Invercargill City Councillor Alex Crackett starts 'Save Southland's SIT' petition

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

Invercargill City Councillor Alex Crackett has started a 'Save Southland's SIT'' online petition to put to Education Minister Chris Hipkins.

An Invercargill City Councillor has launched a petition to 'Save Southland's SIT' following a proposal to merge 16 polytechnics throughout the country.

Cr Alex Crackett said she was deeply concerned about the proposal announced last week believing it could 'threaten the viability of Southland as a place for business and communities to thrive.'

'My key concerns are the stripping of our assets, not retaining our autonomy that currently allows us to be responsive to what our local economy needs, the reduction of financial contribution that SIT makes to our local communities, by way of sponsorship, and the centralisation of our international students,' she said.

'Despite the fact that Education Minister Chris Hipkins has stated that SIT's contracts, agreements and understandings with communities and stakeholders would be honoured throughout any change, that doesn't speak to the future.'

* Southern Institute of Technology battle, why Southlanders should care

* SIT critical of proposal to merge training providers**

It has prompted Crackett to set up an online petition named 'Save Southland's SIT' which will be presented to Hipkins.

She stressed the petition was not part of the consultation process but instead Crackett started it to draw attention to the situation.

'Although there has been no formal decision made and a petition is not part of the official consultation process, I'm hoping that it will help generate awareness and inspire people to take action through formal submission.

'I'm hoping to get as many signatures as possible during the consultation phase.'

The petition was launched late on Tuesday and as of Wednesday afternoon it had generated 1800 'signatures'.

The petition has also prompted plenty of comments as to why they decided to sign it.

Vivienne Roberts said: 'Don't let the successful SIT be sacrificed to prop up the other Polytechs because they can't manage their finances properly!!'

Louise Campbell wrote: 'The Government promised to be have a positive impact on the regions of NZ but this proposal would be hugely detrimental to Invercargill and Southland. There's been a huge amount of hard work to bring Invercargill back to a growing city. Don't ruin it please!'

The consultation period for the proposed merger will run through to March 27.

Engagement events with institutes of technology and polytechnics, industry training organisations, Māori, iwi, wānanga, Pacific, and other stakeholders will be held throughout the consultation process.

Initially it was indicated five public meetings would be held in the North Island and one in the South Island, in Christchurch.

Pressure has since mounted on Education Minister Chris Hipkins to travel to Invercargill to meet with the Southland community.

Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie has been vocal in that call.

'A consultation review panel will tour New Zealand, with the dates and locations being announced [this week]. If Southland is not on the list then it absolutely should be one of the locations visited.

'If the consultation review panel won't come to Southland, then Education Minister Chris Hipkins should come to Invercargill and talk to our community.

'I will personally host a public meeting for him to attend so he can hear our views.'

Invercargill-based MP Liz Craig has also called for a public event to be held in Southland.

While Hipkins did not confirm he himself would visit Invercargill, he said they were now looking at bringing a public engagement event to Southland.

'There wasn't one planned for Southland but there has been a strong request for something more public in Southland, so we'll be looking at what we can do.'