May 2nd 2002

Staunch Calls On Young People To Vote For Free Education

The youth and student wing of the Alliance, Staunch, is calling on young people to vote for free education, as they head into their national gathering this weekend.

"The Alliance has fought for the abolition of tertiary fees since they were introduced, and Staunch is committed to campaigning hard on campuses to ensure that the fight continues," said Staunch spokesperson Julie Fairey. "We challenge all tertiary students to support free education, and support the Alliance with their party vote - the more party votes we receive the bigger the gains for education will be!"

Fairey says a vote for any other party will be a wasted one for tertiary students, who have seen little action on their key issues in this term of government. Student debt is now over $5 billion, and less than a third of students are eligible for a living allowance.

Staunch will be holding it's third annual National Gathering this weekend (4th and 5th May) at Massey University in Palmerston North. The focus of the gathering will be on the coming General Election. "Staunch Alliance activists from Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will be converging to discuss, debate, and plan " said Fairey.

"The Alliance is a young party, with a young leader, a young activist base and a genuine youth perspective," said Sean Gourley, National Co-Spokesperson. "New Zealand youth can be sure that a party vote for the Alliance is ensuring that their future will be represented in Parliament. A party vote for the Alliance will bring the reinstatement of universal student allowances, fair pay rates for young workers, and a fair trade policy one step closer."

Staunch also has a website at www.staunch.org.nz with information on the Gathering and more details about Staunch.

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