significant mark in the jewellery design and manufacturing industry.
Pam McKirdy wanted a basic qualification in library studies so she could start a new career after taking time out to raise her two now-school-age children. She chose to study with the Open Polytechnic because of the flexibility, and because the papers seemed useful and interesting.
“I liked that the materials were available in print, not just online. It means I can take my reading to the playground, to work or just work through them at home. And having print materials means I can make notes or highlight points that are interesting or important.”
Rankin Young decided to study with Open Polytechnic when he realised the managers at his workplace all had a higher education.
“I’ve always been in the trades – rough and ready – but I realised I wanted something different. I wanted to learn skills that were relevant to the real world and that could help me achieve more.”
With the support of his employer, Rawiri Broughton is combining his many years of practical experience on the farm, and study with the distance learning specialist the Open Polytechnic, to gain the National Certificate in Agriculture (L4) in Production Management.
Graduating with a National Diploma in Quantity Surveying from the Open Polytechnic has helped Richard Miller change his career from carpentry to quantity surveying.
As a child Anita Jackson always wanted to understand how things work. Completing a Bachelor of Engineering Technology with the Open Polytechnic meant that she could align her interests with a career.
With over 20 years’ experience working in administration, Mandy Tepania decided, with the support and encouragement of her family, that she needed to put some qualifications behind that experience.
Jared Brown (Ngati Kahungunu) always wanted to be an electrician and knew that a qualification was the only way to make that dream a reality.
After four years of study his hard work paid off when he received his final exam results for the National Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Level 4).
Being able to learn while she earned was a priority for Shannon Reynolds, and distance study through the Open Polytechnic allowed her to do just that.
A life-long learner, New Plymouth’s Sharon Mark has found a new door opening for her each time she completed a qualification with the Open Polytechnic.
Originally beginning her learning journey in the 1990s, Sharon then went on to complete an adult education qualification to gain a promotion as a staff trainer and health and safety officer at a local retirement village.
Keen deer stalker Shaun Burnett wanted to know more about legislation and how decisions are made in government. So he decided to study for the Open Polytechnic’s Diploma in Environmental Management.
“I’m really interested in deer and enjoy being involved in the consultation processes with the Department of Conservation, however I wasn’t confident that I knew enough about our conservation framework and environmental legislation.”
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Human Anatomy and Structural Biology and a Masters in Entrepreneurship from Otago University, Skye moved to Wellington to start her working career.
Open Polytechnic Pasifika Study Award recipient Tiana Samasoni first started studying with the Open Polytechnic while on maternity leave in 2008.
Sandra Johnson is not a woman that lets anything stop her achieving her goals.
During her time studying by distance for a Bachelor of Business (Management) with Open Polytechnic she coped with sick children, a flooded basement and a power cut on the night before an exam.
Vaughan Nicholls thought that working full-time and having a mortgage meant his study days were over, however with Open Polytechnic’s flexible study options this hasn’t been the case.
Instead, studying has given Vaughan an opportunity for a life he didn’t think he’d have.
Chrishanthi De Costa moved to New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 2003, facing the challenges of a new country, new culture and the need to find a new career.
“I had a degree in engineering from Sri Lanka but I had trouble finding a job in engineering here. So I decided to change career and became a quality assurance analyst.
