Campaign to Save Student Services

Campaign launched to stop Roger Douglas’ attack on student services

A broad coalition of community, student and union groups launched a campaign today to save student services from ACT MP Roger Douglas’s bill.

“Students, staff, rural New Zealanders, and everyone in our community who cares about quality education have joined together to defeat the ACT bill because they know universal membership is the best way to achieve quality, independent services on campus,” said Joe McCrory, a spokesperson for the campaign.

Rural Women New Zealand, University Sport New Zealand the Quality Public Education Coalition, the Tertiary Education Union, UniQ Victoria, the Council of Trade Unions, Te Mana Akonga and the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations are part of the campaign launched this afternoon.

“We are all united in wanting strong student services, representation, and welfare on campus. The effects on this Bill will reach far beyond just universities and polytechnics.”

Services provided by students’ associations include independent advocates who assist students with academic, tenancy or employment issues, food banks and hardship grants, support for sport and clubs and events like O-Week, which concludes tomorrow at many institutions.

Rural Women New Zealand, University Sport New Zealand the Quality Public Education Coalition, the Tertiary Education Union, UniQ Victoria, the Council of Trade Unions, Te Mana Akonga and the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations today launched a campaign to stop Roger Douglas’ Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.

“Students, tertiary education staff, people who care about quality education and rural New Zealand have bound together to defeat the Bill because they know universal membership is the best way to achieve quality, independent services on campus,” says Joe McCrory, a spokesman for the campaign.

Services provided by students’ associations include independent advocates who assist students with academic, tenancy or employment issues, food banks and hardship grants, support for sport and clubs and events like O-Week, which concludes tomorrow at many institutions.

"We want to show the National Government that the current system is working well and that if VSM was imposed on campuses, students would miss out on vital services and representation.

“If VSM was imposed on campuses, students would miss out on vital services and representation.

“In Australia taxpayers have had to come up with over $120 million to manage the transition so that essential services could continue, but despite this services have still been devastated and some students’ associations have been wound up entirely.”

The coalition will be working with a range of individuals and community groups to generate submissions against the Bill through saveourservices.org.nz.

Select Committee submissions close on March 31 and the National Party has reserved its position on the Bill until those submissions are heard.

“We intend to fight for as long as it takes to save our services and stop this Bill,” said Mr McCrory.

ENDS

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