Chlöe Swarbrick accepts petition for postgraduate allowances

Wednesday, 9 May 2018, 10:28 am
Press Release: NZUSA

9 May 2018

Chlöe Swarbrick accepts petition calling for postgraduate allowances

Students have found an ally in Chlöe Swarbrick, who received a petition last night calling for the urgent reinstatement of student allowances for postgraduate students. The allowance was scrapped by the previous Government in 2013.

The petition, created by the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), received 2159 signatures in little over a month.

‘During our meeting, we passed onto Chlöe some stories from students who have struggled through postgraduate study due to the lack of an allowance. These are our future psychologists, teachers and leaders – restoring the allowance isn’t just good for them but good for the country,’ says National President Jonathan Gee.

In the 2017 general election, the Greens released their student policy which included allowances for all postgraduate students. Universal postgraduate allowances go one step further than Labour’s tertiary education policy, which simply calls for postgraduate students to be eligible for allowances, which are currently means-tested.

‘We’re pleased to have found an ally in Chlöe to make education more accessible for all New Zealanders. Our support is growing and we hope that the Education Minister takes notice.’

‘Regardless of what happens in the Government’s Budget announcement next week, we will continue to fight to remove the barriers that students face during tertiary study.’

ENDS

© Scoop Media

NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations

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NZUSA is the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the national body that represents New Zealand's students' associations and the interests of New Zealand's 400,000 students at universities, polytechnics and in trades training.

We conduct original research, advocate to Government and through the media, and support New Zealand's students' associations to be more effective on behalf of their members. We advocate alongside Te Mana Akonga – The National Māori Students' Association, and Tertiary Women New Zealand – The NZUSA Women's Caucus.

Since 1929, we've believed in a society rich in opportunity, where anyone from anywhere can become any thing. We support accessible, affordable quality public tertiary education.

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