Shearer took a decent look at tomorrow's workforce, studying at Whitireia Polytechnic

Yesterday (Thursday 8 August)  Labour Party leader David Shearer, accompanied by local MP Kris Faafoi, took a decent look at the Whitireia Wineera Drive campus, the new Health Simulation Suite as well as blocks of older prefabricated classrooms and the Whitireia Mohuia Industry Trades Centre.

“It’s really good to see what’s happening at Whitireia, with the kids coming through moving to work,” said Shearer.

Chris Gosling, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) at Whitireia agrees. “We provide one of the best facilities for health students in the world, our other students achieve to the same level, but in older prefabricated buildings that compare poorly to modern learning environments.”

Shearer and Faafoi talked to year 10 students attending a programme from Kapiti College, as well as staff and students in trades. “ I’m impressed with the health facilities,” said Shearer. “Standing here in the trades area, its real life, it feels like a car workshop.”

“He was very knowledgeable about how to improve students’ transition from secondary school to tertiary study and also employment options for students,” said Helen Gardiner, Dean of the Faculty of Service Industries and Trades.

Shearer met students in carpentry, automotive and electrical workshops before moving on to the truck driving simulator.  “He did alright (in the class 5, 16 gear rig), he missed the cyclist. He’s good,” said Colin Johnstone, a heavy license student in the simulator.

Growing from humble roots, Whitireia is now a national resource that provides some specialised facilities and is consistently a top performing polytechnic in New Zealand. With 6500 students, Whitireia New Zealand operates out of campuses in Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti and Auckland.