Don Brash visits Te Wananga o Aotearoa

We had a surprise visit at work in Te Awamutu this morning - a visit from National Party leader Don Brash, along with National MPs Gerry Brownlee, Bill English, and Murray McCully. Apparently Don Brash only wanted a quick visit to the Wananga but he was welcomed with a full-on powhiri of course! I only caught the end of the powhiri so I didn't hear Brash's speech, so here's a transcript of it from www.scoop.co.nz:

“I have come here today to deliver a message. A message that I hope will assist in putting the past behind us and building a great future for this place.
“This place has become a symbol of much that is wrong with the tertiary sector under the Helen Clark Government and a monument to the political correctness which has seen our country lose its way.
“And while those who have previously occupied positions of responsibility here must shoulder some of the blame, the real culprits are to be found in Wellington. In 1999, the annual funding provided by the government for the wananga was $5 million. Last year that had grown to a massive $239 million.
“If a National-led government is elected on Saturday, and I am elected Prime Minister of this country, the face of tertiary education is going to be very different.
“First, we are going to remove any distinction based on race. Helen Clark and her colleagues in the Labour Party hold the separatist view that this institution should exist to focus on Maori students and so-called Maori needs.
“In doing so, she and her ilk would condemn Maori to a future that is second rate, and New Zealand to a future that is second-class.
“In 2005, New Zealand has no need for separate tertiary institutions based upon race. In 2005, New Zealand should be funding tertiary institutions solely on the basis of their ability to deliver high quality courses which represent good value for money for taxpayers and for students.
“That does not mean that institutions like this one have no future under a National Government. To the contrary, institutions like this have a bright future under a National Government.
“Under a National Government, funding will be delivered on the basis of merit, not race or political correctness. Over recent months, major changes have been made to this institution. I welcome the advances being made.
“Today, I want to say to all of those involved, that if we have a change of government on Saturday, there will be a different path forward for the tertiary sector in New Zealand. One which focuses on standards and quality and on value for money,” said Dr Brash.

So what does this really mean for the Wananga? Will it continue if National becomes the government on Saturday? I totally agree with him that funding should not be based on race, however I don't think the Wananga falls under this category. The Wananga invloves staff and students from all races - over half the students are non-Maori, and a lot of the staff (including myself!) I just hope I have a job next year!

By the way, after the powhiri I got to give Don Brash, along with the other National MPs, a handshake and a hongi! That was a bit of a buzz!