The PSA, the union representing the staff of Skill New Zealand, reacted cautiously to the Government's decision to move the functions of Skill New Zealand into a Tertiary Education Commission.

"We are yet to be convinced that the decision to establish the TEC and to disestablish Skill New Zealand will address the distinctive interests of industry training" said PSA National Secretary, Richard Wagstaff. "We are concerned that the Commission will have a narrower focus with an emphasis placed on traditional or formal tertiary education"

Skill New Zealand has specialist expertise as an organisation in the business of purchasing and managing training for specific target groups. The PSA will be working to ensure that the TEC retains and enhances the functions currently carried out by Skill New Zealand. "Its expertise and capacity to respond effectively to community needs has been built up over the past decade and must not be lost in the new structure" continued Richard Wagstaff.

Any change such as this causes disruption. It is essential there is a well managed transition process, including addressing employment issues. "Our member expect to be closely involved throughout the transition process" Richard Wagstaff concluded.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>