An open letter to the Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Cc: Dr Rod Carr, vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury

28 March 2012

Dear Mr Joyce,

We write to you to deplore the proposed closure of entire programmes and majors at the University of Canterbury. We warned you last year that, without your intervention and support, many staff at the university would lose their jobs, and students would lose the opportunity to study the courses that inspire them.

That travesty, of course closures and job losses, is now imminent. However, we believe it is not too late to act to save these programmes and the opportunities for students in these majors. Canterbury needs, now more than ever, a broad and diverse tertiary education that provides opportunities for all its potential students.

You have refused to meet with us since we warned you of this. But the time has come now to listen. We, as representatives of tertiary education staff from across the country, call upon you to intervene and provide the financial security the University of Canterbury needs to get back on its feet.

We are ready to work with you to make sure that people throughout the Canterbury region have the opportunity to learn.

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Grey,
TEU national president

And the branch presidents and executive officers of the TEU nationally:
Alex Sims, Women’s Vice President
Carol Soal, Aoraki Polytechnic
Charlotte Burkhardt, EIT
Christian Long, University of Canterbury
Craig Marshall, University of Otago
Craig West, Otago Polytechnic
David Ayre, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Eric J Stone, Northland Polytechnic
Frances Matheson, Victoria University of Wellington
Gordon Reid, Eastern Institute of Technology
Harvey Jones, Massey University
Helen Kissell, Universities General Staff Vice President
James Houkāmau, Whitireia Community Polytechnic
John Prince, AUT University
Karen McCann, New Zealand Childcare Association
Lani Emery, Te Wānanga O Aotearoa
Lesley Francey, Manukau Institute of Technology
Lorna Johnson, Universal College of Learning
Paul Taillon, University of Auckland
Peter Wilkie, Auckland Institute of Studies
Phil Oxenham, Tai Poutini Polytechnic
Philip Bright, Waiariki Polytechnic
Richard Draper, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
Rose Cardoso, Southern Institute of Technology
Sarah Hardman, Unitec
Stuart Larsen, Lincoln University
Susan Bennett, Wintec
Teresa La Rooy, University of Otago

ENDS

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