A report from the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic/Waiariki said the decision to merge was subject to a 20 working-day period of consultation with staff and other key stakeholders.
A report from the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic/Waiariki said the decision to merge was subject to a 20 working-day period of consultation with staff and other key stakeholders.
Bay leaders are sparring over where the headquarters for the region's new polytechnic should be based if a planned merger between Waiariki Institute and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic goes ahead.
Earlier this week, Labour Party spokesman Tamati Coffey told the Rotorua Daily Post : "Tauranga is one of our nation's fastest-growing cities and economies. They do not need to retain the head office of any merged organisation as much as we [Rotorua] do."
Any job losses would hurt Rotorua more than they would Tauranga, Mr Coffey said.
"To have a large volume of non-tutorial staff at Rotorua's Mokoia Campus relocate to Tauranga in order to retain their jobs would have a damaging effect on our local economy."
With Waiariki's additional campuses in Tokoroa, Taupo and Whakatane, backed by further qualification offerings in peripheral centres such as Opotiki, Turangi and Kawerau, Mr Coffey said Rotorua would be a perfect central location should the Government approve the proposed business plan.
National Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said he was "delighted Tamati acknowledges Tauranga is one of the fastest-growing cities and economies in New Zealand".
"This growth will require more top-class vocational provision, which the merged entity will need to deliver."
However, he believed Tauranga had a strong case for the headquarters to be based in the city, if the merger happened.
"In terms of head office, ultimately it's up to the merged entity to decide. I think Tauranga has a strong case."
Priority One strategic projects manager Greg Simmonds said the decision on where to site the head office would be based on what was best for the merged organisation and student outcomes across the Bay of Plenty.
"The existing infrastructure of significant campuses in both Tauranga and Rotorua will remain, regardless of where the head office is based."
Speaking on behalf of both polytechnics, the director of finance and corporate services at Waiariki, Paul Wollaston, said it was important to recognise they were only at the business case stage.
"We have to be careful not to get too far ahead of the process. Questions regarding possible organisational structures will be more appropriate if the proposed merger is approved by the Minister of Tertiary Education, and when we enter the implementation planning phase," Mr Wollaston said.
A report from the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic/Waiariki said the decision to merge was subject to a 20 working-day period of consultation with staff and other key stakeholders. If the merger proceeded, individual employment would be transferred over to the new institution on existing terms and conditions.
Politicians Todd Muller, above, and Tamati Coffey, below, both want any merged educational organisation based in their city.
In 2016, the roles and tasks as set out in current job descriptions would continue to be delivered in adherence to the contracts.
Meanwhile, the programmes students had enrolled in would continue to be offered, so they could complete their studies and graduate with the qualification applied for.
New students would have the opportunity to enrol in the wide range of programmes.
Have your say •Bay of Plenty Polytechnic staff and stakeholders: consultation@boppoly.ac.nz •Waiariki Institute of Technology staff and stakeholders: feedback@waiariki.ac.nz •Provide feedback by August 4, 2015 to enable councils to consider the feedback before making their recommendation to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Employment and Skills
What do you think? Have your say below or email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz, go to our facebook page, text 021 241 4568 BOP (message) or write to Private Bag 12002. Response may be published.
