TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2024
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NOVEMBER 21, 2024
Dreams come true
Vitor Fabris of Brazil, left, described taking the oath as a new Kiwi as a “dream come true” when he and his family – now living in Te Awamutu - became New Zealand citizens at the Cambridge Town Hall on Tuesday. Also pictured from left: Clorice Pohl Moreira de Castilho, Valentina Pohl Fabris, 10, mother Janete Fabris, friends Bill and Ruth Ward and father Valter Fabris. United Kingdom – with 24 inductees – topped the poll followed by South Africa with 20. Other countries represented were Colombia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Scotland, Netherlands, India, Fiji, United States, Ireland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Philippines, Germany and England. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Wintec cuts planned
By Mary Anne Gill
Staff and students at Waikato’s century-old polytechnic have been told jobs and courses will have to go to make the institution – which lost $19.4 million last year - financially viable. The impact will be felt across the Waikato-King Country, in towns like Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tokoroa, Putāruru, Morrinsville and Matamata where students have been able to commute daily for studies at the polytechnic’s three Hamilton campuses, without abandoning their communities. The news came on the day Wintec celebrated its 100th birthday on November 1 with staff awards
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and events for students, mana whenua and stakeholders. Several staff reportedly boycotted the celebrations. It also came days after executive director Huia Haeata and other Wintec staffers visited joint programme partners in China. Their students can pathway into graphic design, information technology, construction management and music education in Hamilton – among the courses being closely examined for their viability. Haeta said the proposal split the faculty into three groups, led by directors. Because there were already vacant or fixed term contracts due to expire, the overall impact on staff was 6.4 full time equivalent roles,
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she said. Documents seen by the newspaper suggest staff will have to apply for fewer positions under the proposals while voluntary redundancies are on offer but only for staff told their position is “significantly impacted”. Wintec retains the right to not accept applications for redundancy where it affects operational requirements. Students have been told courses they enrolled in may not go ahead and employers told not to expect interns. One proposal seen by The News is for the School of Media Arts which would decimate the Communication, Music, Performing Arts and Contemporary Art courses and in another blow for the country’s
publishing industry, its prestigious Journalism diploma. Consultation closes and applications for voluntary redundancy are due on December 2, feedback reviewed that week and decisions communicated on December 9. Recruitment and selection would take place in January next year. Wintec has three campuses in Hamilton – one of which, its Horticultural base at Hamilton Gardens would close and move to Rotokauri. Several of the polytechnic’s rented central city buildings would also close. The News is not aware of what is proposed at Wintec’s Thames and Ōtorohanga facilities.
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The proposal says Wintec has lost money every year since 2017 because of declining domestic rolls, cost increases, changes to funding models, a drop in international students due to Covid and changes to visa requirements. Wintec began as Hamilton Technical College in 1924 providing trades training for the region. It split into Wintec and Fraser High School in 1968 with the polytechnic offering engineering, science, accountancy, business management and building trades courses. In the 1990s it started degree offerings in nursing, midwifery, business, sport and exercise science, Continued on page 2
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