Press Release
For Immediate Release

National does it again, puts our future in disarray

National with the support of ACT and United Future have set aside parliamentary process to allow ACT’s detrimental and unnecessary Bill to continue through another stage of the parliamentary process. This Bill is set to devastate student support, services and representation on campus. If passed this bill will send our next generation into further debt and make the studying process more difficult.

National MPs had reassured NZUSA as little as two weeks ago that “this Bill would not pass before the election”. NZUSA and all student associations understand that there is concern over transparency of students’ associations but that only a few bad eggs had spoilt it for the genuine people out there trying to do right by their fellow students. This bill would remove this genuine support for students throughout our country. Working together to get what is best for all concerned would be best practice not steam rolling the positives.

“For UCOL students that have just returned from a well deserved break this is another stress which will make the study process more complicated” says Kylie Jefferies AS@U President. This will also affect UCOL ability to maintain those all important services and facilities need to ensure the student experience is a positive and productive one.

“Those Members of Parliament that think this is a step forward should think back to their time as students and the experiences of their children in this VSM environment and also think of the students who don’t have wealthy parents to fund their studies and how this will affect retention and completion rates” says Kylie Jefferies AS@U President.

NZUSA Co-Presidents David Do and Max Hardy have been working with National and ACT to find a suitable solution to concerns raised, National has just literally pulled the wool over their eyes and shut them out of any further negotiation even though during the submission process of this bill 98% if submissions were against the Bill. Again it’s a case of National not listening to its members and what is best for our future.

ENDS

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