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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Simmonds ignored advice in Otago Polytech decision
Penny Simmonds went against early advice by allowing Southern Institute of Technology to stand alone and grouping Otago Polytechnic with a pair of North Island-based institutions, it can be revealed. Advice to the vocational education minister released under the Official Information Act showed the decision to not allow Otago Polytechnic to stand alone was made despite it being assessed as "financially viable" along with six other institutions. The advisers from a special vocational education working group gave Ms Simmonds the option of all seven viable institutions - including SIT and Otago Polytechnic standing alone - but recommended the pair be linked together as part of three regional groupings. Otago Polytechnic and SIT should also be grouped with the Open Polytechnic. Ms Simmonds went on to ignore that advice and linked Otago Polytechnic with Palmerston North-based Universal College of Learning (UCOL) and Lower Hutt-based Open Polytechnic; and approved SIT, which she was formerly the chief executive of for 20 years, standing alone. Green MP Francisco Hernandez said the situation was a mess that benefited no-one in vocational education. "Advice shows that Otago Polytech was considered 'viable', even prior to the extensive and disruptive cuts that Otago was forced to undertake thanks to the lack of support." Mr Hernandez said Ms Simmonds must release the advice proactively "so we can examine the basis for the decision making". Otago Polytechnic executive director Dr Megan Pōtiki saw the advisory group's recommendations this week. "This only adds to our confusion about the decision announced last Monday. "In none of the four options shortlisted by the advisory group was Otago Polytechnic listed as a 'non-viable' entity. "We are deeply concerned that Otago Polytechnic has been unfairly singled out, in a decision which appears to have favoured some organisations for reasons other than financial viability." Dr Pōtiki said she was pleased the option of merging Otago Polytechnic and SIT was not adopted. "Both organisations have long and proud histories of providing quality tertiary education in our respective regions, but we have clear differences in our programme strengths and styles of operations. "However, we are still looking forward to a close and collaborative relationship with our closest neighbour going forward." Dr Pōtiki said Otago Polytechnic should be in surplus by the end of the year. "We are again asking the minister to release the criteria she used for making these decisions, and to clearly communicate why Otago Polytechnic was singled out to be moved out of the 'viable' category and included as part of a federation." Ms Simmonds said the debt and cash reserves of both SIT and Otago Polytechnic when they went into Te Pūkenga contributed to the decision. Otago Polytechnic had $16.1 million debt and $1.3 million in cash reserves, SIT had no debt and $40.1 million in cash reserves, of which $15.6 million were ring-fenced. "The paper you are referring to is an early piece of advice and there were several updates made. Otago Polytechnic is one of the 10 institutions being re-established and will stand alone within the new federation of polytechnics. "It was not grouped with SIT or the Open Polytechnic in a combined entity because the final decision adopted the proposed federation model rather than other options proposed during consultation."
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Bulldog mural to fill space
Love is in the Air was painted on the side of the Mansfield Apartments building in 2015 by Polish artist Natalia Rak. Photo: Gerard O'Brien A British bulldog will replace a pair of lovestruck children as the new face of a central Dunedin building. The Dunedin City Council has granted resource consent for a new mural on the side of the Mansfield Apartments building, at the corner of Bond and Liverpool Sts. It was previously home to the mural Love is in the Air, painted by Polish street artist Natalia Rak in May 2015, which depicted a girl giving a boy holding a lollipop a kiss as they sit together on a red bench. That mural was painted over in March last year, the Dunedin Street Art Trust at the time saying the building's owners had needed to remove it so repairs to the wall could be undertaken. But Rak told the Otago Daily Times she had not received any information about the removal of her artwork and the news left her sad. The proposed new mural would depict a British bulldog, a consent report said. A design for a proposed mural depicting a British bulldog on the Mansfield Apartments building, at the corner of Bond and Liverpool Sts, by Palmerston North-based artist SwiftMantis. Photo: supplied "The artist chosen by the applicant specialises in animal murals and after their discussion with the owners of the building, the bulldog was chosen for its visual interest. "The bulldog also references a historic building located next door to the building the mural is being painted on. This building was the home of the South British Insurance Company. "The Union Jack on the collar is a specific reference to that business/building name." Dunedin Street Art Trust chairman Glen Hazelton confirmed the artist was SwiftMantis, of Palmerston North, who is known for his large-scale hyper-realistic wildlife murals — particularly of rehomed stray cats. "But we thought a dog was a better example in this space," Dr Hazelton said. The trust had wanted an artwork that shared the realistic elements of Love is in the Air and would appeal to the same people who enjoyed that artwork, while not looking too similar.
