New CEO Waiariki Institute to be revealed

Waiariki Institute of Technology, which has a base at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's Windermere campus, is expected to announce its new chief executive officer next month.

Acting chief executive Keith Ikin said the recruitment drive had been a combined effort between a Waiariki Institute of Technology Council sub-committee and a recruitment company.

There were 77 applications from all over the world which had been reduced to a shortlist of four. Interviews have been under way this month with the top two candidates to have a further interview.

A decision and announcement would be made in May with the new chief executive starting in June.

Mr Ikin took over in February from the previous acting chief executive John Snook who had been in the role since Pim Borren's departure in October 2011.

Meanwhile, Waiariki has announced Ngaira Harker-Wilcox as the new School of Nursing and Health Studies director, following a fallout last year after the former head of the school was sacked.

Ms Harker-Wilcox, who has been filling in as the director for the past 10 months, has a passion for nursing education, in particular around Maori and Pacific health issues.

Mr Ikin said the appointment was a reflection of Ms Harker-Wilcox's high standing in New Zealand nursing and education.

"Ngaira brings significant credibility, experience and expertise at national and regional levels of nursing in New Zealand," Mr Ikin said.

"There were extremely high calibre applicants and the fact we could employ from within our own is an indication of the high quality staff we have at Waiariki Institute of Technology."

The former nursing school director, Helen Manoharan, was sacked amid allegations she filed dishonest expense claims. However, her dismissal was ruled unjustified by the Employment Relations Authority.

Ms Manoharan headed the nursing programme until June 2011 after questions were raised over six expense claims she signed off, totalling $581.41. They were filled out by the nursing school's operations manager, Ann Robinson, but related to expenses Ms Manoharan incurred on behalf of the school.

Dr Borren dismissed both Ms Manoharan and Ms Robinson for serious misconduct.