72217 (2024). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills

72217 (2024). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills: Has the Minister been informed of any programmes to be cut at Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), if any, and if so what are these?

Hon Penny Simmonds: I am aware that a number of Te Pūkenga’s institute of technology and polytechnic (ITP) business divisions are consulting on programme closures. These are operational matters and the responsibility of Te Pūkenga’s council, and I have not received any specific advice on particular proposals. For completeness, I note that I have received information on potential programme closures across Te Pūkenga’s ITP business divisions as part of advice on the financial improvement work Te Pūkenga is undertaking with assistance from the specialist help it was required to engage by the Tertiary Education Commission under section 332 of the Education and Training Act 2020. This work remains ongoing and decisions about which of these programmes are retained or closed remain the responsibility of Te Pūkenga.