TOP STORY: University moves for new city campus

By David Dunham
The University of Waikato is planning to build a new multimillion-dollar campus in the heart of Tauranga.
The move will bring hundreds more students to the city and the campus will eventually become a world-class research centre.
Expansion has been considered for the past six months due to increased demand for places at the university's Durham St satellite campus, which Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford said was bursting at the seams.
University chiefs are trying to find a short-term solution to cope with the number of students who want to study in Tauranga and are hoping to lease an extra site.
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's Windermere campus, the Bongard Centre on Cameron Road or a property in the CBD are all being considered as options.
Professor Crawford hoped one of the sites would be secured by June next year at the latest.
Over the next two years the university would carry out a feasibility study into building a new campus in Tauranga's CBD, assessing how much it would cost and how it could be financed, Professor Crawford said. "This plan is a major turning point in the university, it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the region. Universities in the past have just offered courses but we are working in partnership with agencies in the region to find out what is needed."
Prof Crawford said achieving world-class research at a new campus would be a slow process but would be an essential component of the university.
A Maori capability enhancement programme, designed with iwi of Tauranga Moana, would also be created to help Maori build up their entrepreneurial and business skills.
The University of Waikato, which has been offering degrees in Tauranga since 1999, currently has 270 full-time students at Durham St - an increase of 30 on the previous year - with management, education and psychology courses the most popular.
A desire among students to study closer to home and the rate of population growth in Tauranga were two key reasons why more people wanted to study in the city, Professor Crawford said.
"The new campus would add value to Tauranga and would contribute to the area in a number of ways, one of which will be that more money will be spent here. These are very exciting times."
The University of Waikato Council's decision to expand in Tauranga was welcomed by the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Board, which was formed earlier this year and includes the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the SmartGrowth Implementation Group.
Board chairman Dr Alan Hampton said: "Tertiary education and research is pivotal to the future economic, social and cultural development of our region."
The planned expansion news comes just two months after the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic announced a further 14 new courses.
On top of two new degrees - Bachelor of Tourism and Bachelor of Social Practice - for 2007, Bay students will also have the option of five new diplomas and seven new certificate qualifications.
The polytechnic also launched various "flexi-learning" study options allowing students to study while working.
These options cover industries such as building, maritime, hospitality, horticulture and security.