Cr Kevin Gilbert’s comments at yesterday’s council meeting came during a discussion about the government’s planned breaking up of mega-polytechnic Te Pūkenga.
Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds wants to create a new model where the financially strongest polytechnics can stand on their own, and the rest become part of a federation model overseen by the Open Polytechnic.
Several councillors called for Otago Polytechnic to be a stand-alone entity.
"Please Wellington, stop damaging us," Cr Jim O’Malley said.
"We’re wasting vast amounts of resources as policy swings from one side of the aisle to the other."
Cr Kevin Gilbert said his message to central government was: "Stop trying to help".
He said although the proposed changes would not address all the issues of the previous model, they were at least a step in the right direction.
"The logic of smooshing together underperforming entities with high-performing ones to help the system has never made sense to me."
Mayor Jules Radich said he was also concerned about Otago Polytechnic further losing its autonomy if it became part of the federation model.
"Dunedin is an education city ... We don’t need to have the polytechnic centralised. It’s a very critical part of the fabric of our city."
Cr Andrew Whiley said Te Pūkenga was an "interesting failure".
"But Otago Polytechnic is a critical part of our community.
"We had a very strong entity pre-2020 before they got rolled up as one ... but it went a lot deeper.
"It meant the workforce was trained in areas that were required for Dunedin."
"I hope we can get Otago Polytechnic back on its feet and delivering for Dunedin, Otago and the southern parts of the country."
Cr Christine Garey said she also worried about the staff.
"Some of them have been made redundant and then re-employed several times over the past few years, which is not a good situation for anyone to be in.
"We know we have a great institution and great staff, and I look forward to when they’re settled in to their roles and don’t have this dreadful uncertainty."
Cr Carmen Houlahan said it was important to advocate for what was best for the city.
"The unique selling points of the region were not being promoted at all from a central basis — individual areas are just not getting highlighted at all.
"The Otago Polytechnic was and is world-leading."
Meanwhile, council policy analyst Danielle Tolson and economic development team leader Antony Deaker said under the present Te Pūkenga model, it had proved difficult to recruit international students specifically for Otago.
"Over the past several years, the rate of recovery of international students has been slower than comparable institutions such as universities," Mr Deaker said.
Cr Garey asked Mr Deaker whether he assumed Otago becoming an autonomous polytechnic would improve the situation.
"I would make that assumption," he replied.
Cr Carmen Houlahan asked why Otago "wasn’t able to advocate for themselves".
Mr Deaker said Te Pūkenga’s model was problematic.
"The system as a whole wasn’t able to speak with clarity, and it was confusing as to when international students were in-market."
However, a Te Pūkenga spokeswoman said Mr Deaker’s remarks did not tell the whole story.
"Otago Polytechnic set up a partnership with a private training establishment (PTE) in Auckland. As a result of this partnership, most of Otago Polytechnic’s international learners are being trained in Auckland, not Dunedin.
"Te Pūkenga was unsuccessful in attempting to remove Otago Polytechnic from this partnership after it was established.
"It is therefore incorrect to state that the shift to marketing to international students being undertaken by Te Pūkenga at a national level, rather than at a local level, has prevented the return of international students to Dunedin."
She said across the Te Pūkenga network, international enrolments were up 35% this year, and students were enrolled with Te Pūkenga divisions throughout the country.
