Proposed cuts at Massey now total 245.

July 18, 2023

Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 27, No 13

The Vice Chancellor of Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa | Massey University, Jan Thomas, has announced further cuts today, with calls for “voluntary enhanced cessation” (voluntary redundancy) now also targeting as many as 70 jobs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 35 in the College of Creative Arts, and 15 in the Business School.

When added to the 125 cuts announced across the Colleges of Sciences, Health, and the Library last week, the total number of cuts announced at Massey has risen to 245.

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union’s Kaiwhakahaere | Organiser at Massey, Ben Schmidt, says "it remains incredibly disappointing and short sighted of Massey to continue down this path in spite of the government’s recent $128 million cash injection that was intended to stop cuts of this scale and protect “capacity” and “provision” in the sector nationwide.”

“In the College of Humanities and Social Sciences alone, the cuts target areas such as the School of People, Environment and Planning, the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication, and the Speech Language Therapy Programme within the Institute of Education.”

“With the loss of up to 245 jobs across the university, capacity and provision will be lost in these subjects that contribute enormously to the way our society functions, makes sense of itself and the world, and understands the important challenges we face.”

“It’s outrageous that cuts of this scale are taking place, but what makes matters even worse is the way they are being pushed through via policy changes and voluntary redundancy with no real engagement with the staff who will be expected to pick up the pieces after the dust settles.”

“We call on the Vice Chancellor to stop the cuts and start talking with union members about better ways forward.

TEU members will rally against job cuts on Thursday 20 July, 8:45-9:45AM, at the Manawatū Campus’s Refectory Building where Massey’s governing council will be meeting. All staff and students are encouraged to attend and demand they stop the cuts.

Also in this update:

Other stories:

Massey staff angry as cuts pile up with no consultation – TEU

Skills shortages solved by collaboration not pork barrel politics – TEU

Massey policy changes would diminish the university – TEU

Universities' proposed language cuts threaten New Zealand's interests, academics warn – RNZ