The Maori Party has withdrawn its support for a government Bill after its bid to have Maori members on polytechnic councils failed.
The Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill went through its committee stage in Parliament today and is due to be passed into law tomorrow.
It restructures polytechnic councils, reducing member numbers and giving the Government more control over appointments.
The Maori Party put up an amendment which would have ensured that councils had at least three Maori members.
The Government didn't accept the amendment, and it was defeated.
The Maori Party told ministers before the vote that if the amendment was unsuccessful, it would withdraw its support for the Bill.
The Government still has a majority for it to be passed and will rely on the ACT Party's votes.
Labour strongly opposes the bill, and said after the committee stage debate that it stripped away guaranteed representation for Maori, students, staff, industry and community representatives.
It also put up amendments to the bill, but they were all voted down.
"Polytechnics have been robbed of the stakeholder input they need to ensure they are doing the best job possible. It's inexplicable," said Labour's tertiary education spokeswoman Maryan Street.
