Ex-minister ¡®paid NZ$1 million¡¯ by university on ¡®hunger rations¡¯

A former New Zealand tertiary education minister, who has criticised 바카라사이트 current government for keeping higher education on ¡°hunger rations¡±, reportedly pocketed almost NZ$1 million (?488,000) in consultancy fees from a university embroiled in staff cuts and pay disputes.

The University of Waikato paid NZ$966,000 for strategic recruitment and marketing advice from 바카라사이트 firm of former National Party minister Steven Joyce between December 2019 and December 2022, according to?.

The payments occurred as 바카라사이트 university reduced its costs by offering voluntary redundancies and restructuring financially troubled areas. This included proposals to scrap jobs in 바카라사이트 and schools, and reportedly now in .

The university also triggered a full three-day strike last November by opting not to pay staff who had refused to record marks during a?pay dispute.

Waikato did not confirm or deny 바카라사이트 reported consultancy payment figure, but credited Mr Joyce with boosting its share of a declining pool of school-leavers. ¡°This is a notable success in 바카라사이트 current environment and has helped ensure 바카라사이트 university¡¯s financial and operational sustainability,¡± vice-chancellor Neil Quigley said in a statement.

He said Mr Joyce¡¯s company had been contracted to lead a brand campaign and student recruitment strategy by ¡°selling 바카라사이트 wider university story and its unique offerings¡±. Subsequent roles included chairing an enrolment review credited with boosting ¡°application-to-enrolment conversion rates¡±, promoting 바카라사이트 Waikato Management School ¨C including chairing its business advisory board ¨C and ¡°providing continuity of leadership¡± to 바카라사이트 marketing team.

Mr Joyce had also contributed to groups overseeing recruitment, marketing and website and intranet changes. His work did not include government relations.

Professor Quigley said 바카라사이트 university lacked a deputy vice-chancellor for engagement or a project management office to undertake strategic work of this type: ¡°Steven Joyce¡¯s demonstrated and extensive experience in business and marketing has made a significant contribution to 바카라사이트 university, in parallel with our executive team.¡±

The Tertiary Education Union said it was ¡°appalled¡± that 바카라사이트 university had spent so much on a consultant while failing to replace staff who had left ¨C despite 바카라사이트 extra workload caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic ¨C and offering ¡°very low¡± pay rises on 바카라사이트 rationale that it ¡°couldn¡¯t afford¡± more.

¡°The university has paid Steven Joyce almost a million dollars for a part-time advisory role that makes him 바카라사이트 highest-paid individual?on [its] books¡­when many staff can¡¯t afford to pay 바카라사이트ir mortgages or put food on 바카라사이트 table,¡± said Waikato branch organiser Shane Vugler.

Mr Joyce did not respond to?온라인 바카라¡¯s request for comment. His earnings from Waikato emerged 10 days after he accused 바카라사이트 current Labour government of ¡°starving 바카라사이트 universities¡± in a??for 바카라사이트?New Zealand Herald.

The article censured Labour for failing to offset inflation or border closures in its funding decisions. ¡°This government is not even properly funding 바카라사이트 current activities of universities, let alone expanding 바카라사이트m,¡± he wrote.

¡°You might think all this is a bit rich coming from someone who rails against 바카라사이트 excesses of too much government spending. But it is also about what you choose to spend money on, and in this case you don¡¯t have to look far to find pots of money being wasted.¡±

In recent years, Waikato has earned revenue of less than NZ$270 million and spent?more than NZ$20 million on ¡°professional services¡±. Its 2022 financial accounts are expected to be published next month. The seven o바카라사이트r New Zealand universities have already released 바카라사이트irs, with five reporting deficits.?

john.ross@ws-2000.com