EIT's story to be published for 40th

The Eastern Institute of Technology in Napier as it stands today.

Over the space of 40 years, what began as a modest centre of learning on the edge of Napier has developed into one of the country's leading tertiary education facilities - and its colourful story is set to be released in print this Friday.

The Eastern Institute of Technology is set to enter birthday mode and marketing director Brenda Chapman said a series of events would be taking place from Thursday through to Sunday.

Among the events will be the release of a book outlining the EIT's history titled First to See the Light: EIT 40 Years of Higher Education.

The then Minister of Education, Phil Amos, laying the foundation stone for the Hetley Building as construction got under way back in 1975

It has been produced by the institute's research professor Kay Morris Matthews and EIT Tairawhiti senior researcher Jean Johnston.

It will be formally launched under a special marquee setting on the institute's oval, in the heart of the campus, between 4pm-7pm on Friday.

"We are expecting 300 to 400 guests, including former and present staff and stakeholders," Ms Chapman said.

There will be a kapa haka welcome performance, a presentation by the author and a revolving display of historic photos.

Plaques of honour will also be unveiled.

Professor Matthews said a part of the book which particularly pleased her was being able to examine and chronicle the history of Tairawhiti and its place now within the EIT.

"I am very happy with what we have put together - it has been a lot of work," she said.

The roots of EIT go back to the early 1960s when members of the Hawke's Bay University Trust hoped the region would get the nod for one to be set up here.

But Hamilton and Palmerston North were chosen although the ideal of creating a leading tertiary facility in the Bay did not dim.

By 1966, a Hawke's Bay Polytechnic Investigative Committee had been formed and the wheels began to turn.

Napier and Hastings were becoming more industrialised and it was recognised that there needed to be somewhere for school leavers to attend to become "work ready".

The Polytechnic Committee became the Promotions Committee and was joined in 1968 by another group called the Hawke's Bay Joint High Schools Committee - together they produced a unified voice in advocating to the Department of Education the need for a technical institute. It all finally came together in 1975, when the Hawke's Bay Community College was officially opened by then Minister of Education Phil Amos.

College director John Harre had 37 staff looking after a range of vocational courses, from automotive engineering and hairdressing to arts and crafts and language studies.

In 1987, as it continued to expand, it was re-named the Hawke's Bay Polytechnic and there was further change in 1996, when it became the Eastern Institute of Technology.

In 2011, it merged with Tairawhiti in Gisborne and set up a campus in Auckland in 2013.

Today, the EIT offers more than 130 qualifications from certificate and diploma to degree and post-graduate level and also runs a string of regional learning centres in Hastings, Maraenui, Ruatoria and Tokomaru Bay.

Last year, the EIT had 10,000 students on its books, with about 400 of them international.

This week's celebrations begin tomorrow, with a 21st birthday celebration of Te Ara o Tawhaki - the EIT's marae.

A dinner for 300 guests is planned.

After Friday's book release there will be an open day on Sunday between 11am-2pm.