31 July 2024
Memo to: Elected
Members
Memo
from: Governance Advisers
Subject: Council – 1
August 2024 – LATE ITEM
7. Late
Item: Mayor's Report
Document
R28698
A report
titled Mayor’s Report is attached and to be considered as a major late
item at this meeting. This report was listed as item 7 on the public
agenda for the Council meeting on 1 August 2024 to ensure elected members were
aware that it would be presented to this meeting.
Section
46A(1)-(6) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
and Standing Order 9.7 require that agendas are distributed with the associated
reports. As this report was not distributed with the agenda for this
meeting, it must be treated as a major late item to be considered at this
meeting.
In accordance
with section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 and Standing Order 9.12, a procedural resolution is required before a
major item that is not on the agenda for the meeting may be dealt with.
In accordance
with section 46A(7)(b)(i) the reason why the item was not on the agenda is
because it came to hand after the agenda had been distributed.
In accordance
with section 46A(7)(b)(ii) the reason why discussion of this item cannot be
delayed until a subsequent meeting is because a resolution on the matter is
required before the next scheduled meeting of the Council to enable a timely
decision to be made.
Recommendation
|
That
the Council
1. Considers
the item regarding Mayor’s Report at this meeting as a major item not
on the agenda, pursuant to Section 46A(7)(a) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987, to enable a timely decision to be made.
|
Item 7: Mayor's Report:
Attachment 1
|
|
Council
1 August 2024
|
Report
Title: Mayor's
Report
Report
Author: Hon Dr Nick
Smith - Mayor
Report
Authoriser:
Report
Number: R28717
1. Purpose of Report
1.1 To provide an update
on the future of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and approve a
submission to Government.
2. Recommendation
|
That
the Council
1. Receives
the report Mayor's Report (R28717)
and its attachment (1118544611-7829); and
2. Authorises His Worship the
Mayor and the Chief Executive to make a submission to Government, after all
Councillors are circulated a draft and given the opportunity to comment, on
the future of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology broadly along the
lines of the attached joint letter (1118544611-7829) from the Nelson,
Marlborough and Tasman Mayors, the eight Te Tauihu iwi and four business
organizations advocating for a standalone and locally governed tertiary
education institution.
|
3. Future of Nelson
Marlborough Institute of Technology
3.1 A critical issue for
our region is the future of our polytechnic. I have been working hard over the
past month with others to try and secure its future as a stand-alone tertiary
education provider.
3.2 Our polytechnic
started in 1905 as the Nelson Technical Institute on land provided in Hardy St
by the Nelson City Council. It evolved into the Nelson Polytechnic in 1971 and
then became the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) in 2000. It
has consistently performed well in student achievement, partnering with
industry and in attracting international students. It has excelled in areas
like nursing, maritime industries, commerce and the arts.
3.3 The mega-merger of
NZ’s 16 polytechnics into Te Pukenga in 2020 by the previous Government
was justified by some institutes getting into financial trouble. NMIT had
a strong financial track record and had reserves of close to $20 million. The
ROVE was unsuccessful with student achievement falling, a revolving door of
chief executives, staff morale plummeting and worsening deficits. We have been
particularly disadvantaged in losing the opportunity to market Nelson as a
great place to study and to partner closely with local industry.
3.4 NMIT is for many in
the region the only practical opportunity to get a tertiary education.
It’s importance to business is in upskilling staff and improving
productivity. The students NMIT attracts to the region from around NZ and from
abroad add economic activity and vibe to the city. There is also an important
synergy for Nelson with our Cawthron Institute, NZs largest independent science
organisation.
3.5 The new Government is
dismantling Te Pukenga and is publicly consulting in coming weeks on
alternatives. Some advisers want Nelson to be a branch of Christchurch’s
polytechnic or of the Open Polytehcnic based in Lower Hutt.
3.6 The Nelson, Tasman and
Marlborough Mayors, eight Te Tauihu iwi and four business organisations wrote
jointly to Government earlier this month advocating a return to our own locally
governed institution. I have reinforced this message in meetings with the
Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds, the Prime Minister and other
Ministers.
3.7 I view a strong and
independent NMIT as an important contributor to our Council’s ambitions
to revitalise the city centre. The contribution is more than economic as the
presence of more young people and more international students adds energy and diversity
to the city. We are more likely to attract international and domestic students
when we have the opportunity to market the unique characteristics of the
region.
3.8 It is my expectation
that the Government will any day release its consultation document on the
future of polytechnics and NMIT. The indications are that submissions will
close in early September and may be before our next Council meeting. This is
such an important issue for the city and region that it is important that any
submission be in the name of the full Council. My proposal enables wide
involvement of Council but also ensures it can be submitted on the expected
timetable.
Attachments
Attachment 1: 1118544611-7829
Letter to MInister Simmonds re NMIT 08July24 Final ⇩
