Photo: 123RF
Some staff at Te Pūkenga are surprised and unhappy the super-institute is pushing ahead with more changes.
It is consulting on a restructure of its IT division just a month after finishing a major restructure that caused a net loss of about 200 jobs.
Some employees are asking why the institute is bothering, given the next government could disestablish the entire organisation, which combines polytechnics and industry/workplace training.
RNZ understands the review would involve moving some staff into new positions, hiring about 30 people at the start of next year, and 23 others as funding allows, in areas including digital platforms for courses and cyber-security.
The institute told staff it would announce decisions in December.
"Costs of the changes will be finalised after we have completed the consultation process" - Te Pūkenga pourangi matihiko/chief digital officer Teresa Pollard
RNZ understands some staff were confused and frustrated.
Tertiary Education Union organiser Daniel Benson-Guiu said the digital group was reviewed only a year ago and had been told to expect a second review this year.
He said staff were briefed on the plans on Wednesday last week and the union had been gathering feedback from its members.
"There are a number of staff who are feeling positive about it from the ones we've talked to, there are some who are feeling anxious about change altogether but this review is not going to be about disestablishing positions. They're actually looking at increasing positions with some recruitment starting in January next year."
Benson-Guiu said some staff might feel there was no point to the review given the next government might decide to axe the institute, but they were expecting further change regardless of what it might do.
National Party tertiary education spokesperson Penny Simmonds, leader Christopher Luxon and education spokesperson Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
The National Party said prior to the election that it would disestablish Te Pūkenga and replace it with regional groupings of polytechnics.
However, the party's tertiary education spokesperson Penny Simmonds said she could not comment on the institute while her party was in coalition talks.
Te Pūkenga pourangi matihiko/chief digital officer Teresa Pollard said: "Te Pūkenga continues to operate in line with our legislative mandate. We will respond to any changes in government direction when these are known."
Pollard said the proposed changes would create "a unified digital function aimed at offering consistent, cost-effective and responsive high-quality digital services".
She said it would make the most of the institute's scale and consultation on the proposal would run until 17 November.
"Costs of the changes will be finalised after we have completed the consultation process. We will not be making further comment on the proposal until we have heard from our kaimahi," she said.