Telford campus takeover plan confirmed

Telford, a division of Lincoln University, near Balclutha. Photo: Peter McIntosh

Lincoln University has confirmed plans for Masterton-based Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre to take on its Telford campus, subject to ministerial approval.

Taratahi chief executive Arthur Graves said a proposal had been put forward for ministerial approval, which all three parties involved in negotiations were happy with.

The three parties concerned were Taratahi, Lincoln and the Telford Farm board of management.

''The key thing here is that we believe we have put together ... a really good proposal,'' Mr Graves said.

The nice thing was that all three parties were keen to ''make it happen''.

He could not speculate on the potential outcome of the ministerial decision and nothing would be confirmed until it was made.

If the transfer went ahead, Mr Graves said Taratahi wanted to be ''in there straight away''.

Those students who started at Telford this year would graduate with a Lincoln qualification while any students who enrolled in future courses would be under Taratahi.

The future of the campus has been up in the air since Lincoln announced it was withdrawing support and axed 17 jobs at the learning facility at the end of last year.

A statement of intent was signed between the Lincoln and Taratahi in January, with the support of the Telford Farm board, which included provision for the transfer of operations at Telford from Lincoln to Taratahi, but nothing was confirmed at the time.

An announcement on the negotiations for the potential transfer of the campus was anticipated in April but were still ongoing at that time.

In a statement provided to the Otago Daily Times, Lincoln chief commercial officer Phillip O'Callaghan said the negotiations were delayed due to the fact the education providers wanted to ensure that the future of the campus would be secure under Taratahi.

The providers also wanted to make sure staff and students would not be disadvantaged, and other stakeholders were consulted in the process.

Mr O'Callaghan said staff and students had been advised of the intention to transfer the campus to Taratahi.

''We expect that current students will be able to complete their Lincoln qualification and that staff will be offered positions with Taratahi on their existing terms and benefits.''

Ministerial approval was required before the arrangements could be finalised and confirmed.

Telford Farm board chairman Murray Pilgrim said the board was ''100% in favour'' of the proposal.

''The biggest thing is how long [the decision] will take.''

If the transfer was approved it meant it would ensure Telford would continue to exist for the next generation to enjoy, Mr Pilgrim said.

''That's really been the end goal all the way through - to ensure Telford's survival for the future.''

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he was glad to see progress being made between the education providers and the farm board.

''Telford has had a serious setback in the last year and it's just pleasing to see ... we have a path forward.''

The campus was an integral part of the community and potentially losing it was a genuine threat, Mr Cadogan said.

He hoped that ''after a year of relentless pressure on staff'' that the uncertainty would soon be over.

Mr Pilgrim was not sure when the ministerial decision would be made but understood it would not be until mid-to-late July.

A range of ministers and government agencies involved in the decision process included Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy, Primary Industries associate minister Louise Upston, the Tertiary Education Commission's board of commissioners, the secretary of education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.