Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has marked its return to independence, as its new leader vows to connect local communities and employers.

The Bay of Plenty and Waikato-based tertiary institute has been operating as an autonomous institute of technology and polytechnic (ITP) since January 1 after the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga.

The Government confirmed in July it would return 10 polytechnics, including Toi Ohomai, to regional governance in an unwinding of Labour’s decision to merge them into Te Pūkenga.

Minister for Vocational Education Penny Simmonds said last year that Toi Ohomai would be re-established as a regionally governed polytechnic, “restoring decision-making to the Bay of Plenty and empowering local leaders to shape provision for Rotorua, Taupō, Tokoroa and the wider region and be more responsive to their local communities”.

Simmonds said campus and programme decisions were made by polytechnics and their councils, not by ministers.

Toi Ohomai is the largest tertiary education provider in Bay of Plenty and South Waikato and delivers courses in Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupō, Tokoroa and Whakatāne.

In July, the Rotorua Daily Post reported Toi Ohomai proposed to disestablish more than 160 jobs and cease delivery of campus-based programmes in Taupō and Tokoroa from 2026.

Toi Ohomai confirmed in September it would disestablish more than 150 jobs but reversed its proposal for the Taupō and Tokoroa campuses, described as a “big win” by a union at the time.

A Toi Ohomai statement on Tuesday said it had welcomed a new chief executive and council.

Dr Pim Borren was officially welcomed back as chief executive with a pōhiri at the institute’s Mokoia Campus in Rotorua.

A highly regarded leader and an economist by trade, Borren was chief executive of Toi Ohomai legacy institute, Waiariki Institute of Technology, from 2006 to 2011.

During that time, he transformed the institute into a “thriving student hub”, tripling student numbers and doubling revenue, the statement said.

The newly established Toi Ohomai council was also formally welcomed at the pōhiri.

It will be chaired by Deryck Shaw, with Christa George as deputy chair and joined by Roana Bennett and Leith Comer.

Comer was recently appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 New Year’s Honours.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology chief executive Dr Pim Borren.

Borren said he was honoured to be chief executive and was looking forward to being part of the Toi Ohomai whānau again as it became an autonomous ITP.

He said the region was familiar and “returning here feels very much like coming home for my wife Jane and me“.

“I want to acknowledge the challenges faced by Toi Ohomai and the sector in recent times.

“With the return to local decision-making, I am passionate about strongly connecting with our communities and employers, as we endeavour to be the institute of choice for vocational training and education across the region.

“As we look to 2026 and beyond, I am looking forward to working with [the] council to establish the new strategic direction of the institute.”

Shaw said it had been great for Toi Ohomai to hit the ground running in 2026 with a new chief executive and a clear direction.

“We know there is a lot of work to be done, but we are confident that together with Dr Borren and the rest of the leadership team, we can achieve great outcomes for Toi Ohomai and the communities we serve.”

In November 2024, Toi Ohomai proposed to end an “invaluable” timber machining apprenticeship programme in Rotorua.

Changes were later made to the proposed disestablishment with students continuing their training on-site in 2025 before qualifications moving to “on-the-job” in 2026.