Student debt

 

Borrowing to live means debt for life - A living allowance for all students campaign

 

2004 has seen much emphasis on student debt as it has continued to skyrocket to a massive 7 billion dollars.

 

In the first half of 2004, NZUSA ran a strong campaign for a living allowance for all students. Early in the year a petition was launched calling on the government to introduce a living allowance for all students. In May, High School students joined tertiary students and other members of the public to present the petition to MP's having collected a massive 35,000 signatures. The petition was subsequently presented to the Education and Science select committee. Photo<Click to View> Press release[See files Below]

 

Similarly campaigns on the student unemployment benefit have also been run with a student cardboard city created at parliament to draw attention to two thirds of students not eligible for an unemployment benefit if they cannot find work over summer. Photo<Click to View>Press release[See files below]

 

A small victory has already been achieved with the government announcing that more students will have access to student allowances, however disappointingly access will be restricted for married, divorced and financially independent students.

 

Past Campaigns

 

Student debt

2003 saw the campaign against debt continue, as student debt reached 6 billion and NZUSA's campaign focused on fighting for - a living allowance for all students.

 

Student Allowance Petition[See Files Below]

 

Student Allowance Poster[See Files Below]

 

Student Allowance Postcard[See Files Below]

 

Student debt hit the 5 billion dollar mark during 2002, and NZUSA's campaign centred on the production of $5b Rage Against the Scheme posters and stickers.

 

As the 2002 General election drew near NZUSA's campaigning attention was focused on increased access to student allowances. NZUSA believes that all students should have access to student support while they are studying, and no one should be forced to borrow to live.

 

This poster [poster - see files below] tried to demonstrate the added pressure that a lack of student support created.