"The recent figures on Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) travel expenditure adds a further insult to the hundreds of students who were forced to go to food banks because of WINZ's inability to process their allowances earlier this year" said Karen Skinner Co-President of the New Zealand University Students Association. "We also hold grave concern for WINZ's ability to process loans in the year 2000"

"WINZ's cost cutting practice of removing face-to-face processing of allowances this year resulted in massive hold ups in the processing of student allowances. To now find out that the saved money has been spent on exorbitant travel for managers is very distressing" said Ms Skinner. "WINZ needs to sort out its spending priorities".

"This also further adds to the deep concerns that we hold over WINZ's ability to properly process student loans". Said Ms Skinner "The Education Amendment Bill (3) which will be discussed by the Education and Science Select Committee today aims to give WINZ the ability to collect the information they need from Institutions to process student loans in year 2000. We don't support the passing of this legislation, or any other moves which allow WINZ to process loans"

"It is ultimately the government who should take responsibility for the WINZ. Students have still not had any acknowledgement or apology from, Roger Sowry, Minister of Work and Income New Zealand and it is ultimately him that we hold responsible" concluded Ms Skinner.

ENDS

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