Another tertiary institution has been forced to repay the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) over its Māori Performing Arts programme.
Almost $3.7 million has been repaid by the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) in a similar situation to that of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi who also recently repaid about $5 million.
Performing arts students aspire to gain tradition knowledge, but what they've recently gained instead are more problems.
Recent findings of an investigation into two Māori Performing Arts programmes at WITT shows that both failed to meet the relevant NZQA accreditation and TEC funding requirements.
Students must now return their qualifications. So the questions begs, will WITT cover the student loan costs incurred by its pupils?
A similar situation recently occurred at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Failings were found in relation to its Māori tourism course, resulting in a repayment of around $5 million.
Investigations continue into its Māori Performing Arts programme as well as the private trust, Manaakitanga Aotearoa.
The results of both investigations into the Māori Performing Arts programmes at Awanuiārangi and Manaakitanga Aotearoa are yet to be revealed.