Cuts set Toi Ohomai up to fail.

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union is devastated by today’s news of massive job losses proposed at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

The institution is proposing to disestablish the jobs of 166.7 full time equivalent staff with a total net loss of over 60 jobs after new roles have been filled. The cuts will effect campuses in Rotorua, Tauranga and Whakatāne; and most disturbingly threaten the closure of the Tokoroa and Taupō campuses.

The proposal identifies the 2023 change of government and the current Minister’s requirement for ITPs to demonstrate ongoing viability if they want to become standalone entities as a key driver of the cuts.

Te Pou Ahurei | National Secretary Sandra Grey describes the proposal as “outrageous” and lays the blame squarely at the feet of the National-led government. “Education is not a business. It operates, for the most part, on government funding. National, ACT and New Zealand First are trying to pull the wool over the public’s eyes by refusing to adequately fund polytechs before forcing them to slash and burn their way to oblivion because they have been labelled “unviable”.

Toi Ohomai’s TEU (Rotorua) branch Kaiarataki Takirua | Co-leaders Ashton Ledger and Santana Ammunson say “these proposed changes pose a significant risk to our regional campuses – especially Taupō and Tokoroa - and undermine the government’s stated intentions to shape a regionally-responsive and sustainable vocational education and training system.”

“It’s also ironic to note that these proposed changes will slash support for international students – an area the government expects us to grow to make up the shortfall of their underfunding. We are being set up to fail.”