Proposal to save Waiariki Student Association

A proposal has been put forward to Waiariki Institute of Technology to save its student association.

Earlier this month, Waiariki Institute of Technology Student Association (Witsa) was informed by the institute that their 2012 contract had been cut.

The student association later found out this was a result of under-performance.

Witsa president Tony Te Huia said they were dependent on the institute for funding to provide their services such as advocacy, buddy programmes and orientation activities.

He said they had recently been working with their national union - New Zealand United Students Association - and had presented Waiariki officials with a report.

He said the report detailed services and duties Witsa could provide next year if the institute invested.

"It is just a report with details on how the contract can be set up," Mr Te Huia said.

"It is an important report so we want to give them as much time as they need [to respond]."

Mr Te Huia said that once Waiariki responded to the report, with their recommendations, a contract could becompiled to present to Waiariki.

He said the student association was looking at the situation positively, as it could lead to their services being delivered more effectively next year.

Waiariki told The Daily Post they were processing the report and were not sure how long it would take before they would respond.

Waiariki chief executive Margaret Noble, in a statement released this month, said they still wanted the services of the student association.

"Waiariki has not terminated its relationship with Witsa and is pro-actively working through a process of addressing the concerns with Witsa, so we would be in a better position to renew the contract in 2013."