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 Student Conference.

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 its membership and desire to be a national voice for all tertiary students in New Zealand.