4. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
What support is being offered to Māori training providers to remain viable, following cuts to the Training Opportunities Programmes?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) Link to this
Funding for the Training Opportunities Programme was reduced by the previous Labour Government in Budget 2008 from around $86 million to around $78 million. This has reduced the overall number of places available in 2010. All providers, including Māori training providers, have only recently been given their indicative funding allocation for 2010, so questions of viability support are premature. Their indicative allocations are based on an assessment of provider performance in 2008 against labour market outcomes and student attendance. If providers do not agree with their indicative funding allocation, they are able to seek a review of their allocation.
What support can be provided to Dunedin’s Arai Te Uru Kōkiri Training Centre, the only registered Māori training provider left between Christchurch and Invercargill, which has run a very successful chef training level 3 programme for the last 11 years with Skill Enhancement funding, which is not eligible for Youth Guarantee funding, and which is likely to lose up to 20 percent of its funded places?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
In respect of training opportunities, I am advised that overall allocations are made in a way that ensures good coverage across the country. With regard to an individual provider, the Minister for Tertiary Education is barred by section 159J of the Education Act 1989 from interfering with funding allocations for individual providers. The Tertiary Education Commission makes these decisions on the basis of past performance.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
How does the Minister expect not only the kōkiri centre referred to by my colleague in the previous supplementary question but also the Pathfinders programme in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, which is also known for the successful provision of training to young Māori, to continue, when not only the Skill Enhancement programme—which upholds the kōkiri centre—but also the Pathfinders scholarships funding has been axed?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
As I said in answer to the previous supplementary question, section 159J of the Education Act bars the Minister from getting involved in funding decisions regarding individual providers. If providers are not happy with their indicative funding allocation, there are established procedures to seek a review. That is as far as the Minister can go.
When they have taken these steps what support can be provided to, for example, Te Atatu Tu Tangata Academy, which was founded by June Māriu in 1982, and which has had to close its Training Opportunities Programme course after its 33 places were cut to six, leaving only one remaining Māori provider in central Auckland?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
With regard to training opportunities in Auckland, I am advised there are still 677 places available in central Auckland next year. With regard to the individual provider, I am advised that the Minister for Tertiary Education is barred by section 159J of the Education Act from interfering with funding allocations for individual providers. The Tertiary Education Commission makes these decisions on the basis of past performance.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
I seek leave to table a compendium of statements from Wairoa College, Ōpōtiki College, Kawerau College, and others, lamenting the loss of the Pathfinders scholarships, and the risk that that poses to young Māori.
Mr SPEAKER