Street Maryan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Street Maryan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:663;Page:11439] 
9. 
Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Tertiary Education 
: Does he stand by his statement that Budget 2010 will “ensure more higher education opportunities for New Zealanders”? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education) 
: 
 Yes because Budget 2010 funds more core tertiary places than ever before. In 2011 the Government will fund 117400 full-time places at universities which is an increase of 1735 on previously projected figures and 70000 full-time places at polytechnics and institutes of technology which is an increase of 3173. That is a significant achievement in tight fiscal conditions brought on by the global financial crisis. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Can he confirm that when he talks about more higher education opportunities for New Zealanders he is not talking about all the new university enrolments who are being turned away at the door because the Government refuses to fund new places in universities adequately? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I point out to the member that the number we are funding this year—116600—is significantly more than what the previous Government funded in 2008. That funding was projected to decline in 2009 and 2010. I also point out that the policy of capping university enrolments was created by the previous Labour Government and was implemented in 2008. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Why does he stand by his original statement when the total number of places funded by the 2010 Budget is only half the number of people who will be turned away from Victoria University alone in the remaining semesters of 2010? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I do not know that I want to argue with the member’s maths but the total number of places in 2010 is 116572. It is difficult to believe that that number of enrolments are being turned away by Victoria University let alone double that. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Can he confirm that when he talks about more higher education opportunities for New Zealanders he is not talking about filling university places with full-fee-paying international students at the expense of places for New Zealanders but instead is talking about using international students’ money to fund New Zealand universities which is usually the responsibility predominantly of the Government? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: No. My view is that we need to not only maximise the number of places for domestic students which this Government is doing with the highest number ever but also improve and increase our international education fees. I point out to the member that universities in New Zealand compete for their academic staff with universities internationally in particular those in Australia. Australian universities have significantly more fee income from international students than New Zealand universities and we have to improve the fee income in New Zealand to enable them to compete with Australian universities. It is that straightforward. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Can he confirm that when he talks about more higher education opportunities for New Zealanders he is not talking about second-chance learners who rely on adult and community education courses to help them get back into formal education given Budget 2010 continues to slash funding to that sector? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: The Government made some decisions on the funding of adult and community education. We have said we are focusing adult and community education in certain areas but we are not expecting to subsidise all adult and community education. That was partially in response to the unfunded commitments left by the previous Government. In terms of full-time places at universities institutes of technology and polytechnics this year’s numbers are at record levels and next year’s numbers will also be at record levels.