Wananga set to show first good budget

Maori tertiary learning looks set to lift as budget problems are ironed out, reports Jeff Neems.

Te Awamutu-based tertiary education provider Te Wananga o Aotearoa is set to record its first budget surplus in four years.

Chief executive Bentham Ohia told the Waikato Times the organisation should have a budget surplus of a minimum of $3.5 million for 2007.

"We've still got a couple of months to go, and we're always wary about other expenditure which may come out of that," said Mr Ohia.

"We're comfortable we're going to make the $3.5 million.

"This is the first operating surplus the organisation has made since 2003."

Mr Ohia said the wananga wanted to sustain the operating surplus for a few years.

The organisation had "made some substantive steps forward during the last few years, and has more substantive steps to make", he said.

The wanangahas been dogged by criticism and problems in recent years, stemming from allegations of financial mismanagement, nepotism and poor course quality.

Founding father Rongo Wetere quit in December 2005 amid the turmoil and political criticism of his tenure. He was replaced by Mr Ohia.

Mr Ohia said that during the last few years the wananga had focussed on regrouping and repositioning itself in terms of its excellence strategy and financial status.

The organisation had been restructured to obtain the excellence standards its leaders were pursuing, said Mr Ohia.

The restructuring has included rationalising of its sites, notably a decision to move out of three floors of Hamilton's Tower Building earlier this year.

"In some communities we had a large number of sites, but now have a smaller number strategically positioned to best serve the needs of communities. It's an ongoing process.

"It was a combination of rationalising our sites for financial means, but also in terms of looking at it in a strategic sense across the country at what is sustainable and what is not sustainable."

Mr Ohia stressed the wananga's "belt-tightening" was not only related to its financial position.

The wananga was aiming to maximise use of its own assets, rather than use leased sites like the Tower Building.

Staff from that site had been moved to the Te Awamutu head office.

The wananga was also striving to meet the needs of its communities better, Mr Ohia said.

The rationalisation means that next year the wananga will offer 11 new courses.

"We're very fortunate to currently have four new programmes New Zealand Qualifications Authority accredited for 2008, with an additional seven programmes in the process of accreditation," said Mr Ohia.

The new courses include a Certificate in Indigenous Research, a Certificate in Tikanga Maori, a Certificate in Tikanga Marae, Diploma in Adult Education and a Diploma in Small Business Enterprise.

Mr Ohia also praised the work of the organisation's staff during recent times.

"The people are fantastic, with a high work ethic,`" he said.

"They've dug it in when it was required. It's an absolute team effort, across the country."

Mr Ohia also confirmed he was in negotiations to continue in his role for the next five years.

- © Fairfax NZ News