Mixed views on tech merger

Waiariki Institute of Technology

Rotorua's polytechnic is favouring a merger with its Tauranga counterpart, however, not everybody is excited about the announcement.

The councils of Waiariki Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (BoPP) have agreed the formation of a single merged entity is their preferred option and are now seeking feedback before making a final recommendation to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment.

Waiariki chief executive Professor Margaret Noble said ensuring staff were well informed was key for Waiariki.

"We have already run a series of all-staff meetings and a variety of drop-in sessions will be held in the week ahead, designed to answer any further questions staff may have."

Waiariki has confirmed there has been no discussion of staff redundancies if the merger goes ahead.

Professor Noble said Waiariki students would be unaffected by the announcement. "Our wide range of qualifications will continue to run as per usual during any potential merger process."

However, some Wairariki students and education figures have expressed concerns about the move.

Labour's Tertiary Education spokesman David Cunliffe said the institutions were "the latest victims of National's chronic underfunding of regional polytechs".

"Since 2010, the Government has made $60 million of real cuts to the budget for regional polytechs. As a result, there are more mergers like this one as polytechs in the regions struggle to do more with less. The key issue for the Bay of Plenty and Waiariki will be ensuring this merger does not stop people studying."

A spokesperson for Rotorua MP Todd McClay said between 2011 and 2014 the number of equivalent full-time students across institutes of technology and polytechnics reduced 6.45 per cent, while there was only a 1.1 per cent fall in funding.

Waiariki student Shereece Sycamore said the merger would have its "pros and cons".

"There is a lot of ambiguity around this possible merger and while it would be beneficial if more courses were made available, it also poses some concerns," she said.

"It would be a barrier for many students if they stopped offering certain courses in Rotorua, in favour of having them in Tauranga as many students don't have the means to travel."

Waiariki and BoPP have been looking at ways to work more collaboratively for a number of years. The new institution could be established as early as January 1, 2016.