| Waiariki to establish a “National Centre of Excellence for Conservation, Energy and Environmental Sustainability” |
Waiariki region has enormous potential in utilisation of geothermal energy; water, agriculture and forestry resources; a rich cultural heritage and vibrant tourism industry. Future wealth depends on sustainable use of these rich natural resources and man-made heritage.
There is however, an increasing and unsatisfied demand for technical vocational education and training to enable productive application of new technologies and sustainable practices to support these primary and secondary industries in the region.
The National Centre of Excellence, driven from Waiariki's Taupo campus, Rotorua Mokoia and Waipa campuses, will serve the growing need for technicians and support staff for planned sustainable developments in conservation, energy and environmental sustainability.
This new National Centre of Excellence will complement the existing National Centre of Excellence for the Forest and Wood Industry based at the Mokoia Campus in Rotorua.
Waiariki has started consulting key stakeholders within and outside New Zealand, to determine the vocational skills required and realistic opportunities to consider as part of this initiative.
As the leading and uniquely bicultural Institute of Technology in the region, Waiariki will be focusing on the development of human capability, to support local, regional and national strategic developments such as:
• Taupo - Lake water quality management; Tongariro National Park management (Dual status World Heritage site); New Zealand Clean Energy Centre major regional initiatives, biomass to energy, geothermal energy applications; environmental conservation; and sustainable cultural / eco based tourism.
• Rotorua - Lakes water quality management; agriculture, forestry and horticulture sustainable land use systems; application of new technologies for renewable energy; and renewable wood based materials for construction.
Partnerships are being initiated and collaboration opportunities explored with key local organisations such as Scion, NZ Clean Energy Centre, local government and Iwi, tertiary education organisations and related stakeholder associations to fulfil the needs of these emerging sectors.
A local energy focused group Taiao Rangi Limited, will be participating as a foundation member of the National Centre of Excellence through their “Renewable Energy School of New Zealand Ltd” (RESONZ). Waiariki will be launching the Diploma in Sustainable Energy (NZQA level 5) for delivery in 2010 as the first tangible outcome of the National Centre of Excellence.
Waiariki is committed to making this region the best, in every way!
For further media information or to register your interest in working with Waiariki, please contact Gordon Acres, Jeremy Christmas or Kevin Uncles on 0800 WAIARIKI (924 274).
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www.waiariki.ac.nz/
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