Minister of Maori Affairs to open new MAINZ facilities

Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ) is opening its refitted premises in central Auckland this Friday with a blend of modern funky DJ music and Maori culture and history.

Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education Dr Pita Sharples is to attend the event and, along with the chief executive of Tai Poutini Polytechnic, will be greeted with a powhiri and kaumatua (elders) from Ngati Whatua o Orakei. MAINZ students will be providing waiata to support speakers. The new facilities include specialist rooms for the new Certificate in DJ and Electronic Music Production programme.

MAINZ Dean Harry Lyon says its new premises can now accommodate the growing number of its students seeking to undertake a music oriented career. Currently the institute attracts more than 350 students a year.

“Our programmes are bursting at the seams. This year most of our programmes had waiting lists and have exceeded target expectations,” Lyon says. “We have had excellent feedback from our students who love the improved facilities and are taking advantage of the new DJ Booths, classrooms, library, computer laboratory and reception area.”

Lyon says it has a longstanding relationship with Ngati Whatua o Orakei and it is fitting that they have collaborated over the tikanga (protocols) for the day. In the morning, before the minister arrives MAINZ and Ngati Whatua will be welcoming representatives from Ngati Roro o Te Rangi in Rotorua, who have donated a toi (carving) in thanks for our Foundation and Music staff and students playing a vital role in raising over $16,000 to help rebuild a wharekai that burned down at their marae some years ago.

The toi has been given pride of place in the new MAINZ reception and Ngati Roro o Te Rangi will be formally handing it over in a dedication ceremony on Friday morning.


MAINZ programmes are closely aligned with the music industry and as sponsors of the music awards are ble to provide valuable work experience for students at the highest level.

“Last year we had students provide the theme and incidental music for the live awards show and television broadcast and work on the event and production management of the show. This meant they worked alongside industry professionals who were all impressed by students and congratulated them on their attitudes and ‘industry readiness’”.

To prepare students for a career MAINZ has industry studies in all programmes and two that concentrate on the business side of the industry, the diplomas in Music and Event Management, and Creative Enterprise, which they refer to as their “mini-MBA”

MAINZ considers itself to be New Zealand’s education provider of choice for the music and audio industries. Graduates are increasingly successful holding key positions in the industry including CEO of the New Zealand Music Industry Commission, positions in APRA, Ticketek, Native Tongue Publishing and Sony Music, major recording studios and audio post-production facilities, and producing members of bands such as Goldenhorse, Concord Dawn, Goodnight Nurse, The Midnight Youth and The Checks.


ENDS

www.mainz.ac.nz


About Tai Poutini Polytechnic:

Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) offers a range of exciting programmes, has had one of the highest course completion rates in New Zealand for the last 3 years, has low student to tutor ratios and great relationships with business and industry. TPP has campuses in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Wanaka, Invercargill, Westport, Greymouth, Reefton and Hokitika. In 2010 Scholarships are available for most programmes* (* Conditions apply)


About MAINZ

MAINZ is a division of Tai Poutini Polytechnic, attracting approximately 300 students per year to its music and audio programmes. MAINZ offers programmes in Audio Engineering, Contemporary Music Performance, Live Sound and Event Production, Music Event Management, Creative Enterprise, and new in 2010, a Certificate in DJ and Electronic Music Production.

The school also delivers short courses in song writing, Logic, DJ’ing and Pro Tools, the industry standard audio software used in the majority of recording and post-production facilities internationally. MAINZ prides itself on being New Zealand’s first Digidesign Certified Training Locations to deliver the internationally recognised Pro Tools qualifications.

MAINZ has two campuses - one in Auckland City, the other in Christchurch. Its programmes are supported by Industry and approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.