Save NorthTec.

By Tumu Whakarae – Tiriti | National President – Tiriti Dr Julie Douglas

In addition to our national campaign to stop the cuts in vocational education, Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union is undertaking a series of local campaigns to save regional polytechnics under attack. One of these is NorthTec, which faces a critical threat despite its vital importance to Northland and Aotearoa.

If the Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills’ proposal to shift ‘unviable’ polytechnics into a federation model anchored by the Open Polytechnic, (an online education provider), goes ahead it will mean significant job losses, the closure of campuses, the sale of assets, and a shift to a learning model that doesn’t necessarily work for the majority of kaimahi in regions like Northland.

While online education can work for some, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. In Northland, where many families lack access to reliable internet or cannot afford quality IT equipment, online learning is simply not practical. NorthTec serves a population where many students thrive in face-to-face learning environments that provide personal interaction, support, and pastoral care – things online learning can’t always replicate.

NorthTec has long been treated like a “poor cousin”, starved of the resources it needs despite serving a region with high unemployment and significant demand for skilled workers. Instead of cutting back on in-person teaching, we should be investing in regional education.

Northland has the highest NEET (not in employment, education or training for 15-24 yr olds) figures in the country at 20.8% (2004 Q2). This is 5% above any other region and indicates a clear need for investment. There is a significant long-term negative impact on social and economic outcomes for the region if this disengagement is not addressed. Robust funding would not only enhance NorthTec’s ability to serve its students and communities but also bolster the region’s economy by equipping people with the skills local businesses desperately need.

The concept of viability in vocational education is fundamentally flawed. Polytechnics like NorthTec are only considered unviable because of chronic underfunding. This is a political construct, not a reflection of their actual importance or potential. If the government valued equitable education and regional development, it would provide funding that meets the actual costs of delivering quality education.

Starving institutions like NorthTec of resources and then labelling them as unviable is both unjust and shortsighted. Education is an investment, not a cost to be slashed. It’s time for the government to recognise the critical role regional polytechnics like NorthTec play in people’s lives and commit to sustainable funding that supports face-to-face learning and regional growth. It’s time for the government to value what is really important – people and communities.

You can help us to save NorthTec and vocational education in your region. Sign up here.