A letter obtained by the Otago Daily Times yesterday showed the polytechnic confirmed it would discontinue a further three programmes in addition to the six announced earlier in the week.
It brings the total number of courses cut next year to nine.
The most recent courses facing the chop are three Dunedin-based horticulture programmes.
Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Pōtiki said in her letter that these programmes did not have the enrolments to support their sustainability.
"This has been another very hard choice for us, and I know these kinds of decisions affect our Otago Polytechnic whānau and that they’re coming at the end of a challenging year.
"I want to thank you all for supporting each other during these times of change, and I particularly want to thank the kaimahi [staff] from foundation learning, early childhood education, health and wellbeing, English language and horticulture for their passion and commitment to our ākonga over the years."
Tertiary Education Union assistant national secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu was concerned that some of the programmes being cut nationwide were "unique".
"The left hand is not talking to the right hand.
"As each division extricates themselves from Te Pūkenga, they are not communicating with each other the raft of programme changes each are making. In some cases, programmes that are the only ones of their kind are being cut."
This "fire-sale before Christmas" would deliver fewer training opportunities, particularly in niche sectors, he said.
He said staff were confused why programmes crucial to the "fabric" of education in Dunedin were being targeted.
"Niche programmes aren’t made to make money; there is a need to deliver them through Te Pūkenga because otherwise no-one else will deliver them."
The decision comes as the polytechnic sector awaits the confirmation of sweeping reform.
Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds is leading the break-up of mega-polytechnic Te Pūkenga and moving towards a model where the financially strongest polytechnics can eventually stand on their own and the rest become part of a federation model overseen by the Open Polytechnic.
A decision on which polytechnics will be stand-alone is due shortly.
Dr Pōtiki told the ODT the programmes the polytech decided to discontinue did not have the enrolments to support their sustainability.
"Otago Polytechnic previously had an annual programme of sustainability evaluations.
"However, these were paused in recent years when we were merging with the national Te Pūkenga entity. It is intended that these evaluations will become part of annual business practice here again.
"That’s about looking at how we’re resourcing demand for learning in our community and managing staff workload, while still remaining a sustainable organisation."
Dr Pōtiki also confirmed that much of its Cromwell campus was up for review.
Earlier this week, she announced the New Zealand certificates in brewing (level 4) and stonemasonry (level 4) at Cromwell would be discontinued.
The Cromwell campus would continue to offer programmes in a range of areas including fruit production, nursery production, groundskeeping/sports turf, winemaking, beekeeping, carpentry, and other fields, she said.
"We are working with consultants, as directed by the Tertiary Education Commission, to look at how to improve our financial performance and ensure we have a sustainable future.
"Otago Polytechnic has been open about proposals to close and sell its campus and student accommodation in central Cromwell, which is an under-utilised asset. However the newer base on Bannockburn Rd will stay.
"We are working to engage with stakeholders and the community about how we can best serve the region going forward in a sustainable way."
Ms Simmonds told the ODT she was "not privy to information regarding the operational decisions that polytechnics might contemplate".
"However, I would suggest that it is important for Otago Polytechnic, as it is for all polytechnics, to be taking appropriate actions to ensure their overall viability and maintain their relationships."
Cabinet would make final decisions about the proposed reforms before the end of the year, she said.
