The Tertiary Education Minister's assuring consultation's being conducted with integrity, as Te Pukenga's unwound

A network's proposed with some stand-alone polytechs, and a federated structure for others.

Penny Simmonds last week told RNZ as many as nine institutes would be ready to stand alone by late next year.

The Union says it makes consultation feel like sham, with a predetermined outcome foreshadowed.

But Simmonds says the process has been designed to ensure everyone's heard, and says she values feedback.

Consultation closes on Thursday, for final Cabinet decisions this year.