The mega-polytechnic brought together the country’s 16 institutes of technology and polytechnics and nine industry training organisations (ITOs), but Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds has since signalled a return to a more regional-based model.
She would be looking to devolve the responsibilities to "eight to 10" separate institutions, and the changes should be complete by the end of this year.
She has also signalled the possibility of Otago Polytechnic and Southern Institute of Technology returning in some form.
However, the mega-polytechnic is still advertising for roles on various job sites.
Tertiary Education Union organiser Daniel Benson-Guiu said even with the new regional model, local polytechnics would find it difficult to hire or re-hire staff due to high levels of staff turnover during Te Pūkenga restructuring proposals and processes.
"We don’t know what the new structure will look like yet, but when they do return, there will be several roles to re-fill.
"They’ll have to start looking for chief financial officers and information officers for each region, but in the meantime, so many positions are effectively frozen."
Last year, Te Pūkenga underwent a restructure which led to more than 200 roles being cut across its 10,000 staff national network.
Its head offices were based in Hamilton, although it had campuses throughout the country including Otago and Invercargill.
Mr Benson-Guiu said it would have lost more staff from those leaving before the restructure took place.
"But the real issue is they’re leaving all the remaining staff in the dark."
A spokesman for Te Pūkenga said it was working to provide kaimahi (staff) "with as much clarity as possible on current positions and what the move away from a centralised national network means for them".
"It’s important the network continues to maintain a level of recruitment in order to provide its services and a quality experience for ākonga [learners] across the country.
"Part of this includes reviewing roles and any vacancies we have at present in light of the ministerial direction received late last year."
