Wananga to lose 330 staff

Te Wananga o Aotearoa has confirmed 330 staff will be made redundant as the institute restructures to survive.

Dozens of staff have already left voluntarily.

The Te Awamutu-based tertiary institute's new structure contains provisions for more than 750 positions -- down from 1265 staff at its peak.

Those affected by the restructuring are mainly middle management and support staff, who were told yesterday they had lost their jobs.

They have the option of applying for 150 newly created positions.

Tank Gordon, chairman of Tuia, the union representing more than 700 wananga staff, told The Waikato Times that under the circumstances staff were pleased with the plans.

"The wananga is bleeding $3 million a month," he said. "This has got to happen for the continuation of the wananga."

Wananga council chairman Craig Coxhead said the new structure was almost the same as proposed in April.

The main difference was that an increased number of staff would be employed at a regional rather than head office level.

- NZPA