Summary: Election 2023 – SMC science Q&A with political parties

With voting complete and likely some combination of National / ACT / NZ First coming in as the next government, a reminder on what they said about Te Ara Paerangi - Future Pathways and education. From the Science Media Centre link below.

National: The government lost an opportunity to look at growing the research, science, and innovation system and bring positive change to enhance New Zealand economy. National does not support Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways.

ACT: ACT will withdraw Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways science vision and replace it with a simpler and clearer set of priorities focussed on funding internationally-credible scientific research for productivity and public good science.

National: The tertiary education sector is struggling with rising costs, low international student numbers, declining domestic student numbers, and lower retention.

The main job for the next government will be to get inflation under control to reduce cost pressures and accelerate the return of international students, which help to keep costs down for domestic students.

National will also undo the disastrous polytechnic mega-merger and return control to institutions and local communities, while implementing a funding model that provides stability and accountability

ACT: ACT intends to retain overall levels of funding for university and vocational training, but deliver funding to universities through per student basis (rather than through “fees free”). ACT will disestablish the failed Te Pukenga experiment and return to regional polytechs and industry-governed industry training organisations.