ABOUT US
OUR STORY
In 2013 We Started With A Vision
For Education In Aotearoa
"Aotearoa New Zealand needs a new way of learning that enhances our strong and fast-growing tech sector, while fostering resilience and kindness in our society."
At Dev Academy Aotearoa we provide an environment of rapid learning and professional development for people looking to get into tech, upskill, or make a career change.
We believe technology can become Aotearoa's biggest export, and that our regions can become thriving centres of tech innovation. Our mission is to empower people in Aotearoa to flourish, and to transform the tech industry through our values of integrity, kindness, and effort.
Hurihia tō aroaro ki te rā, tukuna tō ātārangi kia taka ki muri i a koe - Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.
Kindness, Integrity and Effort.
We strive to weave our values of kindness, integrity, and effort into our everyday practice. These values are something that students experience as a special and powerful part of studying with us.
Aroha
(Kindness, Love)
Aroha is key to our mahi together, and in our personal lives.
Kindness comes first. All our actions and decisions have kindness as the first consideration, especially when it comes to our staff and students. Kindness informs how we ask questions like: what support is needed, and how can we help? Kindness is the most important factor in connection between humans, and is key in resolving interpersonal struggles.
Pono
(Integrity)
Pono speaks to the connections between our hearts, actions, and words.
Integrity means acting with an authentic commitment to your values. In practice, this means having the courage to communicate openly, to allow vulnerability, and to be willing to hold difficult conversations when necessary. Once you're acting with kindness and integrity, you need effort to back up your intentions.
Tika
(Effort)
Tika refers to the mahi that is not always seen. Embodying tika includes commitment, reliability, and determination.
At Dev Academy Aotearoa, we are kind to ourselves and others, we believe in what we do, and we work hard to do the right things and adapt to the needs of ourselves and our students.
Te Tiriti Partnership
Mā te ngākau aroha koe e ārahi -
Let a loving heart guide your decisions.
At Dev Academy Aotearoa, we embrace our responsibility to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We take a top down approach, starting with our leadership. We have co-general managers - Kaihautū Hourua Tangata Whenua Dougal Stott (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Ngāti Kahungunu) and Kaihautū Hourua Tangata Tiriti Emma Barnes. We also have Te Rōpū Whakamana Te Tiriti - a rōpu of Māori, Pākeha, and Tauiwi staff who champion our treaty partnership kaupapa in all areas of Dev Academy.
The actions that we take as treaty partners include starting and ending meetings with karakia, and holding mihi whakatau to welcome new staff. We embrace Mātauranga Māori, and integrate Maramataka into our decision making around key events, as well as utilising Mason Durie’s Te Whare Tapa Whā framework for making staff wellbeing plans and facilitating wellbeing kōrero with our students.
Our Kaiarahi Māori Richard Hape (Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa) runs weekly Te Reo classes for staff, and our Te Tira Waiata sessions bring us together so we can sing to support and celebrate each other.
Each year we celebrate Matariki, and we provide resources for staff and students to grow their understanding and appreciation for Matariki.
All staff at Dev Academy Aotearoa have Te Tiriti training to ground and inform us of our past, present, and future, and to enrich our understanding of our responsibilities to Aotearoa, to Te Ao Māori, and to each other.
Most years our staff attends a noho marae together, to increase our whanaungatanga, take some rest together, and spend time in Te Taiao.
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua - those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead
