Otago Museum and Orokonui Ecosanctuary staff are stunned and "bewildered" after the Ministry of Education suddenly announced it will be cutting funding for their education projects.
Museum director Dr Ian Griffin said the museum had received funding for the past two decades and the cut to its $80,000 enriching local curriculum (ELC) funding was "a massive kick in the guts".
It meant the museum would no longer be able to provide free education tours to school pupils.
He said every 3-5 years, the ministry went through a tender process and organisations such as the museum and the ecosanctuary made applications for funding.
"On this occasion, we’ve apparently been evaluated and not successfully won any funding.
"Pre-Covid-19, in 2019, the ELC programme saw 15,612 students per year.
"The contract that we had with the ministry called for us to serve 1560 students per year, so we’re significantly over-delivering on the contract."
He said feedback from schools and the ministry each year had been overwhelmingly positive.
He said the funding cut meant from July 1, the museum would be introducing a $10-per-pupil admission charge.
"We know many schools out there, particularly the lower decile schools, may not be able to afford that."
Orokonui Ecosanctuary general manager Amanda Symon was devastated by the $70,000 funding cut and upset about the short notice given by the ministry.
She said funding applications were made in December 2021, and a decision was due on March 1. However, a series of delays from the ministry meant the final decision was not provided to applicants until June 2, and the present contract expires next Thursday.
"The loss of funding from the Ministry of Education comes at a particularly difficult time for Orokonui, with the ecosanctuary already under financial pressure due to reduced visitor numbers over the last two years due to Covid-19."
She said the ecosanctuary had received ministry funding for the past 13 years, allowing it to deliver a conservation education programme to 70,000 pupils.
Dunedin Public Art Gallery director Cam McCracken said the gallery had not lost its ELC funding, and was now in negotiations with the ministry about how much funding it could have.
He declined further comment.
It is not known if any other local organisations are affected at this stage.
The museum and the ecosanctuary were told they would have to wait until next week to hear from the ministry about why their applications were unsuccessful.
Ministry of Education pathways and progress associate leader Pauline Cleaver said 146 providers submitted proposals — 72 were successful within the fixed funding available.
Of the Otago Southland providers who made applications, five were successful and five were not.
All proposals were evaluated by three panels, which included representatives with expertise in early learning, Maori engagement, Pacific engagement and culture and heritage.
