The herald has a piece on the Wananga with some interesting numbers. Lets take them at face value and do some wild extrapolation before we see the review. The focus is Kiwi Ora.
Wananga enrolments jumped from 800 in 1999 to 12,000 in 2001. In 2002, 25,000 students were enrolled in Mahi Ora. The programme is a free, home-based, 12-month distance learning programme, covering educational choices, health, finance, housing and business development within a Maori context. Life Works was a variation of Mahi Ora developed and sub-contracted to the Open Polytech. Kiwi Ora offers a similar programme geared for new immigrants. Kiwi Ora is run by Ora, a company owned by Mrs Cullen, with Government funding paid directly to Ora by the wananga less an 18 per cent fee.
In 2000-2001 say 20,000 students generated $8.9m for Mahi Ora. Say $340 per student. Fair enough. The Herald says $56m was paid over 5 years for Kiwi Ora. Using the $340 for Mahi Ora as a base they "educated" 164,000 "students" over the 5 years. Around 33,000 each year.
Immigration Statistics show just over 411,000 permanent arrivals in that period including returning New Zealanders.
So 40% of all arrivals undertook Susan Cullens course for new immigrants. Yeah Right!
I think wee will be looking at the review release in a little more detail. If the numbers above are anywhere close to being accurate Kiwi Ora would be part of a major government initiative for new arrivals. Which would bring the responsibility for this much closer to home for Labour
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