Otago Polytechnic is seeking a new member for its executive council after Dr Peter Coolbear resigned at a meeting yesterday because of an arising conflict of interest.
The Wellington-based Dr Coolbear has recently been appointed to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as chief adviser for the institutes of technology and polytechnics investment division.
He said his new position had created an "obvious" conflict of interest given the TEC was the main funding body for all of New Zealand's polytechnics.
Council chairwoman Kathy Grant said Dr Coolbear was scheduled to begin his new role on August 1.
