Education Minister Chris Hipkins's office has confirmed he will definitely be speaking at a public meeting in the Otago Polytechnic Hub tomorrow night.
At the meeting Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker will put forward his own alternative to the Government's proposal to merge New Zealand's 16 polytechnics.
The meeting, from 5pm to 7pm, is open to anyone who wishes to attend.
Last month, the Government announced that the new body, provisionally called the "New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology" would manage capital and operational budgets, staffing, student and learning management systems for all polytechnics.
It would also see courses provided on a national basis. Details of the cost of the proposed changes - and any possible job cuts or changes to course provision - have not been released.