Comments on: WITTling Down http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/02/05/wittling-down/ Tertiary education news and views Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:57:26 +1300 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Dave Guerin http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/02/05/wittling-down/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Dave Guerin Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:29:39 +0000 http://www.ed.co.nz/?p=113#comment-16 I think some other issues are also relevant here, using Tai Poutini as an example. First up, Tai Poutini doesn't serve 3,000 students on the Coast, but the money it makes from its non-Coast activities supports its work on the Coast. Second, I'm not sure that there is an automatic link between funding and enrolments - you can also change your costs and your delivery processes. Third, Tai Poutini's main issue is that the last government's policy of staying within your region still has a strong influence - if their hands weren't tied in that way, they'd probably be fine (would create challenges for others that are protected in their regions now). I think some other issues are also relevant here, using Tai Poutini as an example. First up, Tai Poutini doesn’t serve 3,000 students on the Coast, but the money it makes from its non-Coast activities supports its work on the Coast. Second, I’m not sure that there is an automatic link between funding and enrolments – you can also change your costs and your delivery processes. Third, Tai Poutini’s main issue is that the last government’s policy of staying within your region still has a strong influence – if their hands weren’t tied in that way, they’d probably be fine (would create challenges for others that are protected in their regions now).

]]> By: Darel Hall http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/02/05/wittling-down/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Darel Hall Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:36:28 +0000 http://www.ed.co.nz/?p=113#comment-14 How do you sell reduced services to a regional community? Tai Poutini, for example, states that it opened in Greymouth in 1990 with 90 students. It now boasts 3,000 students at Greymouth and at specialist campuses in Wanaka, Auckland, Hokitika, Reefton, Westport and Christchurch. Last census, the West Coast region had just over 31,000 people. How many regions can this (any) government upset before it starts to lose electorates, and is it willing to do that? I look at the last government's school network review backdown. How do you sell reduced services to a regional community? Tai Poutini, for example, states that it opened in Greymouth in 1990 with 90 students. It now boasts 3,000 students at Greymouth and at specialist campuses in Wanaka, Auckland, Hokitika, Reefton, Westport and Christchurch.

Last census, the West Coast region had just over 31,000 people.

How many regions can this (any) government upset before it starts to lose electorates, and is it willing to do that? I look at the last government’s school network review backdown.

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