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6 January 2009 - NZUSA elects student leaders for 2009
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has elected its national officers for 2009. Sophia Blair and Jordan King will be the Co-Presidents of NZUSA. |
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27 November 08 - Irresponsible NZVCC passing the buck to student
Student leaders are expressing concern and disappointment at calls from the New Zealand Vice Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC) for free reign on tuition fees and are warning against a return to the harsh reality of the last time Vice Chancellors got their way on fees.
“We are very pleased to hear the government reaffirm a pre-election commitment to retain the fee maxima system, and we welcome the Minister’s rejection of the NZVCC’s calls to remove current fee controls at tertiary institutions”, said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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24 November 2008 - Time for National to announce tertiary policy
Student representatives congratulate the new Minister for Tertiary Education, Anne Tolley, and are eagerly awaiting the release of National’s tertiary education policy now they are leading the new Government.
“As the government put their tertiary policy together for release, we encourage them to consider the broad student, political and public support that NZUSA gained this year for a universal student allowance”,said Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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5 November 2008 - National out of the race for thinking voters
A new Thinking Person’s Guide to Voting has been launched detailing tertiary education policies of political parties to support voters in making informed choices on November 8.
“We’ve created this guide in recognition that what New Zealand voters need is not more three-second sound bytes from political leaders, but the chance to rationally evaluate the different parties policies for themselves,” said Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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Thinking Person's Guide to Voting '08
The Thinking Person's Guide to Voting '08 provides students and the general public with information to help identify, learn about, and take action on the issues which directly affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders in tertiary education. |
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Thinking Girls Guide to Voting
This guide is intended to assist you to think more widely about issues that will affect you and other women around the country in the next three years, and beyond. |
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1.7MB |
14 October 2008 - Vice Chancellors should tell the truth
Student representatives are taking issue with the New Zealand Vice Chancellors Committees’ (NZVCC) mis-representation of student support spending and urge them to come clean on the real figures which reveal universities receive huge funding injections every year off the back of young New Zealanders going into debt simply to get an education. |
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14 October 2008 - Key commitment a clunker
Student leaders, responding to John Key’s latest tertiary education policy announcements, expressed astonishment at the ignorance of his view that graduates are leaving our shores for a “brighter future”, and not because of student debt, accumulated through borrowing to live and high student fees. |
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13 October 2008 - Universal student allowance just what we need
Tertiary students throughout the country are celebrating today following Prime Minister Helen Clark’s announcement that Labour will deliver a universal living allowance for all full time students should they be in a position to form the next government following election day. The new policy was unveiled to a packed Otago University auditorium this afternoon, and NZUSA Co-Presidents Liz Hawes and Paul Falloon were ecstatic at the announcement. |
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25 September 2008 - National policy ambulance at bottom of cliff
National’s recent policy announcement to write-off student debt in an effort to address medical workforce shortages in hard-to-staff-areas may provide welcome relief for those lucky few who benefit, however thousands of other skilled graduates will be forced to continue battling with significant debt. |
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16 September 2008 - OECD confirms inadequate student support
Figures released in the OECD publication Education at a Glance 2008 confirm New Zealand’s lack of
investment in student support, and the high cost borne by students and their families. |
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27 August 2008 - Policy change encourages higher fees
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations is extremely disappointed that Government have abdicated responsibility for bringing already high tuition fees under control by loosening up regulations in favour of institutions, and are warning of the dangers rising fees pose. |
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20 August 2008 - Cost of universal allowance lower than reported
Ministry of Education documents sourced under the Official Information Act by the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) reveal that the cost of a universal student allowance is significantly lower than figures cited recently in some media. “Since Labour’s interest in a universal student allowance became public, there has been
much confusion regarding the cost of this policy. The public deserve to know that the costs are actually rather modest, while the benefits are immense”, said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations. |
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12 August 2008 - John Minto on student allowances
It would be a welcome relief if Roger Kerr's worries about a universal student allowance come to pass. The Business Roundtable chief executive is anxious lest Labour make an election campaign commitment to a universal student allowance so all students are helped through their studies. He attacked Labour's pledge to abolish interest payments on student loans at the last election and he's fretting about a repeat performance by way of a campaign commitment in the next few weeks. |
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30 July 2008 - Calls for universal allowance further justified
Students are welcoming the release of a government report highlighting the positive educational outcomes associated with student allowances. “The findings of this report come as no surprise. NZUSA has long advocated that adequate support in the form of student allowances is integral to academic success, and this government report now confirms this,” said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations. |
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30 July 2008 - Students campaign against rape and violence
Students around the country will be taking a stand against rape, violence and discrimination tomorrow when the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations re-launches its ‘Thursdays in Black’ campaign with a national day of action. |
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23 July 2008 - Vice Chancellor's statements misleading
Students are calling Auckland University Vice Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon to account for his misleading statements regarding the Government’s interest in the introduction of a universal student allowance. “Students are the key stakeholders of the tertiary sector, and it is deeply unfortunate that Stuart McCutcheon has positioned himself against an initiative that would improve an unfair and unsustainable student loan scheme”, says New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) Co-President Liz Hawes. |
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21 July 2008 - Women only scholarships still justified
Women student representatives are urging caution in questioning the relevance of women-only scholarships, and are highlighting their ongoing need. “Women-only scholarships are the provision of financial support. Such scholarships pose no threat to others’ participation, yet they do make a positive difference to the recipients, just as with any other scholarship,” said Analiese Jackson, National Women’s Rights Officer of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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18 July 2008 - Universal student allowance welcomed
Students throughout the country are delighted to see government interest in the introduction of a universal student allowance and eagerly await its implementation. “A universal student allowance is an extremely positive and sensible move which benefits all New Zealanders. Tertiary education is an investment in our country, training people for the skills and leadership we require for the future,” said Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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04 July 2008 - Universal Student Allowance - Smart Banking
This 4th July student leaders are converging on Auckland city for a national conference on tertiary education issues and the launch of a fresh new campaign promoting independence from debt by increasing access to student support.
“As the general election draws nearer we’re making it clear that our top priority is to strike a blow to the failed experiment that is the student loan scheme with the introduction of a universal student allowance,” said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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22 May 2008 - Budget tinkering, students still sinking
Today’s Budget announcements are a mixed bag for students, promising some relief for a lucky few, but overall will do little to fix the vast problems facing the majority of students and New Zealand’s growing student debt problem.
“This Budget shows no forward thinking or meaningful change in policy development and is virtually maintaining the inadequate status quo. The most significant development has come from a minor party's agreement and is not the motivation of Labour itself, which leaves very little hope for longer term progress on student support,” said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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09 April 2008 - $10b student debt – a millstone, not milestone
Students and graduates around New Zealand will be marking collective student debt reaching an astonishing $10billion tomorrow with events and protests highlighting the inequity of the student loan scheme and the unsustainability of a debt-laden generation.
“Family formation, home ownership, business start-up and retirement savings are all widely known to be severely negatively affected by student debt. Add to that the contribution of this debt to New Zealand’s increasing ‘brain drain’ and you have a recipe for disaster,” said Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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02 April 2008 - Paltry CPI adjustments just don’t cut it
Students are extremely disappointed at this week’s paltry Consumer Price Index increases to student allowances and are labelling Government claims that these increases reflect support for vulnerable communities as insulting.
“We know that access to student allowances is extremely restricted and that allowance levels do not begin to cover today’s high cost of living. Students have been looking to Government for leadership on this issue, and instead they get automatic annual adjustments sold off as Government initiatives. It’s insulting,” said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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31 Mar 2008 - NZUSA welcomes UCOL students
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) warmly welcomes its newest members, The Association of Students’ at UCOL (AS@U), to the national representative body for tertiary students.
“NZUSA is very pleased to welcome UCOL students. The presence of AS@U in the national body will for the first time ensure that polytechnic students in Palmerston North, Wanganui and Wairarapa have a national voice,” said Paul Falloon, NZUSA Co-President.
Students at a General Meeting of AS@U today voted resoundingly in favour of joining NZUSA, with membership taking effect immediately.
“Our students have shown they value national representation and the importance of collective action on issues facing students. NZUSA is a relevant and effective organization and we are excited to be able to participate this year in the national campaign for a universal living allowance,” said Jo Hymers, President of the AS@U. |
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13 March 2008 - Attack on the Arts – who will be next?
Students are outraged at moves to shut down Film Studies and American Studies programmes at two New Zealand universities and are calling for this ill-considered attack on the Arts to be abandoned. The University of Canterbury proposes to remove both Film Studies and American Studies, while Victoria University plans to close Film Studies in its current form.
“We have grave concerns over the lack of process and transparency surrounding these proposals, and believe they are incredibly short-sighted and unjustifiable. They are an ominous sign of things to come – we’re left wondering who will be targeted next” said Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA).
The proposed closures were sprung on staff and students with no warning and little forethought, showing scant regard for stakeholder engagement. |
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29 Feb 2008 - Government report highlights growing debt & lack o
Students are urging the government to take heed of the depressing statistics revealed in Student Loans and Allowances: 2006, the third report in recent weeks highlighting growing student debt and the lack of access to student allowances.
The report identified that in 2006 the number of students receiving an allowance and not having to rely on a student loan actually fell by 10%. In the same year, the student loan scheme saw the highest number of borrowers and the largest increase in loan borrowing, since 2001.
“The fact that the biggest proportion of borrowers dependent on debt was aged 20-25 years clearly shows that means-testing students on parental income until the age of 25 to determine allowance eligibility is deeply flawed and discriminatory,” said Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations. |
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25 February 2008 - Maxed out students need a fairer deal from ba
Tertiary students and bank staff are calling on banks to rethink their service to students in response to data that shows growing student reliance on credit cards and other bank debt.
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) and bank workers’ union Finsec are joining forces to try and keep students out of high-interest debt. The amount students owe on credit cards has increased by 32% since 2004, according to the NZUSA Income and Expenditure Survey. Credit card debt has increased at a higher rate than low to no interest overdrafts.
“It’s Orientation season and the campuses are crawling with banks trying to attract student accounts,” said Paul Falloon, NZUSA Co-President. “We want banks to value their student customers by easing penalties for default payments and offering no interest overdrafts and loans as last resorts.” |
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21 February 2008 - Can students really trust Labour to deliver?
Students are questioning Labour’s track record on accessibility and affordability in education, following Minister for Tertiary Education Pete Hodgson’s recent statement during a visit to Otago University for Orientation.
During his address to Otago students, Mr Hodgson boldly claimed students could “trust a Labour-led government to keep making improvements in the quality, accessibility and affordability of tertiary education.” He listed among the government’s achievements stabilisation of student fees and improved allowance eligibility.
“It is highly ironic and deeply concerning that Mr Hodgson chose limited access to allowances and rising fees to illustrate Labour’s commitment to students, as this is precisely where Labour has failed most miserably,” said Paul Falloon, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations. |
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31-Jan-2008 - National’s loan policy for the rich
Students have welcomed the National Party recognising that the nearly ten billion dollars of student debt is having a wide social and economic impact on New Zealanders but warn that their loans policy will only benefit a privileged few.
“National’s policy offers little for the vast majority of graduates who simply can’t afford to make more than the already significant compulsory repayments on their loans. National’s policy seems aimed at boosting government surpluses and benefiting the rich rather than addressing the impact that debt is having on struggling graduates”, says Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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30-Jan-2008 - Students back National’s call for free education
Students have welcomed the National Party recognising that fully funded public education is required to ensure quality and accessibility.
“Free education is the cornerstone of an inclusive, tolerant and productive society. Anything less than a future-looking scheme, where cost is a penalty, will not deal with the fundamental causes of youth underachievement”, says Liz Hawes, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). |
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24-Jan-2008 - New research shows massive
Average student debt[1] has risen by 54 percent since 2004 and is now $28,838 according to major new research released today by the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA).
Other main findings of the research are:
- Average student debt is over 147 percent higher than in 1998
- Students are looking beyond the student loan scheme, to bank loans, overdrafts, and credit cards to pay for essential living costs
- Core living costs (food, accommodation, transport) have increased significantly
- 88 percent of students consider that student loans will impact on their ability to buy a house. |
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