6. LESLEY SOPER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
What recent reports has he received on tertiary education funding?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
I have seen many, many reports. Last Friday the Tertiary Education Commission published its investment plans for eight universities, 20 polytechs, 38 industry training organisations, three wānanga, and dozens of private training organisations. This marks a major change in the way tertiary education is funded in this country. Public comment to date has been very positive indeed, although members will note that the Mayor of Invercargill is troubled.
Why is Mayor Tim Shadbolt troubled, and would the Minister care to comment on his meeting with representatives from the Southern Institute of Technology earlier today?
Mayor Tim Shadbolt thinks that we are cutting the out of region provision of distance learning too hard, when, in fact, we are investing to about the same extent next year as we were last year. Furthermore, the Tertiary Education Commission has decided to increase provision—listen to that—in Southland by 12 percent. That decision is not covered in the media and is not to be found on the airwaves, but everyone seems to think it is a good thing. As for the meeting with those from the Southern Institute of Technology, I think they would say it was a good one and an honest one. However, honest differences remain, and I see we need to build more trust between the Government and the Southern Institute of Technology than exists at present to better resolve issues, and we will do that.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Is rebel Cabinet Minister Damien O’Connor going to be punished for contradicting Government policy when he told the Sunday Star-Times that provincial polytechs should be able to offer courses outside their regions, and why has the Minister punished four South Island polytechs serving rural areas—the Southern Institute of Technology, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Aoraki Polytechnic, and Telford Rural Polytechnic—when all have offered quality, relevance, innovation, and value for money?
Changes for each of the polytechs have been happily negotiated; they are happy about them. Aoraki Polytechnic says it is happy. Telford Rural Polytechnic says it is happy. The Southern Institute of Technology is not happy because we reduced its out of region provision by more than it had anticipated. We are in discussion, differences remain, and it is really important that we get a better idea of one another’s point of view. National’s Southland MPs keep putting out press statements saying they are on to it, but I have yet to hear from either of them—not one of them. Neither of them has rung me, written to me, or been in touch with the Tertiary Education Commission. They have not done anything except put out press statements.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
I seek leave to table the Southland Times article that states: “… Lesley Soper has accused Southern Institute of Technology chief executive Penny Simmonds of ‘game-playing’ …”.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
I seek leave to table the Tertiary Education Commission’s report of 14 December, demonstrating that five rural polytechs are losing money.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
I seek leave to table the latest Sunday Star-Times, in which Damien O’Connor contradicts his own Government’s tertiary education policy.
Madam SPEAKER
Eric RoyI seek leave to table 28 letters I have received from students who are gravely concerned about the restrictions of the—
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
I seek leave to table a copy of Mayor Tim’s most famous book, which adequately sums up this entire issue.