Editorial: More than hobbies

Yesterday's front page heading said it all.

Regardless of the carelessly dismissive language used by Education Minister Anne Tolley when she announced a swingeing cut to the Adult Community Education budget last month, the classes represent "much more than hobbies" for thousands of New Zealanders.

Even if pursuing a hobby is the main motivation, it doesn't mean that the classes are not an important part of the lives of those who take part.

Hobby courses can be a precursor to more serious study, or perhaps no more than a way to find valuable stimulation and social contact.

Either way, they are an element of New Zealand life that has been appreciated and made use of for generations.

Mrs Tolley is finding out through petitions, public meetings and other forms of lobbying just how deeply this inexpensive part of the education system is valued.

The 3000 people who make use of adult learning classes in the Nelson region are a small fraction of the 200,000 doing so around the country, but they have in common the view that this bit of budget cutting is mean-spirited and counter-productive.

It does no good for Mrs Tolley to say that the money saved $13 million this year can be better spent in other educational areas.

It's such a tiny part of the education spend that it looks more like a slap in the face of Kiwis who believe in the concept of lifelong education than a real effort to save taxpayers' money.

A series of articles this week will show the minister how much people in this region care about their access to these classes.

It's a message she's getting from around New Zealand and the Canute defence is already revealing its flaw.

She should think again, and soon.

- © Fairfax NZ News