Governor General Opens 'Manaaki'

The Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, has officially opened Manaaki, the new student centre and hospitality training facilities at Otago Polytechnic’s Forth St Campus. The event marks the first time a representative of New Zealand's Head of State has visited Otago Polytechnic.

In his opening speech the Governor General noted the rich history of Otago Polytechnic, which was officially established in 1960 two years after he himself was a student in Dunedin, but traces its origins to the Dunedin Technical College (est. 1889) and the Dunedin School of Art (est. 1870). He also commended the Polytechnic on its strong links with industry and other tertiary organisations across New Zealand.

The School of Hospitality was, until July 2009, the last remaining academic department located at the Polytechnic’s Tennyson St Campus. The new premises include two fully-equipped training kitchens alongside a kitchen specifically for the new training restaurant ‘TECHnique’. Customers in the restaurant are able to watch their meals being prepared on a television screen in the dining room.

Manaaki also provides food-court and café services to students and remains home to the Otago Polytechnic Student Association (OPSA) offices and Student Health Services.