New Crown Manager Must Safeguard Future of Tai Poutini

Media release
Tertiary Education Union - Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa
13 December 2016

New Crown Manager Must Safeguard Future of Tai Poutini Polytechnic

Steven Joyce, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment has today announced the appointment of a Crown Manager for Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP).

The appointment follows in the wake of funding cuts that have impacted negatively on TPP’s provision of much needed education opportunities in the West Coast Region.

Priorities for the Crown Manager over the duration of their appointment must be to maintain educational provision, securing adequate funding for tertiary education in the West Coast area and involving staff, students and the local community in all decisions impacting the future of TPP.

Responding to the announcement, National President of the Tertiary Education Union, Sandra Grey, said: “The TEU is disappointed that the appointment of a Crown Manager at TPP has been necessary.

“The challenges facing TPP that have made this appointment necessary are the result of serious funding cuts imposed on the TPP in recent years. This action could, therefore, have been avoided had the government provided adequate levels of funding. Polytechnics across the country are experiencing similar funding challenges, threatening the future of local provided, publicly owned tertiary education in New Zealand.

“The priority for the new Crown Manager is to ensure educational opportunities are maintained at TPP. In doing so, they must ensure that TPP staff, students and the local community is involved in all discussions and decisions impacting on the future of tertiary education in the West Coast region.“

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