A lecture theatre at Massey University's Auckland campus. Photo: Massey University / suppled
A trust supporting Māori whanau affected by strokes in Bay of Plenty has slammed Massey University's plans to make cuts to its speech-language therapy programme.
The university - which reported an $8.8m deficit last year - said there were no current proposals to close the degree programme but described it as "unsustainable", and it has asked staff for voluntary redundancies.
Rukingi Haupapa from the Awhi Mai Stroke Trust said he was "alarmed and anxious" at Massey's stance.
The trust has been working closely with the programme and the Speech-Language Association to support students to come to the region, and encourage Māori to enrol, he said.
"The sad thing for us is we've only just begun to find ways to work together to provide better services in the hospitals, and now that's being compromised by thinking of reducing."
A stroke survivor himself - he lost the ability to talk completely for six months in 2005 when he suffered a massive stroke at just 49 - he said the nationwide shortage of speech-language therapists meant many survivors never got that help at all.
"And for Māori, it's even worse."
Massey was the only university to offer a distance learning for speech therapy, which made it possible for people in the regions to study - including Māori, he said.
Of the 45 first-year students at Massey this year, seven were Māori.
"For me, it's about the future for stroke patients and the family. At the end of the day when they're in the ward, dealing with a horrible illness and trying to plan for some sort of future, they need as many resources as they can."