SIX of New Zealand’s largest polytechnics and institutes of technology will leave their national association later this year and form a separate organisation.

Manukau, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch institutes of technology, Otago Polytechnic and West Auckland’s Unitec will withdraw from the 20-member Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics NZ group (ITPNZ) at the end of the year and form Metropolitan Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.

The “big six” say they have interests specific to the bigger cities, and the remaining 14 smaller institutions will be better off being able to address issues relevant to them.

Neither group is ruling out co-operating on issues that affect all non-university public tertiary education providers.

“The six metros have issues that are common to institutions in the larger cities and are a little bit different from the other institutions,” says Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology chief executive Neil Barns (right).

The urban polytechnics cater to different types of industry and tend to have higher representation of under-represented groups, such as Maori and Pacific Islanders, he says.

They offer more degrees, diplomas and trade and engineering qualifications, and there are issues around the costs associated with running those programmes.

Unitec CEO Rick Ede says the considerable differences between the urban and regional polytechnics mean it is hard to advocate on those issues.

“It’s very difficult to get joint views with such a diverse group,” he says.

“We were effectively one voice in 20, whereas with the metro group we are one voice in six.”

ITPNZ executive director Dave Guerin (left) says the organisation regretted but respected the decision and is moving on.

“We’ve got important issues on the agenda right now. Plus we need to look at where we go once the resignations take effect.

“The 14 ongoing members have been very keen and are working hard together and looking at what they do next. So there seems to be quite a good spirit amongst them.”

He says that while the urban polytechnics have started their operation, some are still participating in ITPNZ activities until the resignation takes effect, because they are still paying membership fees.

Asked if there was a possibility of reconciliation, Mr Guerin says the six metros have not put any requests on the table: “There’s not a process of discussion going on right now.”

But Otago Polytechnic CEO Phil Kerr (right) says the metro group has not ruled out working with ITPNZ whenever both groups have issues in common.

“This is not about competing. This is about getting better mileage for ourselves and for the things that are important to the metropolitan group. But equally, we’re all committed to working with and trying to advance the sector at large.”

The two groups could work together on areas concerning policy, funding, qualifications and standards that affect the whole sector, though nothing has been finalised yet.

Manukau CEO Peter Brothers says the two groups needed to settle down and figure out how they are going to work together.

Wintec CEO Mark Flowers says the breakaway will benefit remaining ITPNZ members because it will help the smaller ITPs to get more focused on things of concern to them.