Māori Tourism certificate 'Hei Manaaki' is at the centre of an investigation, which saw the provider having to repay $5.9 million to the Tertiary Education Commission and the cancellation of 217 of the certificates to supposed graduates of the course.
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi CEO is devastated by the misconduct of a small number of its staff which has damaged the tertiary provider's good reputation.
The revelations surfaced at the completion of a six-month investigation by both the Tertiary Education Commission and Deloitte NZ, into the management and administration of the course.
Nearly 100 Vodafone Warriors and staff are caught up in an investigation of Te Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and their Māori tourism qualification involving alleged overpayments of almost $6 million of taxpayers' money.
Te Kāea was present the day the Warriors were taken through the programme by the course instructors in just one day. At the time, they were unaware they were completing an 18-week course in just one day.
Chairperson for the Vodafone Warriors recently made a statement saying, “We are confident we completed all we were asked to do by supervisors of the Hei Manaaki tourism course and will continue to cooperate with any ongoing investigation.”
However the Commission holds more concerns.
Te Kāea understand some key personnel in the management of the Hei Manaaki programme have been referred onto the Serious Fraud Office.