The campus director of Tairawhiti Polytechnic in Gisborne, Jan Mogford, says merging with the Napier-based Eastern Institute of Technology has provided huge benefits for Maori wanting a tertiary or trades qualification.
The merger, which occurred a year ago, resulted in seven new courses - including fashion, design, hairdressing and nursing - being available in Gisborne for the first time.
Ms Mogford says that led to a substantial increase in the number of Maori enrolling.
She says most of those who completed the first year of the fashion and nursing courses were Maori.
Ms Mogford says Tairawhiti has just collated its enrolments for this year and 68% are Maori.
She says the majority of students enrolled in trade courses, which start next week, are also Maori.
