A major issue for Nelson this year will be the future of our polytechnic. It is vital for the opportunities it gives Nelsonians to upskill, gain qualifications and earn more. It’s pivotal to our businesses with many struggling to recruit skilled staff. It is also crucial to the city’s economy with students adding to our community’s vibrancy and the polytechnic’s position as one of Nelson’s largest employers.
Nelson City Council provided the original land in Hardy Street for its establishment in 1904 as the Nelson Technical School. It grew into the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and has excelled in areas such as commerce, nursing, creative arts and marine industries. Nelson lost control of NMIT in 2020 when then Education Minister Chris Hipkins merged New Zealand’s 16 polytechnics and nine Industry Training Organisations into Te Pūkenga.
The tragedy for Nelson of the megamerger was that it was driven by the difficulties in other areas. Some large metro polytechnics were in serious debt and some of the smallest also struggled. NMIT sat in the sweet middle size wise, was well governed and managed locally and had $20 million in cash reserves.
This radical nationalisation has been an expensive flop. Student enrolments have dropped, Te Pūkenga’s deficits have soared and many staff have been made redundant. There have been scandals over the turnover of expensive Chief Executives, tens of millions spent on restructuring and damning reports on performance.
My greatest concern in Nelson has been the loss of skilled staff and the decline in student numbers. The city is particularly missing the 1000+ international students. Te Pūkenga has been slow and bureaucratic in rebuilding international student numbers after the disruption from Covid. The opportunity to independently market Nelson globally as a great place to study, work and recreate has been lost.
I recently wrote to new Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds about restoring local governance. She was previously CEO of the very successful Southern Institute of Technology. Nelson City Council will be discussing how we can help secure the best possible future for Nelson’s Polytechnic. Our goal is to enhance Nelson as a great place to study.
