General History

NZUSA was formed in 1929. Its initial members were Auckland, Victoria, Canterbury and Otago, and to begin with it was known as the New Zealand National Union of Students (NZNUS). In 1935 the name was changed to NZUSA.

 

NZNUS's initial concerns were debating, sport, internal affairs, travel and foreign affairs. Running competitions such as the Joynt Scroll (debating) and the Bledisloe Medal (oratory) consumed a significant amount of time. At that stage there was no national office, and the members of the NZNUS executive were dispersed around New Zealand on their respective campuses.

 

As time went on the organisation began to grow in size. Accordingly NZUSA established  a national office in Wellington and expanded its activities. For example in the 1950s student health services at universities, which many students today take for granted, were poorly developed and a matter of concern for students. NZUSA was instrumental in ensuring students received better health care while studying.

 

In the 1960's NZUSA became more active in wider social issues. During this period NZUSA delegates opposed the war in Vietnam and the operations of New Zealand's homegrown espionage organisation, the Security Service. NZUSA also advocated for homosexual law reform and fought against racism in immigration policy.

 

NZUSA also became heavily involved in international affairs. There had already been a South African Scholarship and NZUSA added a South East Asian Scholarship Fund. This was used to make donations to Indian and South African students. The apartheid system in South Africa was of particular concern, and much of NZUSA's international efforts were aimed at helping those suffering its effects. NZUSA also became a member of international groups such as the International Union of Students.

 

Education had always been the primary concern of NZUSA. In the first fifty years it had been active and influential in student bursaries, quality of teaching, entrance standards, university funding and student support policies. However with the introduction of user pays education in the late 80s and early 90s NZUSA became focused on fees, loans and allowances.

The last two decades have seen an upheaval in the tertiary sector. Government funding has declined dramatically and students have, as a result, acquired huge amounts of debt through the Student Loan Scheme.

NZUSA continues to represent and advocate for all past and present tertiary students, fighting for a fairer and more equitable high quality tertiary education system.

In 2006 NZUSA changed its' name from the New Zealand University Students' Association to the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations to better reflect it's membership and desire to be a national voice for all tertiary students in New Zealand.

Past Presidents 1929-2008

Year     2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929

Presidents    Paul Falloon and Liz Hawes Joey Randall and Josh Clark Conor Roberts and Joey Randall Andrew Kirton and Camilla Belich Fleur Fitzsimons and Andrew Kirton Roz Connelly and Fleur Fitzsimons Andrew Campbell and Charlie Chambers Sam Huggard and Andrew Campbell Tanja Schutz and Sam Huggard Karen Skinner and Tanja Schutz Sarah Helm and Patrick Rooney Michael Gibbs Grant Robertson and Alayna Ashby Paul Williams Jeremy Baker Kirsty Graham Dan Ormond Charlotte Denny/Emma Reid Suze Wilson Andrew Little Andrew Little Bidge Smith Alex Lee/Bidge Smith Jess Wilson Jess Wilson Robin Arthur Brian Small Deryck Shaw Simon Wilson Chris Gosling Lisa Sacksen Lisa Sacksen John Blincoe Alick Shaw James Crichton Stephen Chan David Cuthbert David Cuthbert Paul Grocott Peter Rosier John McGrath Ross Mountain Ross Mountain/ Alistair Taylor M. J. Moriarty/ Alistair Taylor M. J. Moriarty A. T. Mitchell/M. J. Moriarty E. A. Woodfield/A. T. Mitchell E. A. Woodfield B. V. Galvin/E. A. Woodfield B. V. Galvin J. D. Dalgety/B. V. Galvin J. D. Dalgety T. O. Fitzgibbon/J. D. Dalgety E. R. Ireland/T. O. Fitzgibbon M. J. O'Brien/E. A. Ireland R. S. Milne/M. J. O'Brien I. T. Heath/R. S. Milne K. B. O'Brien/I. T. Heath R. B. Miller/K. B. O'Brien N. R. Taylor/R. B. Miller H. B. Lawry/N. R. Taylor M. C. Scott/H. B. Lawry M. C. Scott (nee Boxer) J. B. C. Taylor J. B. C. Taylor N. V. Ryder/J. B. C. Taylor J. W. Mandeno/N. V. Ryder N. Begg/J. W. Mandeno J. B. Almers/N. Begg A. P. Blair/J. B. Almers A. P. Blair R. M. Young/A. P. Blair R. J. Larkin/R. M. Young M. Joel/D. M. Burns/R. J. Larkin J. G. D. Ward/M. Joel M. G. Sullivan/J. G. D. Ward E. D. Robins/M. G. Sullivan W. J. Mountjoy/E. D. Robinson P. S. de Q. Cabot/W. J. Mountjoy P. S. de Q. Cabot