News 28/7/10 – There was an Immigration Scandal (well, arrests anyway)

July 28th 2010 at 8:56am, By Dave Guerin

Forestry Awards The forestry ITO, FITEC, is getting ready for its national awards - they get top billing as the ITF conference starts in 5 minutes.
Student Debt John Key has criticised the nature of the student loan scheme - but no major details other than pointing out the 47% writeoff.
Immigration Arrests Yesterday I published an anonymous tip about a PTE manager being arrested for immigration offences. Well, that quickly led to a release from Immigration NZ saying that they had “suspended the processing of applications for international students to study at Auckland’s Kingsland Institute, and is reviewing some approved applications, after the arrest of two men, including a manager at the Institute”. The offences carry a jail term of up to seven years and a fine of $100,000. NZQA also emailed me to say that they are closely monitoring the PTE and, n the event of a conviction, “would consider the implications for the ongoing registration of the PTE”. The NZ Herald and Radio NZ have more detail on it, which just shows how journalists can do more than bloggers!
Maori Language Week Massey Uni Wellington is using coffee cards in Maori to promote Maori Language Week. Unitec is covered in this TVNZ story.
Massey Beauty & Concerns Three Massey students (pictured) have taken the top three places in Miss Manawatu. Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway says the city’s economy is being undermined by caps on Massey’s funding and other government policies.
Red Cross the Red Cross is opening a new Auckland training centre today.
CPIT Corner CPIT chef students are preparing to defend last year’s win of the Nestle Toque d’Or ‘golden hat’ trophy, while preparations are also underway for CPIT’s hosting of the WorldSkills national champs in September.
Wellbeing An Open Poly researcher is looking for participants in an online wellbeing survey - part of an international survey.
NMIT Corner NMIT student president Rachel Boyack is unimpressed that younger drivers are being targeted more than older ones for drink-driving (Incidentally, a Canty Uni researcher is warning of teenagers getting addicted to alcohol). And the Marlborough Express has a story on four Blenheim-based NMIT art students who have been commuting physically and virtually to Nelson since the local art course was closed last year.
Poached Sole Check out the recipe supplied by an Otago Poly chef.
Flight Schools Aviation Industry Assn has called for a review of all flight training schools after a crash this week at an NMIT-affiliated school in Feilding.
Employment An AUT professor is launching a book on employment law.