22 April 2008 Media Statement
Government supports Otago Polytechnic to centralise in Dunedin

Otago Polytechnic is to receive $5.985 million to enable it to centralise more of its education and training on its main Dunedin campus, Tertiary Education Minister Pete Hodgson announced today.

The capital investment will be used to relocate the polytechnic’s Catering and Hospitality School to the main campus, and build a new annex for its Art School.

“Consolidating around the Dunedin campus and exiting leases on other premises will help the polytechnic to move to a more sustainable way of operating,” said Pete Hodgson.

“Otago Polytechnic is a key tertiary education organisation in the Otago region, offering a significant number of courses in key areas such as health, including midwifery, fine arts and design, veterinary nursing and viticulture.

“This Labour-led government is committed to supporting polytechnics to better meet the needs of their regions.

“The government recognises that some polytechnics need to change the way they operate and need additional funding to do that. This is where the type of investment announced today comes in.”

Pete Hodgson said the government, through the tertiary reforms, was implementing a new way of planning, funding and monitoring tertiary education to support institutions and high quality provision.

The government also announced additional funding for Gisborne’s Tairawhiti Polytechnic ($1.3 million) and Whitireia Community Polytechnic in Porirua ($1.08 million) to help the polytechnics better meet the needs of their regions.

The Tertiary Education Commission will work closely with all three polytechnics to ensure the money is well-spent and the objectives behind the decision to provide this funding are met.

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