Open Polytechnic Study Helps ‘To Shape' Christchurch ECE Graduate
One hundred and five graduates from the South Island graduated at the Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch, Ōtautahi this week (Tuesday 20 May 2025), to receive their qualifications from Open Polytechnic, New Zealand's specialist provider of online learning.
Christchurch-based Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education graduate, Tessa Karati was the student speaker at the ceremony.
Tessa, who identifies as Cook Island and New Zealand Māori, commenced her speech in te reo Māori before thanking God and those people who had contributed to her success.
During her speech, Tessa acknowledged the impact that studying with Open Polytechnic has had on her life.
'I thank Open Polytechnic, for sensitively, but boldly calling us up and out to be advocates, and for helping to shape not just who I am as a teacher, but who I am as a person,' she said.
She likened her learner journey to a 'relationship' with her degree as she went through the five stages of attraction, romance, disillusionment, commitment and acceptance.
Through her studies, Tessa realised how disconnected from her culture she had become and discovered that she had absorbed stories about her culture that were rooted in deficit, and how and why that was.
'It generated a deep sense of responsibility to do better for our future generations and enable them to thrive,' Tessa said
'I still have a lot to learn, but even so, I know my role as a kaiako is more than teaching, it's advocating for our tamariki (children), ensuring they grow up hearing positive messages about themselves, knowing that they are valued.'
Tessa finished off her speech by thanking her tutors, friends and family, before congratulating her fellow graduates.
'Be proud. You are smarter, wiser, more resilient, more persistent, courageous, and hardworking,' she said.
During his speech, Executive Director Open Polytechnic Alan Cadwallader congratulated the graduates for their commitment to completing their studies.
'Choosing to study at distance and online is a learning experience which takes discipline and determination,' he said.
'It takes your self-motivation to set time aside to work through your online course materials, absorb the learnings, and then successfully complete assessments. I commend you all for completing your qualification while also navigating the responsibilities of whānau, work and other life commitments.'
Alan told the audience that it was a privilege and honour to be able to lead a world-class learning institution that puts learner achievement at the forefront of everything it does.
'I'm pleased to be able to say that in our most recent student satisfaction survey, 94% of our learners said they were satisfied with their overall experience with Open Polytechnic,' Alan said.
'This level of satisfaction can only be achieved by an all of organisation effort to ensure our ākonga (learners) have the teaching and facilitation, feedback, services and tools they need to succeed in their studies. '
Alan also acknowledged the importance of having a support network to help.
'I know your study journey will not always have been easy, and I would like to thank those in the audience that have supported you, your friends, family, whānau and supporters,' Alan said.
'It's your practical means of support, your words of encouragement, and your guidance throughout your graduate's study journey that has also contributed to their success.'
The graduates at the Christchurch ceremony were awarded a variety of diplomas and degrees, including early childhood education, primary and secondary education, social work, social health and wellbeing, funeral directing, business, accounting, applied management, legal executive studies, library and information studies, psychology, web development and design, information technology, architectural technology, and construction.
The Christchurch ceremony was the second of three for Open Polytechnic in 2025, with the final ceremony to come in Wellington on 27 May. Including those awarded in absentia, around 1150 graduates will receive their diploma or degree from Open Polytechnic this graduating year.
About Open Polytechnic
As New Zealand's specialist provider of open and distance learning, Open Polytechnic enrols more than 35,000 mainly part-time students per year. The majority of students are adult learners, combining work and study.
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