Rotary Meeting 4 June 2025

The speaker for this week is

Te Rina Leonard

Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Correspondence School)

Her topic is "Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, the work we do, the impact we make and the many challenges we face."

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) is New Zealand’s state distance education provider, offering a wide range of programmes from early childhood through to NCEA Level 3. With well over 28,000 enrolments a year, we are strongly connected to many diverse communities throughout New Zealand. We have full-time, young adult and adult learners, and we provide dual tuition to ākonga enrolled with other education providers.

The Correspondence School was set up in 1922 to provide education at primary school level for what was originally thought would be about 25 ākonga living in remote districts. It quickly grew within weeks to about 100 and by the end of the year there were 347 students. In 1929, it expanded to cater for secondary school ākonga. Since then, the school has continued to grow and develop to meet the changing demands placed on it as its role in the education sector has evolved. In 2009, after a period of consultation with kaimahi, we introduced the school’s current name ‒ Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, which refers to connecting ākonga with learning.

Te Rina Leonard (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Raukawa) was appointed as the Chief Executive in 2023. Te Rina first came to Te Kura in 2008 for two years as Deputy Chief Executive Design and Quality, and returned eight years later to become the Deputy Chief Executive Learning Delivery. 

Te Rina has strengths in leadership and a great commitment and passion for improving opportunities for ākonga and Māori. She is determinied to maintain the momentum and progress built by her predecessor, Mike Hollings, who led the school for 17 years.  After qualifying as an Educational Psychologist, Leonard went on to successfully lead large operational, evaluation and policy teams in education. She has also worked in education policy and evaluation at the Education Review Office.

Please register for yourself and any guests no later than 6pm Sunday 1 June with details of any dietary requirements, so that we can advise attendance information to the Wellington Club. Please note - if you dont register and turn up - there may not be any breakfast available.

Reminders:

1. Permbulators Colonial Knob - this Sunday leaving 9.30 from Camp Elsdon carpark Porirua followed by lunch at Kai Tahi or Abandoned Brewery (to be decided on the day) Porirua.
2. Rotary Cans for a Cause - bring along canned or dried foods - see Bulletin for a list of what is most needed. David Barnes will be collecting these at each Rotary meeting for the next 3 weeks.

Duties for the meeting:

Desk - 6.45am         Warwick Bell

Greeter                    Edward Leung

Kaikohau                  Bill Day

Opening Thought  Lindsay Chitty

Introduction            Geoff Smith

Thanking                   Marc Rand

Sharing                      Tony Herring

Parting Thought        Spencer Petherick

Club Reporter            Paula McNight

If you are unable to perform your duty please get someone else to stand in for you and advise Nicole Barker (nicolebarker883@gmail.com) and President Jo (joanna.douglas1954@gmail.com) who the replacement is.

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Sunday 1 June, 6pm (Best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff. No registration could mean no food and no seat.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.