Celebration, confusion and uncertainty over polytechs plan

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Minister of Vocational Education Penny Simmonds announces the future of the country’s polytechnics at the post-Cabinet media standup on Monday afternoon.

A major shake-up of the country’s polytechnics has been warmly welcomed by some – whose independence has been assured – but others have been thrown into confusion and uncertainty.

Ten polytechnics will “regain regional governance” from January as part of a significant chance to the way the vocational education system operates, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds announced.

But the minister’s statement then said Otago Polytechnic and Universal College of Learning (UCOL), which were listed among the 10, would be part of a federation with The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand as the “anchor” polytechnic.

“The federation will co-ordinate programmes and other services, including shared academic boards. It will provide a low overhead way for polytechnics to create more efficient business models than they could on their own through the use of on online learning resources and programmes,” the statement said.

Simmonds unveiled the changes on Monday as part of the Government’s plan to reverse Labour’s polytechnic reforms, which merged institutions into the centralised entity Te Pūkenga.

“This is a major milestone in building a vocational education system that’s locally led, regionally responsive, and future focused,” Simmonds said.

The 10 polytechnics “returning to regional control” are:

Ara Institute of Canterbury;
Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT);
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT);

Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Pōtiki says she is deeply disappointed the polytechnic will be part of a federation model, and is seeking clarity from the minister’s office.

Southern Institute of Technology (SIT);
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology;
Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec);
Unitec Institute of Technology and Manukau Institute of Technology (to operate as a single entity);
Otago Polytechnic;
Universal College of Learning (UCOL); and
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

Under the changes, four polytechnics — NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), Whitireia and WelTec, and Tai Poutini Polytechnic — will remain within Te Pūkenga for now as they work toward financial viability. A decision on their future is due in the first half of 2026.

Ara Institute of Canterbury executive director Darren Mitchell says the decision is a “milestone”.

Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Pōtiki said she was “deeply disappointed” it would be part of a federation model as she believed it was in a similar financial position to other polytechnics that will stand alone.

“Standing alone would mean the autonomy to make our own decisions and the ability to respond to the needs and aspirations of our ākonga (students), our kaimahi (staff), our local communities and employers.”

Pōtiki said she was was seeking further clarification around the minister’s announcement, but would “pursue a path towards independence”.

Simmonds’ office was approached for comment to clarify the situation.

Sandra Grey, national secretary of the Tertiary Education Union (TEU), said the new plan for polytechnics was a “disaster for regional Aotearoa”.

“Taking a number of financially unstable institutions and putting them all together is not a recipe for stability, and the only way the others have achieved standalone status is by slashing courses and jobs.”

Legislation enabling the restructure is currently before Parliament and is expected to pass in October.

Te Pūkenga will act as a transitional body for up to a year to oversee unallocated programmes and support a smooth handover. The legislation also provides for mergers or closures if any polytechnic cannot remain financially viable.

“With more than 250,000 students in the vocational education system each year, these changes offer greater flexibility, financial sustainability, and ensure training remains relevant to employment needs,” Simmonds said.

Grey said the four polytechs that will remain in Te Pūkenga with their fate dependant on future financial viability were in rural regions, where vocational education was needed “more than anywhere else”.

“These are places that don’t have universities to go to, where unemployment is high, and yet where lots of industries are crying out for well-trained workers.”

The digital divide will be exacerbated by the change, Grey said.

“Online learning doesn’t work for everyone, even if you have the most up-to-date hardware and stable internet – which many people in the regions don’t have – and it’s particularly problematic for second-chance learners.”

Polytechs that have been given the green light to go their own way responded positively.

Ara Institute of Technology executive director Darren Mitchell said the “milestone” was a “powerful endorsement of the value Ara brings to our communities and industries”.

“It means we can be even more responsive to local needs, more agile in our decision-making and more focused on delivering the skills and innovation that power Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy.”

Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) executive director Olivia Hall said confirmation that the institute would stand alone was “a strong vote of confidence in the institute’s ability to meet the needs of learners and our region”.