The president of the Tertiary Education Union has weighed in on the dramas at New Zealand's new mega-polytechnic.

Stephen Town has stepped down as head of Te Pukenga, after weeks of controversy.

Town took special leave for six-weeks, while continuing to be paid up to $13,000 a week.

Tina Smith told Mike Hosking she believes in the new polytech model, but setting it up could've been managed better.

She says the organisation spent too much time on high level strategies and not enough time on practical aspects.

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