"Real Problems" with the TSG

With the new TSG system, there have been significant changes to the entitlement. What is your reaction to those changes?

We are concerned about the new system, particularly how it is administered. Potentially there are real problems, notably with the distribution of students between the universities.

What will the administrative implications be for the universities?

Well, we would want some fairly rapid decisions. We can't see that students will go to Otago, Lincoln or Canterbury on the off-chance that they are going to get extra money once they are down there. This may involve a great deal more pre-enrolment.

Do you think the liaison officers will be happy with the new system? Will it mean a change in their responsibilities?

Not a change, I think. But a great deal more work than they have had to do in the past.

"There is no doubt that nothing like the anticipated volume of books has gone into the libraries."

How do you see the future for universities?

Well, it's a little early to say. We would hope [unclear: the] in our negotiations we can obtain as reasonable a quinquinnial grant as possible. Again, all we can say is that if we have further decreases in real terms, these are going to be the consequences.