Wigram MP Megan Woods has called on the Minister for Tertiary Education to urgently reconsider the closure of the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) Hornby campus, saying the decision would have “far-reaching negative impacts on our community.
As first reported by chrislynchmedia.com, the Hornby branch could close.
Woods said the Hornby campus plays a critical role in providing education opportunities for students who might otherwise disengage from the education system.
In a letter to Penny Simmonds she said “My conversations with several of the local principals have confirmed to me that many of the students engaged in the dual enrolment programme could well have dropped out of the education system if it were not for this offering,” she said.
She pointed to the growing demand for the dual enrolment programme, saying, “Hornby High alone has increased its 2025 sign-up from 26 students in 2024 to 60 students in 2025.”
Woods questioned whether transitioning students to the Ara Woolston campus on Ensors Road would be effective.
“I do not agree with the argument that these students will seamlessly transition to the Ara Woolston Campus.
Instead, the reality will be young people in the west of Christchurch missing this invaluable learning opportunity,” she said.
She raised concerns about transportation challenges for students, stating, “There is no direct bus service from Hornby to Woolston, and travel times could be up to an hour and 17 minutes each way.
For vulnerable learners, this creates additional anxiety and safety concerns, not to mention extra costs that many families simply cannot afford.”
Woods criticised the disruption that would be caused to ongoing courses, including automotive engineering, electrical pre-trade, and carpentry programmes. “Relocating these programmes mid-course would significantly disrupt students’ learning experiences and potentially hinder their academic progress,” she said.
“This campus is one of only two providers in New Zealand for refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice training and has been the sole tertiary provider for MITO apprentices in the Christchurch region since 2020,” Woods said.
Woods urged the Minister to reconsider the closure and extend operations until July 2025 to allow current courses to conclude and for a more rigorous review of the campus’s future.
“I am asking you as the Responsible Minister to consider the wider impacts of the closure of this campus. The future of our community’s workforce and the educational opportunities for our most vulnerable youth hang in the balance,” she said.
In a statement sent to chrislynchmedia.com last month, Penny Simmonds, said, “As the Minister, I am not privy to information regarding the operational decisions that SIT, or any other polytechnic, might contemplate.
“However, I would suggest that it is important for SIT, as it is for all polytechnics, to be taking appropriate actions to ensure their overall viability,” Simmonds said.
“As you know, the Government has requested that the Tertiary Education Commission work with Te Pūkenga to assist all polytechnics in reviewing their operations—an exercise that should have happened four years ago when Te Pūkenga was set up—to ensure the viability of the Polytechnic sector.
“The situation for trades training in Christchurch in 2024 is very different to when SIT set up in Christchurch in 1997, and SIT will likely be making decisions that reflect those changes,” Simmonds said.
