Hawera plans tertiary hub
The idea of a dedicated tertiary learning centre in South Taranaki has received cautious support from those who currently provide that service.
The idea, floated at a meeting on Friday, September 23 by South Taranaki District councillor Phil Nixon, would see current providers come together under one roof to pool resources and provide a ‘‘learning hub’’.
A steering group is being formed and Nixon said their focus would be on whether or not the concept was viable.
‘‘We’re not talking about another competing provider. It’s collaboration of those already there and making the most of community resources,’’ he said.
About 25 people, including Whanganui MP Chester Borrows, a Ministry of Education representative and tertiary provider heads attended the meeting at South Taranaki District Council.
‘‘I believe this learning centre can be about as big as we can dream,’’ Nixon said.
‘‘You would actually have, as part of this, a one-stop student centre. Now that could involve health, it could involve budgeting, welfare, all sorts of aspects that are really important for young people.’’
He said funding the facility would be hard work but ‘‘no one’s ever died of too much hard work’’.
‘‘If we see that this can work then we need to make it happen.’’
Borrows said it was important to be very clear from the outset about what was being planned.
‘‘You can have multi-uses but what is the primary use? I think that’s got to stand up under its own strength first before you can look at that social sector stuff.’’
Massey University Taranaki business development manager Eve Kawana-Brown said devising a model to deliver the range the region wanted now and in the future would be difficult.
‘‘What I know is there are challenges working in polytechs if you don’t have the critical numbers to support a course,’’ she said.
‘‘Getting the numbers students) is the challenge.’’
Taranaki Feats general manager Yvonne Shanahan said she would support a venture that encouraged collaboration rather than replacement.
‘‘What we don’t have necessarily have is a good co-ordination getting the right learner to the right place. If that’s what this is about then you’ll have my tick.’’ (of