Joint submission on vocational plan

Proposed changes to polytechnics and tertiary institutes could threaten Marlborough’s campus, the mayor says.

A consortium of Marlborough leaders has made a submission on the Government’s proposed reform of vocational education. Marlborough mayor John Leggett said the proposals risked reducing the presence of institutes of technology and polytechnics in the regions. ‘‘This is of particular concern for Marlborough, as we host a satellite campus of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), which has been very successful.

‘‘Whilst we understand the drivers for change at the national level, the risk for Marlborough is that any rationalisation of NMIT’S activities in Nelson might threaten the future existence of the campus here in Blenheim,’’ he said.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins has proposed merging all 16 polytechnics into a single entity. Leggett said the Government needed to consider Marlborough as a region in itself, rather than as part of a wider top of the south group with Nelsontasman. Marlborough was the ‘‘obvious’’ location for a national centre of vocational excellence focusing on viticulture and wine making, Leggett said. NMIT, the Marlborough Research Centre and Bragato Research Institute were already in the process of creating such a hub at the Blenheim campus. The campus hosts wine-related tertiary qualifications, up to a three-year Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking (NCEA level 7).

Another submission canvassed the potential for aquaculture and aviation courses in Marlborough.