Lawrence Yule has started a petition to "Save EIT". Photo / File
Lawrence Yule has started a petition to "Save EIT". Photo / File
Two campaigns to "save" EIT have been launched amid uncertainty over the institution's future.
Tukituki National MP Lawrence Yule launched a petition titled: "Save our EIT - Hear our Voice", which "strongly opposes" Education Minister Chris Hipkins' proposed overhaul of the country's polytechnics into one national body.
The proposed NZInstitute of Skills and Technology will take over programme design and administration for all campuses of what are now 16 separate polytechnics.
It will also take over enrolling and managing apprentices and industry trainees from what are now 11 industry training organisations (ITOs).
The changes through the Reform of Vocational Education (ROVE) project underwent a six-week consultation period which ended on March 27.
"EIT has never run a deficit, has strong enrolment growth and is proudly connected to the education needs of the community. Successive chairs, boards and CEOs have skilfully charted a path of sustained growth and increased course options."
The land on which EIT sits was donated by the Hetley family for the original Hawke's Bay Community College, and Yule says "any attempt to somehow include this gifted land into a New Zealand Polytechnic is deeply disrespectful to the Hetley family and their generosity".
Yule, along with senior National Party members, including leader Simon Bridges, has met with EIT.
Former Labour party candidate Anna Lorck said she wanted a "public-led campaign to support the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), not a politically motivated petition trying to be established by Lawrence".
Lorck, who has a daughter studying at EIT, says "a campaign initiated by the Hawke's Bay community will send a much stronger message to the Minister of Education than just a political one by Mr Yule".
"I met with EIT deputy chief executive Mark Oldershaw some months ago, to gain a better understanding of our EIT's position and offer support. I suggested one of the better approaches was to get the community 100 per cent behind its desire to retain our tertiary institute's identity.
"Let's be clear, our EIT is not going, but if it was, we'd all be marching in the streets or protesting outside the Beehive.
"This is about what's good for Hawke's Bay and delivering a tertiary model that works for our region and can transgress across New Zealand.
Anna Lorck says she wants the public to make its voice known in another way. Photo / File
"I believe a genuine Hawke's Bay campaign supporting our EIT will have far greater impact, led by the people for the people of Hawke's Bay."
Yule says it is a "bit rich of Anna" asking him to join her campaign days after he launched his own.
"Let's be clear Anna is chair of the Tukituki branch of the Labour Party which is actually the party responsible for the proposed merger of EIT.
"Regardless I will support any attempt to Save EIT. That is the sole reason I launched my own petition."
EIT deputy chief executive Mark Oldershaw said this is an "indication of our strong links into our community".
"It is nice to know that people are motivated to support EIT as a strong anchor in Hawke's Bay."
"There has been substantial local support from employers and local industry, as well as all Mayors and the chair of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council when the Tertiary Education Commission visited during its consultation period."
Oldershaw said while the future is unknown, and they are waiting on Hipkins' announcement, they are hopeful of a strong future.
"We hope that he would look favourably on the public stances such as this and that there is a demand for EIT to stay strongly connected with our local communities.
"In the interim period, we continue to deliver strong tertiary and vocational education results for this region along with community centred research."
He said there is high demand for EIT study programmes and the year to date enrolments continue at a high level.
Over 10,000 people studied at EIT in 2018, the most in its history.
