Students, staff voice strong opposition (+video)

Haydn Marriner (left), of Keep Waiariki Local, speaks during a public meeting called to discuss the proposed polytechnic merger. Photo / Stephen Parker

Past and present students and staff of Waiariki Institute of Technology joined Rotorua residents in speaking out against a proposed merger with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

A public meeting was held in the Rotorua Lakes Council chamber last night with more than 60 people attending. The meeting was organised by the group Keep Waiariki Local. Those who spoke overwhelmingly objected to the proposal.

The meeting was opened by Te Arawa kaumatua Sir Toby Curtis and Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, before it was handed over to meeting chairman Dr Johan Morreau.

Keep Waiariki Local organisers Tamati Coffey and Haydn Marriner presented their concerns about the merger, which included possible job losses, the timeline for consultation, possible loss of culture and future qualifications.

Waiariki Faculty of Health dean Ruth Barnes and dean of Business, Information Technology and Creative Arts, Dr Len Jennings, jointly read a statement from the Waiariki council. The pair had no part in the formation of the proposal and could not answer questions on behalf of the institute.

"Our conclusion is that Waiariki and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic can achieve more together than by continuing on separate paths," they read. "We need to take a region-wide view, so that our whole region can prosper, rather than being limited by our size and hampered by unnecessary and wasteful competition between the two institutions."

Mr Coffey said there was a tight timeframe of 29 days since the 166-page business case was publicly released and when submissions closed on Tuesday.

Mr Marriner also questioned the public consultation that occurred in March when the proposal was first publicised.

"In the business case it states out of the 5000-plus students held between both Waiariki and Bay of Plenty, and the 250,000 people that are community stakeholders in the Bay of Plenty region, they received a total of 43 responses. That would seem a little light in order to make a decision about merging approximately 2500 jobs across the Bay of Plenty region," he said.

A current staff member spoke as a ratepayer and citizen. "We have been told as staff not as much as you imagine from reading the business case," she said. "If I felt I was fully informed, I wouldn't be here."

-See tomorrow's paper for further coverage of the meeting and go to the Rotorua Daily Post website, www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz, for video and photos.