Allan Sargison

Allan came to TPP in 2010 as Chief Operating Officer. He was Acting CEO from late 2011 until his appointment as CEO in mid 2012.

After beginning his career as a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he moved to the tertiary world and the University of Otago Clinical School in Wellington in 1978 before going to CIT as Registrar and later Head of the School of Management and Computing. Some eight years was spent as Registrar (COO) at Lincoln University. He then set up and developed the Tertiary Advisory Monitoring Group in the Ministry of Education, working extensively with polytechnics before going into private practice as an advisor on tertiary management and planning.

Allan’s interests are family, gardening and camping in addition to basking in the approval of the family’s two dogs!

Alyson Bone

Aly is responsible for the Finance and HR functions at TPP and is a member of the TPP Management Team. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

Aly joined TPP in July 2009 after emigrating from the UK where she worked in the Nuclear Industry managing centralised financial services for a group of companies. While working in the UK she gained extensive experience implementing and managing financial software solutions. Born in Whitehaven, a town on the West Coast of the UK's Lake District she finds New Zealand's West Coast both familiar and different (warmer and with more sunshine!).

Annabel Schuler

Overall responsibility for:
Student support
Maori development
Academic Service and Library teams.
"Happy to help at any time!"

Blair Keily

Blair first joined TPP as a student in 2000 studying on the Certificate in Business Computing programme. This study was the first step to graduating with a National Diploma in Business Computing (Level 7) in 2003. Blair then joined the team in the Business Computing department teaching on the Certificate and Adult & Community Education programmes in addition to providing technical support to users as part of TPP’s IT department. Following this experience within the IT department Blair was appointed to the role of Academic Registrar in 2003.

As TPP grew there was a need for a Database Administrator in the IT team to support the growing number of systems and users, Blair was appointed to this role in 2005. As a member of the IT team Blair gained experience in all aspects of TPP’s IT functions, including the development of TPP’s student management system and implementation of new a new FMIS. Following an institutional restructure in 2008 Blair moved to the role of Systems Analyst in the Operations division.

In 2011 Blair was appointed to the role of Chief Information Officer including oversight of TPP’s IT and Registry functions and in 2012 was appointed to the Artena Society Board of Directors.

Colin McDonnell

Harry Lyon

Harry has been a guitar player with Hello Sailor from its inception in 1975 and is a songwriter with credits that include "Lying In The Sand", "Dr I Like Your Medicine", RIANZ Single of the Year (1981), The Legionnaires Top 20 Single "You Bring Out the Worst in Me" and "Muscles", that featured on Midge Marsden's 'Burning Rain' album, on the soundtrack of French film 'Through the Fire' and was a 1991 APRA Silver Scroll finalist.

Harry has recorded in top NZ recording studios in Australia, L.A. and New York, where Sailor mixed an album at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. He worked as a freelance writer and producer of radio and television commercials with the major advertising agencies for clients and squeezed in an acting career, appearing in several TV ads, as the lead male in the feature film "Should I Be Good", shot in NZ, Hong Kong and Thailand, and television productions like "Heroes II", "Plainclothes" and "Hercules".

Outside of MAINZ Harry still records and performs with Hello Sailor who were inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame in 2011. He is the Artist Representative on the PPNZ board, a Stage Challenge board member and trustee, and is busy with voice-over work.

Ian Hooker

Ian has held senior management and academic roles in three New Zealand Polytechnics. He has also held Director and management positions in several New Zealand commercial organisations.

Married to Karin who has varied teaching experience in primary, secondary and university roles, they have two children, Kirsti, married, living in London, who is a teacher and John, married, living in New Zealand, a senior ski patrol leader and OPC instructor.

Previously, Ian lived in China for five years, working as an Associate Professor International Business and Economics at Nanchang University.

John Quigley

Originally with the Bongos and Big Sideways, John won the New Zealand Music Award for best song and new group in 1987. These days John continues his passion for performing and writing original acoustic music and songs with his group the Nairobi Trio of which he is a founding member.

John’s qualifications include an MBA and several years teaching experience, and as guitar player and manager for the well known Nairobi Trio, he has the practical experience that MAINZ likes to bring to all its programmes.

Mequa Hourston

Mequa is responsible for the enquiries, sales,marketing and liaison functions at TPP and is a member of the TPP Management Team.

Mequa joined TPP in 2005 after completing her OE.

Samuel Blight

Samuel has functioned in many roles at Tai Poutini Polytechnic including student, Tutor, Programme Co-ordinator, IT Manager, Director West Coast and now Planning and Projects Manager. Samuel studied Business Computing at TPP and had roles in private sector accounting and IT before being employed at TPP.

Shane Andrews

Shane is the programme leader at Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s School of Civil Construction and Mining in Christchurch. He joined the team in 2006 and works hard to develop and promote the growth of this great programme.

Shane was in the army and as part of his job taught students to set booby traps, construct bridges, and construct mine fields. He then went to work for a civil construction company, and later was a tutor at infrastructure, mining and transport company Gough Group.

He holds a National Certificate in Adult Education and Teachingand a National Certificate in Civil Construction.

Teaching is Shane’s passion. “The partnership between a tutor and a student can be a powerful and motivating force for both. We learn off each other.”

The civil construction industry urgently wants new and eager workers to fill a void in their aging workforce, Shane believes. “We will give you the wealth of our experience after years within the industry, along with interactive teaching sessions and a hands-on approach.”

When he’s not teaching, Shane enjoys gardening, fishing, sports and spending time with his family.

Sue Allard

Sue has always worked in the education sector, as a teacher for a number of years and then in senior management roles in a variety of different institutions - like community colleges, secondary schools, private tertiary colleges and the polytechnic sector. She has also worked in a number of different countries.

Her currentrole at TPP is varied and includes getting the TPP International Strategy up and running.

Vadim Spice

Vadim is the Head of Department of Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s (TPP) national scaffolding programme, and manager of the Auckland campus. Vadim oversees the polytechnic’s scaffolding courses in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Tauranga and regionally.

Vadim was born into the world of scaffolding and is one of seven brothers, most of whom work in the trade industry. He worked for the family business for a number of years in the commercial and residential sector, working his way up from laborer to advanced scaffolder.

Vadim has worked tirelessly to develop TPP’s training programmes here and in the Middle East, where he helped establish a campus in Doha.

An advanced scaffolder, Vadim also has good knowledge of construction, height safety and crane skills and holds a National Certificate in Adult Education and Learning.

He is passionate about maintaining the high standards of TPP’s scaffolding programme, including keeping in touch with the industry and key stakeholders.

When not at work, Vadim enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.