Alliance says Otago Design Institute loan gets the boot while stadium sucks up Government funds

The Alliance Party of New Zealand is disappointed to learn that funding for the new Otago Design Institute may be in jeopardy because the government has decided to funnel cash towards the controversial and unpopular Otago Stadium.

"The Otago Design Institute would benefit the design industry and also New Zealand as a whole. Yet its funding is now in jeopardy while the Government writes big cheques to rescue a stadium with little long- term benefit to Otago, let alone the rest of New Zealand," says Alliance Tertiary Education Spokesperson Richard Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell is a former President of the Otago Polytech Students Association.

"There is obviously a limited amount of funding available and the amount required for the Design Institute as a loan is in the ballpark for the Bill English handout to the stadium."

The Otago Design Institute is a joint project between the University of Otago and the Otago Polytechnic.

Mr Mitchell says with the new high-tech prototype and modelling facility, the Otago Design Institute will take collaboration between educators across New Zealand and the Design Industry to a new level.

He says it is exactly the type of forward thinking, creative development that would boost Dunedin and New Zealand.

"It is time the government invested in projects that have long term benefits to New Zealand, not those that have limited benefits to New Zealand but large benefits to a few vested interests and big business."

The Alliance is urging the government to grant the funding to Otago Polytechnic and let the Otago Institute of Design become a reality.

ENDS

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