Te Pukenga made the decision to axe MAINZ's Auckland campus because of flooding damage and financial trouble. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
A student at a respected Auckland music school says she was given just over two weeks' notice that her course had been called off.
The Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand - or MAINZ - boasts alumni like Joel Little, who produced some of Lorde's early work.
It offers courses across levels and disciplines of music production but many aren't going ahead this year.
Te Pukenga oversees MAINZ and made the decision to axe the Auckland campus because of flooding damage and financial trouble.
But Olivia Whitehead said the first students heard of it was just before the course was supposed to start.
"The communication we did receive was just an email with no alternative education provision, it was all just, 'hey you're not studying this year with us, seeya later, have fun'."
They had been told earlier that a new campus had been found and the course would merely be delayed, Whitehead said.
She said the sudden change in plans created difficulties for many of her fellow students who had organised their lives around the course.
"Some of us pay rent, some of us have all the bills to pay, financial burden was huge and we let them know that, and they just gave us 500 bucks. Honestly, it's quite insulting, 500 bucks here you go - you know, that's like a week of rent and groceries for some of us."
Whitehead said that money was already available as part of a hardship fund for students.
She tried another course, but said it wasn't really what she was looking for.
"So instead of studying something I'm not particularly wanting to study, I am in a bit of a limbo situation. I'm not really sure what I'm doing."
Artist and actor Troy Kingi studied at MAINZ, and said it would be a loss for New Zealand music if the institute closed permanently.
"I know so many people in the industry that owe a lot to that place. That was where we kind of cut our teeth and met a lot of people that we're still in good contact with these days, that we've kind of had a long the journey with us."
Melaia Ofe was studying a graduate diploma at MAINZ and found herself in a frustrating situation with only one semester remaining in her degree.
She has taken the year off studying, hoping that the institute will re-open next year.
"I mean, I'm putting my hopes in the fact that we really believe in the MAINZ Kaupapa. I don't know if I believe that Te Pukenga and SIT are going to make the right decision in this case, because it hasn't seemed like they've listened."
The Tertiary Education union is running a campaign to keep the programme alive, asking people to offer their feedback to Te Pukenga by 4pm this afternoon.
A submission was also made by MAINZ staff, featuring letters from alumni and industry leaders arguing that the institute has a key role in New Zealand's music industry.
Flooding caused a lot of damage
Te Pukenga's deputy chief executive Gus Gilmore said the Auckland campus has been operating at a loss for years and the long-term future of MAINZ hasn't been decided yet.
"The floods in Auckland last month seriously damaged our specialist facilities and equipment, and it was not possible to open for semester one as planned," he said in a statement.
Gilmore said they have made suggestions at other places the students could study and offered to cover the difference in fees for students who are moving courses.
He also pointed to the $500 hardship fund which was available.
Discussions had also been held with the 18 staff about a possible permanent closure. He said the long-term future of MAINZ will be decided in early April.