ITI Articles

The Learning Connexion has moved premises to its new Taita campus.

The site used to be the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and the well-established gardens have some very rare, native trees and large rolling lawns.

The previous Erskine campus urgently needed seismic strengthening and a major makeover and TLC was asked to shorten its lease to allow the work to go ahead. Save Erskine College Trust has battled for years to save this remarkable piece of Wellington's heritage and TLC felt they had to go for the sake of the saving the building.

TLC was formally opened its new campus on 26 January with a powhiri to welcome the new and returning students with the help and guidance of Charles Noanoa and Art Noanoa from Te Aitanga au Hauiti.

Since moving to its new campus, TLC has transformed the buildings with a huge mural, purpose built art studios and the impressive new facilities including the Hot Arts facility for working in 3D, jewellery, photography, print-making and design. Students should also be able to use wireless connections just about anywhere on the four-hectare site.

While they love their new setting, TLC diretor Jonathon Milne says that the project is a reminder of an anomaly in government funding.  “The campus is owned by a charitable trust.  No one makes any profit from it but the entire funding has had to come out of student fees, which are only marginally higher now than they were in the 1990s.  State providers are assisted in the funding of property and buildings but private providers, including non-profits, get nothing.  The lid on fees and enrolments means that we - and all independent providers - have to do more with less.”

But Jonathon remains positive, seeing the move as the opportunity for new beginnings: “TLC has already made history. We've grown to be New Zealand's biggest art school and there isn't any provider in the world (as far as we know) with our particular blend of art and creativity. It has happened within a mere 20 years and we're poised to make our biggest quantum leap. We want to change the face of education.”

You can watch a short clip of the powhiri here: TLC Taita Powhiri