Rotorua's Cathy Cooney's appointed as chairwoman on the new Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Council has been welcomed by the Rotorua mayor.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced four ministerial appointments to the council of the new tertiary education institution that brings together the Waiariki Institute of Technology and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Ms Cooney, a former Lakes District Health Board chief executive who is the director of Kowhai Health Associates and the joint chairwoman of Healthy Families Rotorua, will lead the council.
Rotorua lawyer Ngaroma Tahana has also been appointed, alongside Bay of Plenty Polytechnic chairman Ian Turner, who will be deputy chairman of the board, and Rahera Ohia, QSM.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said Ms Cooney's appointment would give the wider region confidence.