Turner appointed in polytech shake-up | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Former Tauranga Chamber of Commerce president Ian Turner has been appointed chairman of the streamlined Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Council, driven by the Government.

Mr Turner, a chartered accountant and tourism operator, is one of four ministerial appointments under the Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Act that outlines the make-up of the new councils and seeks to improve the efficiency and financial performance of tertiary institutes.

Joining Mr Turner on board from May 1 are present council member, developer Paul Bowker, negotiator Rahera Ohia and a former polytechnic chief executive Dr Neil Barns, who recently moved to Tauranga and will be the deputy chairman of both Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Rotorua's Waiariki Institute of Technology.

The Bay of Plenty council is being trimmed from 14 to eight, and the other four community members will be appointed by the existing council. Those positions have been advertised.

The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic chief executive Dr Alan Hampton will no longer be on the council but he will attend the meetings. Mr Turner will be meeting him next week.

Under the restructured council, Mr Turner and Dr Barns replace present chairwoman  Andrea Marsh, wife of Western Bay of Plenty district councillor Kevin Marsh, and deputy chairman Barry Ward.

Dr Barns was the chief executive of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, is chair of the New Zealand Tertiary Accord and a member of the Polytechnics International New Zealand.

Ms Ohia is the lead negotiator for local iwi Te Au Maro o Ngati Pukenga and executive director of Tapiri Atu.

Mr Bowker, vice-president of Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, built the Devonport Towers and is owner/operator of the Hotel on Devonport.

Mr Turner, who arrived in Tauranga in 1999, runs New Zealand Educational Tours, and he was also a Tourism Bay of Plenty director for two years, as well as having six years on the chamber board - four of them as president.

Before emigrating to New Zealand, he was chairman of the Ravensbourne secondary school board in Kent, England.

Mr Turner was approached about the new polytechnic role  eight weeks ago. "I'm going in with a white page," said Mr Turner.

Asked if he would be looking at cutting costs, Mr Turner said he wasn't told that was part of his brief.

He said the new council will be more focused on delivering tertiary education that meets the local community needs.

"I'm not suggesting it hasn't done that but there has been a shift in government policy, and they are looking at results with funding being performance related," Mr Turner said.

"It's my understanding that Bay of Plenty is one of the few profitable polytechnics and it has very good performance. If it's doing well, then why should the polytechnic suffer?

"I'm going in not thinking anything about funding cuts, but as we know the public purse is fairly tight and who knows what will come out of it," he said.

Asked about the dual appointment of Dr Barns and whether Bay of Plenty and Waiariki polytechnics could merge, Mr Turner said in the first instance it was a question of co-operation.

"It's good to have Neil on both councils," he said.

"It's always good to hear what is going on elsewhere and it challenges your thinking."

On the University of Waikato-Bay of Plenty Polytechnic partnership, he said: "It would be foolish to tear up what we have got. We want a hub of learning that will attract students here, as well as keep our young talent at home."