Tai Poutini Polytechnic Tutors

Geoff Button

Programme coordinator, Ecotourism
Geoff will focus on content covering ecology, earth sciences and biology.  Geoff is passionate about ecotourism and the environment.  He has extensive tourism industry experience and has also worked for DOC, mainly in Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. It was the latter experience that made him aware of the impacts and issues involved with tourism.

Stu Drake

Head of department, Outdoor education
Stu worked for the Department of Conservation for over 10 years as a ranger on the West Coast and at Mount Cook.  He is a member of LandSAR, is a St John paramedic and a crewman/winch operator for the Greymouth-based Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter.

Ian Hooker

Programme coordinator, NZ Diploma in Business
Ian teaches a number of the management papers at Tai Poutini Polytechnic. Prior to this he was spent five years as associate professor in international business at Nanchang University, in China, and has previous top management experience in commercial organisations and polytechnics in New Zealand.

Dave Ritchie

Tutor, Outdoor Education
Dave Ritchie has been with the Outdoor Recreation Department since 2006. He spends most of his time floating down beautiful West Coast rivers. In his spare time on land, he lends us his valuable time and knowledge developing our Leadership and Guiding programme and pushing students and staff to their limits as programme coordinator.

Hine Mckletchi

Tutor
Hine holds a Diploma in teaching Maori language and is an experienced Maori language tutor.  Hine lives in Hokitika and her wide interests include Maori arts such as flax weaving, creative writing and small business management.

Dave Mason

Te Takawaenga/Kohinga Matauranga (Maori development and support officer), Kaiwhakaako (Tutor)
Dave provides guidance  around ceremonial and other occasions that require Maori protocol, coordinates the development and maintenance of Maori course content across the polytechnic and throughout Te Tai Poutini and supports Maori and Pacific Island students. He is of Ngai Tahu decent and enjoys walking on the Arahura River looking for Pounamu (Greenstone), fishing, and just replenishing his wairua (spirit).

 

To view the tutors involved in the Certificate in Ecotourism

Certificate Tutors Adobe Acrobat Document: 323 KB, 47 seconds @ 56kbps

To view some of the presenters on the Certificate Programme

Certificate Presenters Adobe Acrobat Document: 681 KB, 100 seconds @ 56kbps