The New Zealand government’s job cuts are hitting the education sector hard, leaving Ministry of Education staff in tears and now directing Te Pūkenga to resume cost-cutting and asset sales at its polytechnics.
The Ministry of Education plans to cut over 700 positions to comply with a government directive to reduce costs. However, this process has been paused due to a legal challenge from the Public Service Association (PSA) regarding the handling of the job cuts. The PSA argued that the process violated workers’ collective agreements and did not meet obligations for rehiring and retraining.
Ministry staff described the process as distressing and inconsistent, with Aleeta Hau sharing her embarrassment and constant tears. Tania Kelly Roxborogh recounted confusing changes to her role, leading to financial strain, while Hayley Whitaker criticised the restructuring as unfair and messy.
Six months after halting work, Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds has instructed Te Pūkenga to resume cost-cutting and asset sales due to the financial unsustainability of some polytechnics. The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) expressed concerns over the stress and uncertainty this directive brings to already pressured staff. Union assistant secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu noted the unusual nature of a second letter of expectations from the minister, highlighting the difficulty staff face in identifying further savings after years of cuts.
Simmonds’ letter also called for Te Pūkenga to decentralise decision-making while addressing the financial challenges within its network. She pointed out the long-standing financial distress in the polytechnic sector and the urgent need for action to ensure regional education provision remains viable.
As both the Ministry of Education and Te Pūkenga navigate these challenging changes, staff across the education sector are facing an emotional and uncertain future.