Welcoming Leon Fourie to the Wintec whānau

A key event in the journey of Wintec as we transition as ‘early movers’ into Te Pūkenga next month, included the pōwhiri for Leon Fourie. From 1 June, Leon will become the Wintec Toi Ohomai Executive Transitional Lead, with Dave Christiansen, our current Wintec CEO, becoming Te Pūkenga ITP Transition Lead. 

Last Thursday, the Wintec whānau held a pōwhiri to welcome Leon at Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa marae at our Hamilton City Campus. The pōwhiri was attended by Toi Ohomai kaimahi, leaders, mana whenua, Pacific leaders, as well as Wintec senior staff and kaimahi.  

While the weather was wet and cold, the welcome for Leon and his whānau was warm, and it was a special occasion for our Māori and Pasifika whānau and our Wintec leaders to come together in the spirit of whanaungatanga and formally welcome Leon to Wintec.   

Before the pōwhiri, Leon had spent time with a number of key groups offsite, being introduced to some of Wintec’s incredible mahi around our initiatives like Tōia Mai and the Āniwaniwa Alliance, as well as attending his first executive team meeting. 

After the pōwhiri, Leon went on to co-host a number of kaimahi meet and greet sessions with current Wintec Chief Executive Dave Christiansen, where around 200 kaimahi staff got a chance to get to know him, as a person and a leader, and ask all their questions. Wintec staff even got to the really hard-hitting questions like whether he’s a marmite or vegemite person (and the answer was: definitely vegemite!) and how to cook the perfect steak! 

Welcome Leon to the Wintec whānau - it was also great to see you online at your first Wintec staff karakia this week too.