Maharey Notes
News and happenings from the Office of Hon Steve Maharey
Volume 2, Issue number 35, 14 March 2001
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TEAC RELEASES SECOND REPORT
The Tertiary Education Advisory Commission (TEAC) released Shaping the System, its second report, last Wednesday and is
recommending a significant reorientation of New Zealand's tertiary education system.
The report argues that tertiary education marketplace constructed over the last decade is incapable of producing the
educational or research outcomes New Zealand needs going in to the 21st Century. Problems in the sector include a lack
of responsiveness to the needs of the economy and society, the inability for students to easily transfer between
different providers and a pervasive competitive ethic which focuses on attracting greater numbers of students rather
than competing internationally on quality teaching and research.
In welcoming the report, Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey said the Government accepted
the Commission's central recommendation that it had to actively intervene in the system and steer it in a more strategic
direction. The new permanent Commission proposed in the report provides a mechanism to bring together all the various
stakeholders ¡V business and government, students and those who work in the sector, and the wider society ¡V to drive
tertiary education as a whole system.
Speaking at the first of a series of public forums on the report in Hamilton on Friday, Mr Maharey said the Government
is looking seriously at the Commission's proposals and is seeking feedback from industry, educationalists, students and
the wider community by April 7. He said the tertiary system is in need of reform and the Government wants to make
decisions on the proposals by mid year.
* Shaping the System is available on the TEAC website at www.teac.govt.nz
KEY TEAC PROPOSALS
ƒxƒnthe creation of a new permanent Tertiary Education Commission, a Crown entity governed by a 12-member appointed
board, responsible for the whole of the tertiary education system, including adult and community education; colleges of
education; industry training organisations; polytechnics; private training establishments; universities; and wananga
ƒxƒnthe introduction of a 'profiling' system to enable the Government and the Commission to steer the tertiary education
system. Profiling would be made up of three elements:
- expanded charters, which define the unique contribution each public and private provider makes within the nationwide
system
- the introduction of a profiling system, which describes the teaching and research programmes of each provider for
which they would receive Government funding on a rolling three-year basis
- a new system of functional classifications which better describes the type of teachings and research undertaken by
tertiary education providers
ƒxƒnthe establishment of centres and networks of research excellence, which would channel specific funding to high-class
research networks, and thereby assist in the further development of high-quality research capability and capacity
PM AND MAHAREY VISIT 500th MODERN APPRENTICE
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey paid a call on Gillian
Anderson, the 500th Modern Apprentice who recently began working towards a National Certificate in Telecommunications.
Gillian is employed by the Electrical Training Company and Downer Connect is her current host company.
Helen Clark said today the Government's Modern Apprenticeships programme was playing a critical role in creating the
workforce needed for a more dynamic economy. By 2002 Modern Apprenticeships aims to provide employment-based learning
for 3000 young people in high-technology areas as well as traditional trades.
* further information about Modern Apprenticeships is available on the web at www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz or from
Skill New Zealand on 0508 754556
WAIKATO EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP PRAISED
Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey launched a new partnership agreement between Ngati Haua, Work and
Income, the Community Employment Group and Te Puni Kokiri last week. The agreement is a key initiative in DWI Waikato
regional jobs plan published last December. The project aims to develop the management capacity of 20-25 people from the
iwi. Over a 2-3 year they will gain the necessary qualifications to manage Ngati Haua lands. Mr Maharey said the
programme was a good example which deserved replicating elsewhere.
CIVIL SOCIETY
Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Steve Maharey launched a new report on civil society in New Zealand at
Parliament last week. Mahi Tahi Working Together: Civil Society In Aoteraroa/New Zealand was written for the
Commonwealth Foundation's 'Civil Society in the New Millennium' project by ANGOA and CINGOA (the non-indigenous and
indigenous non-Government organisation umbrella organisations). The report was researched and written by Sue Bradford
(now a Green MP and the party's social services spokesperson), Jenny Thompson and Garth Nowland-Foreman in 1999.
Drawing on an extensive number of interviews with community leaders, academics, politicians and others the report
concludes that people became increasingly isolated from decision making processes in recent years. An addendum to the
report notes that since the report was researched a Government has been elected and therefore a number of significant
policy settings, have changed.
Mr Maharey said the themes in the report had been heard by the parties now in Government during their time in opposition
and on the campaign trail in 1999. One of the core commitments of the Labour/Alliance coalition is to rebuild trust in
Government. The Government regards rebuilding civil society in New Zealand as one of its most important missions and
this flows through its policy programme.
RELAY FOR LIFE
Maharey's Movers came a creditable seventh out of eighty-sex teams in the first Relay for Life supporting cancer
research held in Palmerston North at the weekend. The team made up of electorate and Ministerial staff and supporters
are firmly in recovery mode this week.