Coffey wants new tech's HQ in Rotorua

Tamati Coffey

Rotorua's Labour Party spokesman wants Rotorua to become the "headquarters" for the region's new polytechnic, if a planned merger goes ahead.

Tamati Coffey is also calling for more detail and better public consultation on the proposed merger between Waiariki Institute of Technology and Tauranga's Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

He said any job losses would hurt Rotorua much more than they would Tauranga.

"Tauranga is one of our nation's fastest growing cities and economies. They don't need to retain the head office of any merged organisation as much as we do.

"To have the 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," Mr Coffey said.

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.

Speaking on behalf of both polytechnics, the director of finance and corporate services at Waiariki, Paul Wollaston, said the merger was all about "the best possible outcomes for students".

"The business case that has been developed proposes a new combined institution with the scale and resources to provide quality vocational and professional education across the wider Bay of Plenty.

"It is important to recognise that we are only at the business-case stage and we have to be careful not to get too far ahead of the process."

Mr Coffey said the public wanted more information about the merger. "The ripples of announcing a merger affect all of us. Students, staff, employers, parents, children - and that is before we look at the various community initiatives Waiariki lends its support to.

"Yet despite this and the invitation for feedback, very little outside of the basic premise seems to have been publicly issued to 'feedback' on, especially in the areas that people want to know most."