Hone McGregor, Director Wakatu Inc, challenges graduates, what are you going to do for your community

Hone McGregor, Director Wakatu Incorporated, Chief Executive of Polytechnics International New Zealand, challenged graduates at the Whitireia Degree Graduation on Thursday 24 March. He asked “ what are you going to do for your family, your community, for New Zealand?”

In his current role, his business is responsible for international education contracts – PINZ has just signed a $26M contract to train overseas polytechnic staff in New Zealand. Wakatu Inc is the second largest employer in the top of the South Island, a $350M Maori Corporation. As the guest speaker McGregor took the opportunity to outline his unusual pathway through the education system.

At school McGregor didn’t value education. The only Maori student in his class in Wainuiomata, he didn’t turn up for all of his School ‘C’ exams. After five years in the workforce, he entered tertiary education when his Aunty B from McKillop Street in Porirua sent him a newspaper advert about a tertiary course. First he qualified to become a teacher and then he completed a Masters degree with distinction, top of his class. “I found out that education was in fact a great thing, and it was something that really changed my life! I truly believe that this polytechnic is world class and producing world class graduates.”

McGregor had a message for the 470 graduates “don’t just settle for being employed by someone else as your only future horizon. Aspire to be a teacher, CEO, or a Company Director, be an innovator, an entrepreneur! Use your new skills and talent to advance our country – innovators and entrepreneurs in all your fields are the people that will led us into the future. You are out future!”

McGregor wished all the graduates the very best. Something he was able to do personally for his sister, jumping down from the VIP section of the stage to give her a hug and share in her success as she was capped for an Advanced Diploma in Creative Writing.