Willie Jackson visited Invercargill earlier this week to gain a better understanding of the employment needs in the region.
Hosted by Labour Invercargill list MP Liz Craig, he visited businesses in the city, including Great South, Blue River Dairy and SIT, where he learnt about vocational pathways offered by the institution.
He was impressed with its work, but admitted the staff showed significant concern about their future after the Government's announced education reforms, which will merge 16 polytechnics into one national campus.
"They put the question. People there are very concerned about the future ... I understand the region feeling threatened and I made clear that I understood that."
He said SIT still have two years until the new model became effective, but until then, he cannot make any promises or plans.
"It is not the intention of this Government to wipe out all the good work that has been done here [at SIT].
"But we can't guarantee anything at the moment, other than we are hearing them."
Another highlight of his trip to the South was the visit to Great South, where he learnt about its Southland Youth Futures programme, which links organisations and students by helping to improve outcomes for Southland youth, and retain talent in the region.
"I was very impressed. It is tremendous what they are doing and they are well ahead in the game."
He said this kind of programme was inspiring because it could identify talented youth - who might not have plans to go to a university - to support them.
"That's key to keep talented youth in the regions."
