Kia ora koutou kātoa
Hari tau hou tātou kātoa - Happy New Year to everyone.
To those of you who are at work already, welcome back. I do hope that you had some quality time over the holidays for yourself and with family and friends.
I also hope you have managed to recharge your batteries for what will be a challenging year, as we continue to deliver ongoing teaching and training for our ākonga and employers, and as we navigate a change of direction for Te Pūkenga.
In a recent message from Acting Chair Sue McCormack, she mentioned that the Council is currently in the process of making longer-term arrangements to replace Peter Winder. I am currently the Acting Chief Executive until January 22, followed by Gus Gilmore until February 12. When the Council appoint an interim Chief Executive, they will lead us through the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga until completion.
Following Megan Gibbons' departure, we now have interim reporting lines in place for the 13 leaders in the Academic Centre and Learning Systems (ACLS) team. You can learn more about this here.
Our first Executive Leadership Team (ELT) meeting of 2024 took place on Tuesday, focusing on immediate priorities. Foremost among them, as underscored by Sue, is providing clarity and certainty regarding employment for kaimahi who received disestablishment letters last year, and also kaimahi who applied for, or accepted new roles, in the Tāraia te anamata | Creating our futures organisational structure. We are assessing this with urgency and will communicate with affected individuals in February. I acknowledge that the wait is challenging, and I thank you for your patience in the interim. If you do need support, please reach out to your manager, union representative, or local PCW team.
We’re also looking at some changes we can make early to align with the Minister's Letter of Expectations, including current considerations for Delegations, branding, and IT systems. Decisions will be shared with you when they are made, but until then, please follow current delegations and guidelines.
To support our new direction, any decisions we do make to change how we operate will be made with the right information and what we know, rather than conjecture. They also need to be consistent with our current Charter and legislative requirements. We will work closely with the Minister, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to ensure this is the case.
A big focus for us, and a plea to everyone, is continuing to deliver on our 2024 Performance Expectations and budgets for the 2024 financial year, as well as looking to keep growing enrolments. Doing so will undoubtedly benefit Te Pūkenga and our future organisation(s), no matter how we’re configured.
I understand it is yet another year of change for us all, and sometimes, we won’t have all the answers. ELT, along with Rohe and local leaders, are committed to communicating regularly to ensure you’re informed, up-to-date and have as much clarity as possible as we progress through our disestablishment and towards our new direction.
In the meantime, please keep doing what you do so professionally and passionately – delivering great mahi that ensures our learners and employers succeed.
Nāku iti nei, nā
Andrew McSweeney
Tumuaki o-nāianei me te Pourangi Ākonga me te Ahumahi | Acting Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction
Te Pūkenga disestablishment – what to expect
Where we are now
On 7 December 2023, the new Government announced its intention to disestablish Te Pūkenga, with the aim of restoring regional decision-making institutions while ensuring the financial stability of the sector.
In her Letter of Expectations (LoE) to Te Pūkenga, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Hon Penny Simmonds requested that we cease activities inconsistent with Te Pūkenga disestablishment. In response, we have halted recruitment for the Tāraia te anamata | Creating our futures structure as well as phase two of the Digital group restructure.
Sue McCormack has taken over as Acting Chair of Te Pūkenga Council, and while the Council works to appoint an interim Chief Executive, Andrew McSweeney and Gus Gilmore will undertake Acting Chief Executive duties till 12 February.
The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is preparing a transition plan to align with the Minister’s expectations and to guide transitional decision-making.
In her LoE, the Minister also sought advice from officials on “the programme of work required to support the Government’s new agenda”, including possible changes to the legislation that set up and guides Te Pūkenga and its functions.
Here’s an outline of the likely governmental and legislative processes involved.
Where we are headed
Te Pūkenga remains a legal entity until there is legislative change and the future shape and structure of the vocational education and training system is confirmed. This means kaimahi continue to work within the current legislation and delegations until formally notified of any changes by our Council and/or ELT.
To disestablish Te Pūkenga, the Government can be expected to outline a vision and proposed approach for the structure of the vocational sector. It will also need to introduce new or amended legislation into Parliament. This involves working across government to get to that point.
Key agencies supporting the Government implement the new direction
The Ministry of Education (MoE) leads the development of New Zealand’s tertiary education policy. The tertiary funding agency is the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), and it is the TEC’s job to operationalise and implement the final policies approved by Cabinet in line with any new legislation. The Treasury conducts a Regulatory Impact Assessment of legislation and provides advice on financial costs, risks and risk mitigations to the Government.
The legislative process
- Proposal development: Senior MoE and TEC officials lead the process of engaging with the Minister to discuss options for disestablishing Te Pūkenga. Advice from agencies and discussions are likely to include the policy, operational and financial implications for Government, implications for key stakeholders impacted by the policy, and the risks associated with the policy. MoE leads the preparation of policy paper(s) on the new approach for discussion with the Minister. TEC leads the preparation of advice on the operational design and implementation. These agencies work closely together when preparing advice. Te Pūkenga Council and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) provide insights and information as required.
- Cabinet approval: Once the Minister has confirmed the high-level policy approach, agencies prepare a Cabinet paper(s) for the Minister to take to Cabinet to consider the policy proposals and obtain approval to proceed. Cabinet is a group of senior government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister.
- Preparation of operational policy: Once Cabinet confirms the new high-level policy approach, TEC begins operational design and implementation. This can involve working with the sector (in this case, the vocational education and training sector) to inform operational design and prepare guidance for the sector.
- Drafting: Meanwhile, legal experts draft or amend the legislation.
- First reading: The drafted legislation is introduced to Parliament, or the ‘House’. This is known as the first reading. Members of Parliament (MPs) debate the Bill's general principles. A vote is taken, and if most MPs support the Bill, it proceeds to the next stage.
- Select Committee: The Bill is referred to the Education and Workforce Select Committee, a smaller group of MPs from various political parties in Parliament. The Select Committee thoroughly examines the Bill and may invite public submissions and hold public hearings. Depending on the scale of the legislation proposed and interest, the submission period may take weeks to months. The Select Committee then prepares a report for the House.
- Second reading: The Bill is presented for the second reading in the House, and MPs debate its content and principles again, and any changes made during the Select Committee stage. Another vote is taken, and if the Bill passes, it moves to the Committee of the whole House.
- Committee of the whole House: The entire Parliament acts as a Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. MPs can propose further amendments.
- Third reading: The Bill's final version is debated in Parliament. MPs discuss the Bill as a whole rather than its clauses. A final vote is taken, and the Bill is passed if the majority supports it.
- Royal assent: The Governor-General, representing King Charles, gives the Bill formal approval (royal assent).
- Implementation: Once the Act is in force, we will work with TEC and MoE to implement its provisions.
Timeline
The total time for the legislative process, from the initial proposal to the point where a Bill becomes law, can vary significantly based on the complexity of the legislation, political considerations, and the level of public interest. In many cases, the process can take 12-18 months. However, it's essential to remember that this is a general estimate only. In some cases, legislation can also be passed under urgency, meaning the process outlined above can be shortened.
ACLS reporting lines
Megan Gibbons’ recent departure from the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) means her senior leadership team now have interim reporting lines:
The following people now report to Chief Financial Officer, Michelle Teirney:
- Portfolio and Performance Director, Patrick Jones, whose work will be supported by National Ako Network Director, Diane Lithgow.
The following people now report to Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Ako Delivery, Gus Gilmore:
- Ako Solutions Director, Rod Bentham and National Ako Network Director, Andrea Leslie
- Rangahau and Research Director, Jamie Smiler.
The following people now report to DCE Tiriti Outcomes, Paora Ammunson:
- National Ako Network Directors, Diane Lithgow, Layelin Stewart, Koren Hopoi, Mike Crossan, Brian Dillon, Angela Beaton and Amanda Whitaker
- Ako Excellence Director, Deborah Young
- Pounuku Tiriti Director (ACLS), Janine Kapa (who will also support Chief People Officer, Keri-Anne Tane)
- Executive Assistant, Lauren Bennett, who will provide extra support to the ACLS senior leadership team.
There are additional ACLS kaimahi who previously reported to Megan. These people will also have interim reporting line changes, which are currently being determined.
Love to Ride challenge comes to Te Pūkenga
Love to Ride is back for another year! Across the motu, you can compete to see who can get the most people riding a bike throughout the whole of February.
This is a fun and free challenge open to everyone. You don't have to be a seasoned Tour de France cyclist or a MAMIL (middle-aged male in lycra) to enjoy the benefits of getting out on your bicycle. Riding a bike can boost your endorphins, improve your mood, help you sleep, and enjoy better overall wellbeing.
The national cycling challenge is all about getting more people riding bikes. Entry is free and there are prizes to be won.
Join the biking challenge on Love to Ride! Once you’ve registered, you can join your business division, or set up your department.
Networks wins
Inspiring Futures Foundation supports Cyclone Gabrielle affected learners
More women in the frame: joinery course sees big diversity boost
Talented NMIT student heads to Latin America through scholarship
Wintec achieves near-perfect pass rates for nursing and midwifery programmes
Table of contents
Te Pūkenga disestablishment
ACLS reporting lines
Love to Ride
Networks wins