Can a creative capital survive without creatives? Arts cuts gut Te Auaha

Saturday, 19 July 2025

More than half of reviewed programmes at Whitireia and WelTec will be cut alongside the disappearance of its engineering school and closure of its creative campus.

However, all performing art programmes are also on the line and may be cut by the end of next year after moving to the Petone campus because it is not fit for purpose.

Wellington’s polytechnic announced the outcome of its second phase of change proposals on Wednesday. Its central Wellington and creative campus, Te Auaha, will close at the end of year, along with the loss of 48 jobs as it continues to fight towards financial sustainability.

In the decision document, seen by The Post, of 27 reviewed programmes, 16 will be cut.

That includes drama, hospitality, business, music and three engineering programmes (mechanical, trade and engineering) as well as its certificates in skills for learners with disabilities.

Its School of Construction and Engineering Trades will no longer exist, becoming the School of Construction, Electrical, Plumbing and Automotive Trades.

Drew Mayhem, Tertiary Education Union (TEU) branch organiser, said the decision saw “the death of engineering at WelTec” and legacy programmes like the music programme at Whitireia.

There were 47 projected EFTS (equivalent full-time student) across the three engineering programmes.

With declining year-on-year students and associated Crown funding, it was not possible to continue to run programmes that were not making sufficient contribution ‒ at least 50%; and as the Minister of Vocational Education stated in recent weeks, at least a 1:18 staff to student ratio ‒ the document said.

‘A creative capital without creative people’

Dr Leanne Ivil, operations lead of Whitireia and WelTec, said most ākonga studying at Te Kāhui Auaha would complete their study there this year. For ākonga in 2026 it meant all programmes currently delivered in Te Kāhui Auaha would move to the Whitireia and WelTec Petone campus.

However, the decision document said Petone was not fit for purpose due to noise and could only be used for a year.

Timetabling would be “essential to mitigate noise bleed into other teaching spaces” in the performing arts teach-out space, which was the “only wooden building with high ceilings and wooden floors”, it said.

“The necessity is to find a space that is able to be used, particularly for dance (i.e. a wooden floor) and not cost additional operating budget to deliver.”

The document said there was potential for a contractual arrangement with another organisation to continue the delivery of the programmes.

However, staff members at Te Auaha, who spoke on the basis of anonymity, said the performing arts programmes were being “taught out”. There would not be any new enrolments and courses would end in 2026, said staff, who were saddened and angered by the decision.

“There seems to have been a concerted effort over several years by senior management to manage an exit from any arts-related programmes and the building.

“The first round of redundancies in 2019 removed key leadership roles, targeting those that could have made Te Auaha successful.”

The closure meant there would be no accessible tertiary arts education in Wellington, they said.

“You can’t be a creative capital without creative people. These courses are all based on creativity, that is why the students choose to study here.”

Vanessa Stacey, the director of Fringe, had hosted dozens of shows at Te Auaha and said it was a valued space for the whole arts community.

“Not to mention their wonderful team who have lovingly tutored and supported so many of our emerging artists for the last seven years,” Stacey said.

The purpose-built building was irreplaceable, she said. “This is a very sad loss for Pōneke.”

BATS Theatre general manager Tania Marie Tapiki Smith said the closure marked a “significant gap in the sector”.

“I am a little concerned how the sector will nurture the gap, and the potential direction of students who will be impacted by this,” Smith said.

“These institutions have nurtured talent and provided a vital pathway for diverse voices to emerge, thrive and contribute to Aotearoa’s cultural fabric.”

She called for a renewed investment in the arts education and accessible training for future creatives.

During Thursday’s Question Time in Parliament, Minister for Vocational Education Penny Simmonds said Te Auaha only had 301 students, when the campus was set up for 1000.

It had a $4.2 million lease and the cost per student would be $14,000 at a ratio of 1 to 5.6. “Those ratios are simply not viable to continue,” she said.

It would close only seven years after opening. The lease of the building would be decided by the council of Te Pūkenga.

Simmonds maintained her position that the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and consequent cuts at each polytech would set the sector up for long-term economic and learning success.

However, Mayhem said there was a disconnect with community needs at the expense of the Government’s “laser focus on growth”.

“We’re seeing a dumbing down of vocational education, less and less being offered … less opportunity.”

In the Wellington region, the Porirua and Hutt Valley communities were being short changed by “short sighted approaches”, he said.

“[They’ve] supposedly been inflicted on everyone for the greater good. It’s hard to see where the good is supposed to be.”

Cuts a ‘blow to the disability community’

Mayhem was concerned about the effects on the disability community of the axing of two certificates, for learning and working for supported learners, and skills for living for supported learners.

“That has supported learners with intellectual disabilities and is basically disappearing from the lower North Island,” he said. “[It’s] a huge blow to the disability community.”

A submission on the proposal said the programmes were deeply valued by learners, whānau, schools, and the broader community.

“[They] cannot be replicated elsewhere, delivering substantial educational, social, and personal growth outcomes for ākonga (students) with disabilities,” it said.

The small class sizes and strong tutor-to-ākonga ratio was part of its value, and it provided an ideal transition between school and adult community-based opportunities.

The consultation document showed skills for learning and working for supported learners had 18 projected students in 2025, while skills for living for supported learners had 12.

Learning adviser roles will also be disestablished and merged, with staff running an online study hub, cutting staff from 16 to six.

Whitireia and WelTec had a steep drop in enrolments – from 6547 domestic full-time students and 1219 international in 2018, to 3571 domestic and 301.5 international students last year.

It went into 2025 with a $12 million deficit and was among four polytechs which would continue to operate under Te Pūkenga as they worked toward financial viability. A decision on their future was due in the first half of 2026.

The others were NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), and Tai Poutini Polytechnic.