Continuity for polytech body

The new-look Otago Polytechnic council will contain some familiar faces after all, at least for a year.

Following the Government-imposed restructuring and downsizing of polytechnic councils to eight members last month, only one of Otago's four existing ministerial appointees kept their job, raising concerns the new council might have a lack of continuity and institutional knowledge.

But chief executive Phil Ker said the appointments of previous council members Chris Staynes, Malcolm Macpherson and Rebecca Parata meant an "excellent outcome".

"There is a good balance of new and old governance. The continuity has come through," he said yesterday.

The new council will hold its first meeting on June 21.

Susie Johnston is the only continuing ministerial appointee and will be joined by Dunedin lawyer Kathy Grant, Presbyterian Support Otago chief executive Gillian Bremner and Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie.

Mr Staynes and Dr Macpherson have been appointed by the previous council for a period of one year, while Ms Parata continues as a council member nominated by the four local Maori runanga, also for a one-year period.

Mr Ker said the polytechnic was advertising nationally for the eighth council member, a person with specific skills and experience in polytechnic education.

Five applications had been received from Otago Polytechnic staff and three from people outside the institution.

After one year, the ministerial appointees will either reaffirm the other council members' positions or readvertise the roles.

Previously, the Otago council had 15 members.

The new structure does not allow for student or staff representatives and the polytechnic is establishing staff and student subcommittees.

Staff had elected seven general and seven academic staff to the staff subcommittee and the successful candidates were a "good spread", Mr Ker said.

- allison.rudd@odt.co.nz