Dreams can come true according to UCOL Diploma in Architectural Technology ākonga, Michael Katene.
From as far back as he can remember, Michael says he has had a passion for construction and design, and now his childhood dream of being an architect is becoming a reality.
“My passion for building and design was ignited very early on when I first started playing with Lego. It was my favourite thing to do when I was young, thinking of ideas and bringing them to life.”
“I also come from a family of engineers, with my dad’s best subject in school being technical drawing, he was always encouraging of me when it came to building and coming up with new ideas.”
“Thanks to my dad’s encouragement and having that free reign and support to construct and create, I am now so excited to be studying in an industry I love and will soon be working in.”
Growing up in Wellington, Michael says he always admired the different architecture styles in the city, and although he was unable to attend school from the age of 13 when family commitments meant he had to relocate around the North Island frequently, he took that time as an opportunity to educate himself in design.
“I loved the varied architecture in Wellington. It inspired me to pursue my interest in design, so I decided to teach myself how to use the design platform AutoCAD. I would spend hours drafting up houses and large complexes.”
After settling in Ōtaki with friends in 2021 and taking on a role at a transitional facility for meat, COVID-19 hit and Michael’s living arrangements had to change.
“At that stage I decided I wanted to be closer to family, so I relocated to Marton where I lived with my sister and gained a job working at the Tux factory.”
“My sister was studying her Bachelor of Social Services at the time, so seeing her work towards a qualification inspired me to take the plunge and gain a qualification in an area I enjoyed.”
Kaiārahi MPTT, Nate Ferrier, says Michael was accepted onto the scholarship programme based on his outstanding personal values and career goals.
“Michael’s passion for construction was evident from the very start of his UCOL journey. He was a very hard worker, set very high standards, was able to always stay one step ahead with all of his assessments, and excelled in all aspects of his study both in theory and practical application.”
Ferrier says it was an absolute pleasure having Michael being a part of Te Mataora MPTT as it didn’t take long for his natural mentoring and leadership skills to reveal themselves.
“Michael became a tuakana (student mentor) in his class and was able to assist the course lecturer by taking the time to support those of his fellow classmates who were in need of further guidance and help with their assessments.”
“It was because of Michael’s determination to see his classmates succeed that many of his peers achieved a successful outcome.”
After completing the Carpentry programme and doing a lot of handy man construction work, Michael says he decided to set himself another goal to further enhance his education.
“I enjoyed studying at UCOL and thought I might as well find out about a qualification in the area I’m most passionate about, so I went to the UCOL Open Day to look into the
Diploma in Architecture Technology programme.”
“At the Open Day I got to meet Darren Shadbolt from Team Architects. He was so helpful and encouraged me to apply for the Team Architects Palmerston North Māori/Pasifika Scholarship. I was so excited when I found out I was the recipient of the scholarship, and not only that, I was also one of the 11 students to receive the Freemasons Willson Lewis Scholarship.”
“I am truly grateful to have this help to enable me to fulfil my dream of becoming an architect. The scholarships have enabled me to focus on my studies, as they have alleviated financial pressures.”
Ferrier says “Again, these scholarships were awarded to Michael based on his personal qualities and ambitions to progress onto a career in architecture”.
Michael says MPTT has helped immensely in ensuring he has everything needed to study.
“Nate and the team have provided me with the necessary things I’ve needed to study, from when I did my Construction programme, to now doing my Architecture programme.”
“The extra tools and equipment, and amazing support to ensure I was experiencing a positive learning journey, have been so helpful. They have even provided me with a laptop to enable me to excel and put my learning into practice during my Diploma.”
Ferrier says, “Te Mataora MPTT scholarship has a duty of care to support students into employment, apprenticeships and/or higher education”.
“It was identified that Michael would require a laptop in order to assist with course assessments and content, so Te Mataora MPTT has had the privilege of supplying him with this vital resource,” he says.
As well as the support from MPTT, Michael says another highlight of studying at UCOL is his tutors.
“I enjoy the tutors’ expertise and how open they are to questions. They’re always understanding if any of our class are finding things tricky and take the time to help us understand what we are learning.”
For people looking to study at UCOL, Michael says “Just inquire as the student support teams and faculty are really helpful and can assist with any questions you have, whether it’s about programmes, what support services are available, and any funding queries”.
To learn more about these courses, visit
UCOL.ac.nz.