Polytech's proposed name revealed

FILE

Proposed Toi Oho Mai Institute name gifted by iwi

A proposed name for Rotorua's newly merged polytechnic has been revealed but not everyone in the Bay of Plenty is happy with it.

The former Waiariki Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic is likely to be known as Toi Oho Mai Institute of Technology.

The revelation comes after inquiries found the polytechnic registering for new domain names online.

Chairwoman Catherine Cooney said in a written statement the tertiary provider had hoped not to release a name until all of the internal processes had been completed but confirmed Toi Oho Mai would likely be their new brand.

We understand that the name of the new institution will be a topic of great interest to all of our stakeholders and communities

Catherine Cooney

"The name we are contemplating for the new institution is Toi Oho Mai Institute of Technology. This name is yet to be discussed with our key stakeholders and there are still several stages we need to go through before any name can be confirmed and sent to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Steven Joyce."

Ms Cooney said the name Toi Oho Mai was gifted from local iwi from across the region and encapsulated the aspirational journey of life, encouraging innovation, achievement, inspiration and transformation.

"Once we have completed all of the official processes we will make an official announcement and provide a full explanation of the name chosen."

Waiariki Institute of Technology Student Association president Virgil Iraia said he was quite happy with the proposed name because it reflected the biculturalism at Waiariki Institute of Technology.

"For me it's building a relationship with iwi, because iwi play a big role in the Bay of Plenty."

He said the new name reflected the partnership of iwi working within the Bay of Plenty.

It is likely the student association would have to rebrand as well, he said.

In a leaked email chain, Tauranga's deputy mayor Kelvin Clout wrote that he agreed with a concerned resident that Toi Oho Mai was an "unfortunate choice for a name or brand, difficult to spell, pronounce and remember".

Mr Clout said yesterday he stood by his statement.

"I do feel quite strongly that the best thing would be something easily said every day."

Mr Clout said he believed people would struggle with the name. He added the loss of location in a name was another reason he did not support it.

"It doesn't give any sense of the geography of the place. When you look around, nearly all tertiary providers have reference to where they are located geographically," he said.

Last week, the new board of the just-merged tertiary education provider was announced.

In addition to Ms Cooney's appointment, former polytechnic chairman Ian Turner has been named deputy chairman and Rahera Ohia QSM and Ngaroma Tahana have been made members of the council.

Ms Cooney said her immediate concern was establishing a full, constituted new council including the appointment of a chief executive.

Ms Cooney is director of Kowhai Health Associates and joint chairwoman of Healthy Families Rotorua. She is a Justice of the Peace and former president of the Rotorua and Districts JP Association. From 2001 to 2012 she was chief executive of Lakes District Health Board.

— Additional reporting by Shauni James