Knock, knock – is anyone home?

THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (INC.)

TE ROOPU TAUIRA O TE WHARE WAANANGA O TAMAKI MAKAURAU

Press Release
For Immediate Release

Monday 4 October, 1999

Knock, knock – is anyone home?

The launch of the Super 2000 Taskforce scheme yesterday was met with indignation by student leaders at the Auckland University Student Association (AUSA).

Super 2000 Taskforce is sponsored by funds manager Armstrong Jones and was developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Education for use in Year 12 and Year 13. “Telling students to plan for their retirement is a clearly ridiculous idea when many will within several years be staring down the barrel of huge student loans,” commented Eva Neitzert, co-Education Vice President at AUSA.

“Any sound financial advisor would recommend clearing debts before attempting to save, particularly if these are charged at high interest rates as is the case with student loans,” continued Ms Neitzert.

“This initiative provides not only unsound financial advice, it is also an insult to students. It fails to acknowledge the financial hardship that many students face as a result of the huge fee increases during this decade and the lack of government assistance available,” said Ms Neitzert.

“Currently, students collectively owe in excess of $3 billion dollars to the loans scheme. 2000 students owe more than $50,000. With statistics such as these, one wonders how much worse it must get before the government wakes up.”

The competition to devise the most innovative retirement plan has been dubbed “New Zealand’s biggest challenge.” “Our message to the government is clear, the biggest challenge facing students is the financial burdens of this loans scheme,” concluded Samuel Huggard, Administration Vice President of AUSA.

Contacts:
Samuel Huggard 309 0789 x 203
Administration Vice President
s.huggard@auckland.ac.nz

Eva Neitzert 309 0789 x 204
Co-Education Vice President
e.neitzert@auckland.ac.nz

Sherid Thackwray 309 0789 x 204
Co-Education Vice President
s.thackwray@auckland.ac.nz

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