Latest news with #OtagoPolytechnic
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Rain cannot ‘dampen' festival enthusiasm
Dunedin Midwinter Carnival installation assistant Adele Cleverley takes a five-minute break as lanterns are installed at First Church in Moray Pl for today and tomorrow's carnival. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival will not let the forecast wet weather "dampen" an amazing event this weekend. Today and tomorrow, First Church is set to be transformed into a glowing display of everything fantastical and winged as the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival returns. However, this weekend, a deluge of rain is forecast to hit Dunedin. There was a possibility for warning amounts of rain to accumulate in Dunedin and north Otago tomorrow. Carnival marketing manager Jess Covell said it was not going to let a little rain "dampen what [was] going to be an amazing couple of evenings". "It is still forging ahead as far as I'm aware — but it won't be the first time that it's rained, and I'm sure it won't be the last time." The first time the carnival moved to First Church, it had rained, and it just meant some displays had needed to be moved indoors or canned, but the night was just as good as always, she said. The theme of the festival this year is Wings of Wonder, which would feature New Zealand native birds, mythical creatures that soared through the sky and small critters such as the classic butterfly. "There's an incredible dragon that's been made to breathe smoke; that has taken hundreds of hours of time to do." This year, the carnival collaborated with third-year design students from the Otago Polytechnic who had created a series of exciting interactive installations. One of the installations was made to align with the Puaka Matariki Festival. People would be able to write their wishes for the new year upon a star they had hand-made, and then to post it to the corresponding Matariki star that it related to. "[The students have] done a really incredible job, and it was such a joy to work with them ... I think they got a lot out of it as well."
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Polytech shuts down cookery course
The lack of a commercial kitchen is a driver in the closure of one of the courses at the Otago Polytechnic Central Campus. Deputy executive director academic delivery Chris Williamson and deputy executive director industry training and innovation Mark Cartwright said in a joint statement three programmes — one each in Cromwell and Wānaka and one in Dunedin — were under review. Otago Polytechnic has a campus in Cromwell town and one in Bannockburn. Late last year it was announced the brewing and stonemasonry courses run at Cromwell would be discontinued from this year. At that meeting Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Potiki said Otago Polytechnic was in debt and costs would have to be reduced to get it standing back on its own feet. There was a risk it could be forced into a federation of polytechnics and that was not wanted, she said. The Otago secondary-tertiary college certificate in cookery, which has operated out of dedicated kitchen in the town campus, will also come to an end after the facility is sold and all Central Otago programmes are consolidated at the Bannockburn campus. The programme, which involved 16 students attending two days a week, will cease as the polytechnic has been unable to secure an alternative commercial kitchen. The closure will result in the loss of 0.61 fulltime-equivalent positions, affecting a lecturer and a technician. Central campus director John Christie confirmed the cookery course would end, but emphasised that trades training in beauty, hospitality and carpentry would continue at the Bannockburn site. Around 200 students from Alexandra, Wānaka and Queenstown attend these programmes at present. If a suitable commercial kitchen could be found, closing the cookery course could be reconsidered, Mr Christie said. The Wānaka-based level 4 New Zealand certificate in outdoor and adventure education was not financially sustainable due to low numbers of students. It was proposed to stop the programme from the end of the year. One staff role would go immediately and the other at the end of the year, when the current students had completed their studies. Efforts to increase enrolments had not worked and the course was financially unsustainable, the statement said. The third course to face the chop is the Dunedin-based New Zealand certificate in plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying (level 3). The course was not viable and an announcement by the Tertiary Education Commission that it would not fund more than one year of the one-semester programme led to its demise and the loss of one fulltime position, the statement said. Yesterday's statement said staff had been consulted about the proposed changes. "We have met with the kaimahi [staff] concerned to explain the proposed changes for these three programmes and outlined the process for providing feedback," it said. "We will carefully consider all the feedback we receive before making any final decisions, and will also ensure kaimahi are offered support during this consultation process."
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Cookery course being discontinued
The lack of a commercial kitchen is a driver in the closure of one of the courses at the Otago Polytechnic Central Campus. Deputy executive director academic delivery Chris Williamson and deputy executive director industry training and innovation Mark Cartwright said in a joint statement three programmes — one each in Cromwell and Wānaka and one in Dunedin — were under review. Otago Polytechnic has a campus in Cromwell town and one in Bannockburn. Late last year it was announced the brewing and stonemasonry courses run at Cromwell would be discontinued from this year. At that meeting Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Potiki said Otago Polytechnic was in debt and costs would have to be reduced to get it standing back on its own feet. There was a risk it could be forced into a federation of polytechnics and that was not wanted, she said. The Otago secondary-tertiary college certificate in cookery, which has operated out of dedicated kitchen in the town campus, will also come to an end after the facility is sold and all Central Otago programmes are consolidated at the Bannockburn campus. The programme, which involved 16 students attending two days a week, will cease as the polytechnic has been unable to secure an alternative commercial kitchen. The closure will result in the loss of 0.61 fulltime-equivalent positions, affecting a lecturer and a technician. Central campus director John Christie confirmed the cookery course would end, but emphasised that trades training in beauty, hospitality and carpentry would continue at the Bannockburn site. Around 200 students from Alexandra, Wānaka and Queenstown attend these programmes at present. If a suitable commercial kitchen could be found, closing the cookery course could be reconsidered, Mr Christie said. The Wānaka-based level 4 New Zealand certificate in outdoor and adventure education was not financially sustainable due to low numbers of students. It was proposed to stop the programme from the end of the year. One staff role would go immediately and the other at the end of the year, when the current students had completed their studies. Efforts to increase enrolments had not worked and the course was financially unsustainable, the statement said. The third course to face the chop is the Dunedin-based New Zealand certificate in plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying (level 3). The course was not viable and an announcement by the Tertiary Education Commission that it would not fund more than one year of the one-semester programme led to its demise and the loss of one fulltime position, the statement said. Yesterday's statement said staff had been consulted about the proposed changes. "We have met with the kaimahi [staff] concerned to explain the proposed changes for these three programmes and outlined the process for providing feedback," it said. "We will carefully consider all the feedback we receive before making any final decisions, and will also ensure kaimahi are offered support during this consultation process."
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Legal action against polytech over job cuts on cards
Two leaked letters show the Tertiary Education Union is gearing up for legal action against Otago Polytechnic over accusations it bungled the slashing of jobs from a groundbreaking department. It comes after the polytechnic confirmed this month it was slashing staff its Capable New Zealand multi-disciplinary programme from 30 fulltime equivalents to nine fulltime equivalents and one managerial position. Capable New Zealand was once the polytechnic's biggest school with over 500 students, but had since dwindled in recent years to about 270 students presently enrolled. The Otago Daily Times has obtained two letters from the union addressed to Otago Polytechnic executive director Dr Megan Pōtiki. The first letter called for a pause of the restructuring process. ''The premise of the consultation — the regional viability report and the student numbers — require further scrutiny. ''It appears that the basis for which a surplus staff has been determined is unreliable, consequently the number of surplus staff in the decision document are also unreliable. ''The decision cannot proceed on this basis. As such, we request a pause on the current process as a matter of good faith.'' While requesting a pause, the first letter also said the union ''reserve our legal rights, should Te Pukenga Otago Division continue on its current course''. ''We would also expect that the workloads for staff who would remain once a determination is made are equitable, reasonable and safe as per the collective agreement.'' The second letter, sent last week, argued Otago Polytechnic had breached good faith in the process by failing to honour the pause, while the staff ratio rationale they used for the restructure was ''unsatisfactory''. ''They appear flawed, the ratios have been changing, and the proposed staffing numbers may not be consistent with workload policies and procedures for staff at Capable NZ. ''The employer needs to establish that there is a requirement yet, following consultation Otago cannot establish a requirement to reduce staff, or if so by how many. Proceeding on this basis is a breach of the collective agreement.'' The second letter said before proceeding any further, Otago Polytechnic ''must provide correct information, give staff the opportunity to comment on it, and establish what requirement to reduce staff may exist''. Dr Pōtiki said yesterday Otago Polytechnic had not received notification of any legal action. ''We are continuing to work with the relevant union [TEU] regarding the next steps of implementation of the outcomes advised. ''The feedback received through the consultation period was carefully considered by the review team, and resulted in several changes being made to the final outcome to reflect staff concerns about the future structure of Capable NZ. ''Otago Polytechnic is continuing to work with staff and students to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption to studies.''
Otago Daily Times
22-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki time for reflection, celebration — and kai
Logan Park High School student Nalia Holmes-Haweturi, 13, enjoys a meal from an above-ground kai cooker at the Otago Polytechnic. The hangi was a part of the polytechnic's Matariki week celebrations. Māori learner success director Tumuaki Whakaruruhau Rebecca Swindells said it was a great way for students, staff and the community to get a taste of traditional kai and be part of the shared experience that Matariki brings. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH "Matariki is a really special time for us to connect, reflect, and celebrate together," she said. Students from Logan Park performed at the polytechnic during the hangi. Other creative activities at the polytechnic this week included mahi toi (arts) projects and weaving tukutuku panels and daily reflection through Matariki huka nui (remembering and honouring those who have died).
