National Māori leader Pita Tipene stands for Northland Regional Council
Tipene (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Te Tarawa) is standing in the council's Te Raki Māori constituency, which he said Northlanders should poll to keep
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NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
NorthTec staff fear more cuts amid Te Pūkenga disestablishment
Another 10 polytechnics would be re-established, she said. NorthTec earlier this year suggested axing 11 programmes across primary industries, forestry and construction. The cuts were opposed by the Tertiary Education Union and appeared to remain paused – until Monday. Some changes following feedback earlier this year meant eight fulltime roles were now in limbo, and courses such as the New Zealand Certificate in Forestry Operations (Level 3) would no longer be delivered. Te Uepū representative and NorthTec curriculum lead Sharlene Nelson said staff morale was lower than before. She told the Northern Advocate prior to Monday's meeting that a few people had gone on leave to 'try and cope with everything'. In Nelson's opinion, NorthTec had become a 'really horrible place to work'. Staff were living with constant uncertainty and were unsure whether they should be looking for jobs, she said. Slatter acknowledged the consultation was ongoing and difficult for all involved. 'We will work with kaimahi over all proposed changes, with the aim of minimising any impact on our ākonga,' he said. Nelson believed a stable senior management team with experience in education was the minimum needed to move forward. She claimed cuts to niche courses would make it harder for vulnerable Northlanders to improve their lives. 'Some of the students that we actually deal with, especially in our smaller regions, they come to us and still can't read, and we're talking about adults in their 30s, 40s. 'If they can't read a basic document, how are they going to improve their lives?' Tertiary Education Union (TEU) organiser Jill Jones said it felt as though the Government had 'abandoned its responsibility' to prioritise regional education. 'Some students are saying 'well look, why should I enrol at NorthTec if I don't even know if my course is going to exist in the future?'' Jones felt it was unfair for NorthTec to expect staff to cope with the uncertainty and still front up to students. Staff were losing trust 'every day', she said. National president for the TEU Julie Douglas did not believe the way forwards for Northland was a 'whole lot of private training providers'. She described the situation as 'fait accompli', claiming there was a deliberate attempt by the Government 'for these places to just fall over'. 'They're not being resourced, they're not being supported, they're not getting the sort of expertise they need and it's the staff who are bearing the brunt of that with angry, disappointed students and communities.' Simmonds assured the Government was committed to supporting vocational education in Northland and countrywide. A $20 million annual fund over the next two years could support provision in smaller and rural areas like Northland, she said. 'This helps ensure that learners are not disadvantaged by where they live while we work through a longer-term plan for funding this type of provision. 'Our focus is on building a vocational education system that is locally led, regionally responsive and future focused – including for Northland.' Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Northland business heavyweights pushing for $60b-a-year economy
Northland Corporate Group co-chairman and Northpower chief executive Andrew McLeod said the event was likely the first of its kind for any region and was a chance for Northlanders to stand in solidarity. 'It's a very positive chance for Northland to remind people what we do and what we're gunning for in the next 25 years,' he said. 'Everyone is standing up, to stand united in Parliament: that's a really cool thing.' The report was not about asking for a Government handout but to show what the north is capable of, encouraging confidence and private investment, McLeod said. However, there is also a need for central Government to play its part in planning for infrastructure, including ensuring there is a reliable road link from Northland to Auckland, he said. Northland Corporate Group co-chairman and Northpower chief executive Andrew McLeod says the regional solidarity shown in Wellington for the report's launch is unique for any region. Photo / NZME 'A reasonable state of infrastructure between Whangārei and Auckland is all that we're asking – it happens everywhere else in New Zealand.' Last year, Northland Corporate Group commissioned NZIER to investigate the benefits of a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Northland and it found it would boost GDP by $1.2b a year. A few months later, the coalition Government confirmed a four-lane highway to Whangārei, including over the Brynderwyn Hills. Companies have been asked to bid for a public-private partnership for the first stage. McLeod said the expressway report showed the importance of having analysis done and encouraged Northland Corporate Group to commission the new report. The report found Northland's GDP per capita is currently 30% below the national average but the region holds natural resource and geographical advantages. McLeod said all of the potential projects in the report have already been talked about, such as an energy precinct at Marsden Point, the Northport expansion and irrigation to encourage more horticulture. Northland Corporate Group includes Channel Infrastructure NZ, Culham Engineering, Marsden Maritime Holdings, McKay, Northpower and Top Energy, who employ a combined total of more than 3500 people. 'People don't realise Northland's economic muscle' McLeod said the report outlines the true impact of Northland's economy on Auckland and the rest of New Zealand, which may be a surprise to some. 'Typically, people think of us as a nice place to come on holiday but they don't realise our economic muscle.' Some facts about Northland highlighted in the report are: Channel Infrastructure supplies 40% of New Zealand's land transport fuel and 80% of the country's jet fuel, including the entire supply for Auckland International Airport. Culham Engineering is one of New Zealand's largest integrated engineering firms, providing fabricated steel for many large-span bridges and high-rise buildings. Golden Bay Cement in Whangārei is New Zealand's only domestic cement producer, manufacturing 60% of national demand for cement. Northland is a cornerstone of New Zealand's food system, including producing more than 90% of the country's kūmara and supporting high-value crops such as avocados. A large pipeline of renewable electricity generation projects in Northland scheduled for the next two years will be sufficient to make the region a net electricity exporter. Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
Scoop
20-07-2025
- Scoop
Enroll To Vote + Last Chance For Feedback On Navigation Safety Bylaw
Enroll to vote Northlanders keen to vote in this year's local elections - including a poll to keep or remove Māori constituency seats - must be enrolled by Friday 01 August to receive a standard voting pack. After this date, you'll need to cast a special vote. Meanwhile people keen to stand for council also have until Friday 01 August get their nominations in. Anyone aged 18 and over can stand for election provided they're a New Zealand citizen, enrolled on the Parliamentary electoral roll and are nominated by two electors whose names appear on the electoral roll within the constituency the candidate is standing for. More information about the upcoming elections and poll is available at Last chance for feedback on Navigation Safety Bylaw Northlanders are being urged to have their say on Northland Regional Council's Navigation Safety Bylaw, which sets the rules for keeping people safe on the water, by Monday 28 July. After a first feedback period during May, this second opportunity provides more detail on the key proposals. The proposals include a new requirement to carry two forms of communication on a vessel; amending the requirements for wearing a lifejacket; and removing a clause prohibiting wind-powered board sports in the Ruakākā and Waipū estuaries. The feedback period runs until Monday 28 July. More detail can be found at
