Latest news with #NorthTec
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
NorthTec's future debated as locals push to retain unique courses
Lyndon worried about losing educators and their knowledge of specific industries. 'If they go, they will not come back,' she claimed. Lyndon said stories of 'transformation and connection' made possible because of NorthTec had been shared at the hui. 'It was absolutely a positive meeting, it wasn't about attacking NorthTec but promoting the fact that it's so important.' Lyndon said NorthTec was a taonga that needed protecting. Lyndon said a key message from Friday's meeting had been that the Government needed to listen to the community. She explained ensuring viability needed to balance with the region's unique needs. For example, retaining or changing courses that would benefit people across the region - not just in Whangārei. Lyndon said online learning would not work for those in the trades industry and people living in isolated areas. She believed there could be scope for wider courses such as sustainable rural development, for those wanting to build on their whenua. Hūhana Lyndon at the save NorthTec hui on Friday. National MP for Northland Grant McCallum said the Government was working hard to stand NorthTec up as a successful education provider. He said the Minister for Vocational Education Penny Simmonds was conscious of the importance of vocational training institutions as well as Northland's unique needs, which included a dispersed community that needed opportunities to upskill. MP for Northland Grant McCallum said he was working to ensure NorthTec's future was bright despite the need to maintain viability. Photo / NZME McCallum said the Government would be working with a range of industry sectors to establish what was needed. 'They've got to be the right ones for the sector, they've got to be viable and we've got to make sure we're attracting people to [them].' McCallum mentioned how the Government was hoping to provide a facility in Whangārei that gave short block courses and potentially provided accommodation. When asked whether the Raumanga Campus was under threat, he said a range of options were on the table. The Northern Advocate asked if that included Forum North. McCallum replied, saying: 'We want to utilise all the community assets [and we're] working through options at the moment'. McCallum said he understood the enduring challenges with NorthTec, which the Tertiary Education Union had previously stated could mean a growth in distrust and lower enrolment numbers. 'Our job now is to turn that around so we become an educator of choice,' McCallum said. 'It's what we need in Northland, a strong organisation that people see as a good opportunity.' McCallum acknowledged how difficult it has been for staff. 'We understand the urgency; uncertainty is not good for any organisation.' Slatter said although no decisions had been made around campus changes, any such changes would aim to improve vocational education provision. 'If there are developments anywhere in Te Tai Tokerau that would help NorthTec deliver innovative and high-quality learning environments, then we would be interested in exploring them.' Slatter acknowledged changes NorthTec was undergoing involved uncertainty, especially for kaimahi. 'However, enrolments for semester two 2025 are higher than this time last year, and enquiries and applications for 2026 are also up year on year.' Slatter said it was unfortunate that negative rumours could impact learner perceptions and further impact staff. The recent stakeholder hui was positive and focused on ways the community could help resolve barriers to teaching and learning, he said. Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Fears grow for NorthTec as more cuts loom amid break-up of Te Pūkenga
Te Pūkenga only opened a new NorthTec campus at Ngāwhā, near Kaikohe, in 2023, but it's now scaling back courses as part of a de-merger. Photo: Peter de Graaf Fears are growing for the future of Northland's biggest vocational education provider as it scrambles to break even amid the break-up of mega-institute Te Pūkenga. A 'Save NorthTec Hui' was called at short notice at the main campus in Whangārei on Friday as the institute starts consulting on a new round of cuts. It comes as the government returns 10 polytechnics around the country to standalone, regionally-run institutes, reversing the previous government's 2020 merger. However, polytechnics in four other regions - including Northland - have been given until next year to prove they can be financially viable. Those that can't balance the books face possible closure or a merger with the Open Polytechnic. Tertiary Education Union (TEU) rep Sharlene Nelson told the hui the restructuring proposal could see the axing of courses in forestry, primary industries, apiculture, pest control and creative writing, as well as the closure of the Auckland campus. Adding to staff concern was the uncertainty around whether NorthTec would exist in a few years' time, she said. "Morale is pretty low ... it just creates anxiety, because you don't know if you've still got a job. Do you put that effort in? And where are students going to go if we don't exist?" Nelson said she'd been shocked by revelations in an RNZ report last Thursday that polytechnics around the country expected to cut about 550 courses, up to 900 full-time equivalent staff and 30 delivery sites. "We knew it was happening, but we never saw the magnitude of it. It's quite scary." Another tutor and TEU rep, Jim Hutchinson, said the proposed cuts were devastating for staff. "That's their livelihood, and they love to teach." Hutchinson said the potential closure of NorthTec was especially concerning for students in the Far North, who would have to travel long distances to pursue other training options. Poor connectivity in some parts of Northland made online learning impractical, he added. Nelson said the cuts also threatened Northland's future economic growth. "Without education, how do you grow? If you decide to cut back to next to nothing, then what is the future for Northland?" Former NorthTec student, tutor and director Hūhana Lyndon – now a Green MP – called the Save NorthTec Hui on Friday amid concerns for the institute's future. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf The public hui was called with two days' notice by Hūhana Lyndon, a former NorthTec student, tutor and learner support director, now a Green MP. She said she organised the meeting after news emerged last Wednesday that Northland would not necessarily retain a polytechnic following the dis-establishment of Te Pūkenga. That was followed on Thursday by revelations of the scale of course and job cuts nationwide. Lyndon said uncertainty over the 46-year-old institute's future was "hugely concerning", even if some courses needed "a rev-up". "It really leaves us vulnerable in terms of powering up the economy, and being able to educate our young people and those that are transitioning between jobs." The timing was "awkward" because just last Wednesday, Northland's biggest businesses made a presentation to Parliament about the region's potential to expand from an $11 billion-a-year economy to $60 billion by 2050. The same presentation explained Northland's current under-performance was due to long-term under-investment in infrastructure, a skills shortage and poor educational outcomes. Lyndon said the answer to the skills shortage was "industry-relevant, credible training options". She was pleased with the turnout of more than 100 people at the hui given the short notice. Lyndon planned to raise her concerns with NorthTec's interim leadership, as well as industry, hapū, iwi and councils. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said the government was committed to helping NorthTec work towards long-term financial viability. "A committed group of community leaders are working alongside the government in Northland to ensure this happens. NorthTec is a valued polytechnic and will remain within Te Pūkenga over the next few months as it works with specialist advisors on a pathway toward viability, with decisions due in the first half of 2026." Simmonds said the government had set up a $20 million annual fund for the next two years to support "strategically important provision" in smaller, rural regions. Tutors and Tertiary Education Union reps Sharlene Nelson and Jim Hutchinson address a Save NorthTec Hui called at short notice last Friday. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf That would help ensure learners in regions such as Northland were not disadvantaged while the government worked through longer-term funding plans. As part of the new "blended learning" model, regional institutions would have autonomy to choose the right mix of online, work-based and in-person learning to meet local needs. Regarding NorthTec's current cuts, Simmonds said she was not privy to polytechnics' operational decisions. "However, I'd suggest it is important for NorthTec, as it is for all polytechnics, to be taking appropriate actions to ensure their overall viability and maintain their relationships with local industries and communities," she said. Simmonds said the government wanted to build a vocational education system that was "locally led, regionally responsive and financially sustainable, including for Northland". The three other regions where polytechnic survival is uncertain are Taranaki (Western Institute of Technology), Wellington (Whitireia Community Polytechnic and Wellington Institute of Technology) and the West Coast (Tai Poutini Polytechnic). NorthTec was founded as Northland Community College in 1978. Its main campus is in the Whangārei suburb of Raumanga but it has satellites in Kaitāia, Kerikeri, Ngāwhā and Auckland. The brand-new campus at Ngāwhā, just east of Kaikohe, only opened in 2023. The Rāwene campus closed in 2017 but the buildings remain in use as a community-run education hub. NorthTec has been contacted for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
NorthTec staff fear more cuts amid Te Pūkenga disestablishment
Another 10 polytechnics would be re-established, she said. NorthTec earlier this year suggested axing 11 programmes across primary industries, forestry and construction. The cuts were opposed by the Tertiary Education Union and appeared to remain paused – until Monday. Some changes following feedback earlier this year meant eight fulltime roles were now in limbo, and courses such as the New Zealand Certificate in Forestry Operations (Level 3) would no longer be delivered. Te Uepū representative and NorthTec curriculum lead Sharlene Nelson said staff morale was lower than before. She told the Northern Advocate prior to Monday's meeting that a few people had gone on leave to 'try and cope with everything'. In Nelson's opinion, NorthTec had become a 'really horrible place to work'. Staff were living with constant uncertainty and were unsure whether they should be looking for jobs, she said. Slatter acknowledged the consultation was ongoing and difficult for all involved. 'We will work with kaimahi over all proposed changes, with the aim of minimising any impact on our ākonga,' he said. Nelson believed a stable senior management team with experience in education was the minimum needed to move forward. She claimed cuts to niche courses would make it harder for vulnerable Northlanders to improve their lives. 'Some of the students that we actually deal with, especially in our smaller regions, they come to us and still can't read, and we're talking about adults in their 30s, 40s. 'If they can't read a basic document, how are they going to improve their lives?' Tertiary Education Union (TEU) organiser Jill Jones said it felt as though the Government had 'abandoned its responsibility' to prioritise regional education. 'Some students are saying 'well look, why should I enrol at NorthTec if I don't even know if my course is going to exist in the future?'' Jones felt it was unfair for NorthTec to expect staff to cope with the uncertainty and still front up to students. Staff were losing trust 'every day', she said. National president for the TEU Julie Douglas did not believe the way forwards for Northland was a 'whole lot of private training providers'. She described the situation as 'fait accompli', claiming there was a deliberate attempt by the Government 'for these places to just fall over'. 'They're not being resourced, they're not being supported, they're not getting the sort of expertise they need and it's the staff who are bearing the brunt of that with angry, disappointed students and communities.' Simmonds assured the Government was committed to supporting vocational education in Northland and countrywide. A $20 million annual fund over the next two years could support provision in smaller and rural areas like Northland, she said. 'This helps ensure that learners are not disadvantaged by where they live while we work through a longer-term plan for funding this type of provision. 'Our focus is on building a vocational education system that is locally led, regionally responsive and future focused – including for Northland.' Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Te Pūkenga changes: 10 polytechs to return to 'regional governance'
Otago Polytechnic, one of the 10 polytechs to return to "regional governance". Photo: Google Street View The government is moving ahead with its long-signalled plan to re-establish polytechnics merged under Labour into the super-institute Te Pūkenga. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds confirmed 10 polytechnics are returning to "regional governance" as part of the government's plan to build a vocational education system that's "locally led, regionally responsive and future-focused". Labour combined 16 polytechnics and nine workplace training providers at the beginning of 2023 . The coalition government moved quickly when it came to power, agreeing as part of its 100-day plan to begin the process of disestablishing the mega institute. The announcement comes after listening to "extensive industry feedback" Simmonds said, and the changes were part of legislation currently before Parliament. "We campaigned vigorously against Labour's reforms which saw all New Zealand polytechnics merged into one unwieldy and uneconomic central institution, Te Pūkenga, taking away the ability of regions to respond to local training and employer needs," Simmonds said on Monday. "Labour dismantled regionally led vocational education - and we are restoring it". She said she was confident the coalition's plan will set the sector up for "long-term economic and learning success". The ten polytechnics returning to regional governance, which will begin operating from 1 January 2026, are: NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), Whitireia Community Polytechnic and Wellington Institute of Technology (Whitireia and WelTec), and Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) will remain within Te Pūkenga for now as they "work toward viability, with decisions due in the first half of 2026". Penny Simmonds. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver There will be an "anchor" polytechnic of the new federation - the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. That federation will coordinate programmes and other services, including shared academic boards, Simmonds explained. "It will provide a low overhead way for polytechnics to create more efficient business models than they could on their own through the use of online learning resources and programmes." Just last week Te Pūkenga warned MPs the government would have to bail out struggling polytechnics despite its reforms. Te Pūkenga will continue to operate as a "transitional entity" for up to a year, allowing for a "smooth handover", and the new legislation allowed for mergers or closures if polytechnics were not able to achieve viability. "With more than 250,000 students in the vocational education system each year, these changes offer greater flexibility, financial sustainability, and ensure training remains relevant to employment needs," Simmonds said. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said vocational education - and the polytechnic sector - mattered deeply to communities, the economy and the country's future. Luxon said the vocational education system had been through a "turbulent few years". "The last government's Te Pūkenga reforms intended to strengthen the system, but what we've seen instead is a model that's become too centralised, too removed from local communities, and ultimately too slow to respond to regional training and employer needs. It's not good enough." He added it was a "good day for communities" getting back their polytechnics "as we had said before the election". Simmonds rejected assertions there'd been a lack of consultation with Māori, saying she'd engaged with the education group of the Iwi Leaders Forum. In selecting 10 polytechnics, Simmonds explained those institutes had financial pathways to "affordability" whereas the other four had "got some work to do, they've got some unique challenges". She explained those challenges were unique to those institutes and their communities, like being small or needing to shift campuses. Simmonds acknowledged Te Pūkenga was in surplus, but said that was because the "duplication of bureaucracy" in the head office had gone. Asked whether these reforms recreated that duplication, Simmonds said that was not the case. "The main purpose of the federation is to support the smaller polytechnics that don't have the capacity themselves, particularly in online learning." On whether all polytechnics would be operational in two years time, Simmonds said that was "their responsibility". Those who were still facing "unique challenges" had been given a business case with a pathway to financial viability "if they stick to it.". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
28-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Fire at Otaika Accommodation Park cabin, Whangārei, forces NorthTec students from classroom
A video posted to social media showed smoke billowing from the park to Te Pūkenga NorthTec next door. Smoke could be seen billowing across Raumanga on Monday afternoon during a fully involved cabin fire. Photo / Supplied A voice could be heard telling people to 'get out of the smoke' over the top of the sound of a fire alarm. A NorthTec spokeswoman said a classroom on the campus chose to self-evacuate because of the smoke. A fire investigator will look into the cause of the blaze. Otaika Accommodation Park was unavailable for comment. Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
