By VANESSA BIDOIS
HOPUHOPU - The Tainui tribe has delayed opening its $15 million endowed college but says the delay has nothing to do with an alleged cashflow crisis.
The Waikato University College near Ngaruawahia was originally scheduled to open next month but will now accept enrolments for the second semester starting in July.
The live-in research institute at the former Hopuhopu military camp on State Highway 1 will cater to 70 postgraduate students from Tainui, New Zealand and overseas.
Research will focus on development and social policy in education, health, housing, enterprise and employment.
A member of the Endowed College Working Party, Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, said yesterday that it had been hoped to sign a contract with Waikato University to manage the college by the end of last year but "it's just the detail that's bogging us down."
The working party will report next month to the university's finance committee, which will then make a recommendation to the university council in April.
"I know we've had quite a bit of media interest with the financial situation but as far as we're concerned it's all business as usual," Mrs Tiakiwai said.
The Waikato tribe announced last Friday that it was restructuring its business portfolio. Some companies may be merged and the management streamlined and under-performing assets may be sold.
Mrs Tiakiwai said the building would be blessed in a private ceremony next week and an official opening would be held in June or July.
"The main questions that students are asking is how much does it cost [and] what are the academic subjects that you're going to be offering, and we can't finalise those until we've actually finalised the contract with the university."
The vice-chancellor of Waikato University, Professor Bryan Gould, confirmed that Tainui negotiator Sir Robert Mahuta would be the foundation provost of the new college.
Professor Gould said the university would be responsible for academic staff and services while Tainui would own the facility and charge students who lived in the college accommodation.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Huia tail feather has set a new benchmark for feather prices
Huia tail feather becomes the world's most valuable feather