Communities across Aotearoa deserve thriving, regional polytechnics that can help meet the needs of learners and the wider community.    

Our polytechs provide people with opportunities to upskill, retrain and meaningfully contribute to communities - but our polytechs are in crisis.  

The Government’s cuts to vocational education and training have resulted in a reduction of classes, teachers, and support for people trying to build their skills. This means less opportunities for people out there and even less hope for those struggling under the cost-of-living crisis.    

The Green Party is calling on the Government to properly fund our polytechs, end the cuts, and work with communities to create a real plan to establish thriving polytechs across Aotearoa New Zealand.   

Sign our petition today and join us in calling on the Minister for Vocational Education, Hon Penny Simmonds, to do just that. 

[Petition Begins]  

Tēnā koe Minister Simmonds, 

Communities across Aotearoa deserve thriving, regional polytechnics that can help meet the needs of learners and the wider community – but our polytechs are in crisis. 

Across the motu we are seeing an extensive wave of staffing cuts, course disestablishments and even campus closures. Campuses across the country from Tokoroa to Wellington have been planned for closure, and staff and courses have been cut from Northland to Otago.  

This is the direct result of the Government’s Vocational Education and Training reforms. These directives for Polytechs to make cuts—just so they look financially viable on paper--are a poor choice.  

Decisions like these directly harm our communities.  

Our communities are already struggling amidst a dire cost-of-living crisis. From Northland to Otago, cuts mean a loss in jobs and opportunity.  

What we need now is support, not a reduction in classes, teachers, and investment in people trying to build their skills and enter into the workforce.  

We need to save our polytechs so they are able to provide people with opportunities to upskill, retrain and meaningfully contribute to communities.   

We are calling on you to Save our Polytechs, by:  

• establishing proper funding 

• committing to no further cuts 

• working with communities to create a real plan to establish thriving polytechs across Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Sincerely,  

The Undersigned.

[Petition ends]