• Home
  • News
  • New Manager Values EIT’S Sense of Community

New Manager Values EIT’S Sense of Community

June 21, 2017

After 15 years working in special education, Wayne Spence is finding the role of EIT
campus manager “a great fit”.

Mr Spence’s career started with a “characterbuilding” stint working on the Gisborne wharf,
in the freezing works and wool stores. He then progressed to study at Waikato University and
employment locally with Māori Affairs and the Probation Service.

He managed the Waitemata probation service for seven years before returning home to
manage special education district operations for the Ministry of Education.


A “parallel career” in surfing administration has included the presidency of Surfing NZ,
international judging and technical director at world championships.
Wayne is excited to be working for a tertiary education organisation that is helping boost
the region’s growth and development. EIT represents around one percent of Tairāwhiti’s
GDP, he says, and employs more than 170 staff. 

“I’m completely committed to this community and my role allows me to make a significant contribution. It’s interesting and varied and it’s given me the opportunity to utilise my skills and networks, doing things I really enjoy.”

One of his first official duties was EIT Tairāwhiti’s recent graduation ceremony. He was touched,
he says, by the obvious sense of pride displayed by students, staff, friends and family who had
helped students towards their achievement.
“It’s great to see value placed on education. A number of those graduates would be the first in
their families to have achieved that educational level.”

School-leavers who stayed in the region to complete their qualifications potentially benefit
financially, culturally and by being able to draw on their support networks.
Wayne hopes more will be inspired to discover what they might gain through study at EIT.

Walking around this campus, you sense the whānau friendliness and I think EIT closely reflects our community.

“I’m keen that we stay connected with external stakeholders to ensure EIT continues to meet
their needs. I also hope to build on existing relationships with secondary schools and offer
senior students the broadest possible range of options.
“They are our intellectual capital and by retaining them we will underpin the future growth and
development of this region.”
In urging parents to encourage and channel their children’s passions, he says, “ultimately if they
move into a field that captures that, it’s hardly work – is it?”