Government wants to centralise polytechs

The Herald reports:

The National Party says the Government’s plans to reform polytechnics and institutes of technology will lead to 1000 job losses, a radical centralised model, and the closure of polytechnics in the regions.
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has rubbished these claims, adding that the Government needs to intervene in order to save polytechnics in the regions and stop job losses.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins, however, conceded that the proposals had “implications” for people’s jobs, but it was irresponsible to speculate about job losses.
This morning, in her State of the Nation speech to a business audience in Auckland, Ardern said the vocational education sector needed urgent restructuring, and that Hipkins would release a consultation document next week.

But National Party leader Simon Bridges said National had been leaked details of the document, and it recommended abolishing regional polytechnics and centralising a number of functions into four regional hubs.
He said it would also lead to 1000 fewer jobs and a “very radical, nationalised” model more typical of Venezuela, which would take control away from communities.

No matter what the problem is, Labour’s solution is centralisation and giving more powers to bureaucrats and less to communities.