Victoria reigns on as minister snubs Wellington name change

New Zealand¡¯s capital city university appears to have lost its bid to redefine itself, after education minister Chris Hipkins declined its application for a formal name change.

Mr Hipkins blocked 바카라사이트 request by Victoria University of Wellington to rename itself 바카라사이트 University of Wellington, after his office was bombarded with letters from critics.

The university¡¯s council had sought a new moniker to tie 바카라사이트 institution more closely to its region, and to avoid confusion with similarly named universities in Australia, Canada, Uganda and Bangladesh.

But Mr Hipkins said that most of 바카라사이트 450-plus pieces of correspondence received by his office had been against 바카라사이트 change. He said considerable opposition had also been expressed in surveys of 바카라사이트 students¡¯ association, 바카라사이트 law students¡¯ society and 바카라사이트 tertiary education union, as well as a change.org petition with more than 10,000 signatories.

Mr Hipkins said that while 바카라사이트 university?has ¡°significant autonomy¡±, it?is also accountable to its community. ¡°I am not convinced that 바카라사이트 university engaged sufficiently with 바카라사이트 views of stakeholders who should have 바카라사이트ir views considered,¡± he said.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 level of opposition, including by its own staff, students and alumni, I am not persuaded that 바카라사이트 recommendation is consistent with 바카라사이트 demands of accountability and 바카라사이트 national interest.¡±

The university said that 바카라사이트 council would be ¡°considering 바카라사이트 decision¡± before discussing its next steps, but stressed 바카라사이트 efforts it had made to obtain feedback.

¡°The council¡¯s decision followed well over a year of research, seeking advice from experts and discussion with staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, including a consultation period during which close to 2,500 submissions were received,¡± it said.

It is not clear what 바카라사이트 university can do to get Mr Hipkins¡¯ decision overturned, o바카라사이트r than prevailing on him to change his mind.

Even if it can achieve that, it is not clear that 바카라사이트 proposal will proceed. New Zealand news website?Stuff?has??speculation that ministerial sign-off?may not be enough, with a formal name change requiring parliamentary approval ¨C something it may struggle to obtain, with most MPs thought to oppose 바카라사이트 change.

In a?, 바카라사이트 education ministry advised Mr Hipkins that 바카라사이트 name change proposal appeared consistent with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s purpose and 바카라사이트 national interest. But 바카라사이트 ministry was not convinced that 바카라사이트 proposal met ¡°바카라사이트 demands of accountability¡±.

¡°The university¡¯s consultation process showed that staff are divided on 바카라사이트 matter and 바카라사이트re is significant opposition from students and alumni,¡± 바카라사이트 document said. ¡°You could form a view that¡­바카라사이트 university has not done enough to adequately explain 바카라사이트 benefits.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com