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Consumer justice an issue for students too
NZUSA Media release: 15th March 2013
Consumer justice an issue for students
too
The occasion of today’s World Consumers Day (15 March) is a timely reminder that basic consumer rights also apply to tertiary students, says the NZ Union of Students’ Associations.
“Tertiary students are one of the largest single consumer groups in New Zealand and they deserve the fullest possible protection against consumer exploitation,” says Pete Hodkinson, NZUSA President.
“Consumer exploitation takes many forms - from relentless fee rises, through to outrageously high rents for flats, through to rising public transport costs as being challenged in a campaign for fairer fares by students at Victoria University.
“Equally serious pitfalls for students as consumers are the ways that university and polytechnics market themselves and the lack of a source of comparative, consumer-based information as available to students in the UK, for instance, via the university.which.co.uk website,” says Hodkinson.
“As a first principle we believe consumer protection begins with consumer representation, which in the case of user-pays tertiary education can only be achieved through the student voice.
“One of the societal and economic themes I have been repeatedly returning to as NZUSA President is the dual status of students as both consumers and citizens.
“Having just completed a nationwide tour of campuses to
promote citizenship issues, in conjunction with the
Constitutional Advisory Panel and Commission for Financial
Literacy, I have to say that we have a long way to go in
raising awareness amongst young New Zealanders of their
rights as citizens.
“Equally a lot more effort is
required to responsibly raise student awareness about their
position as consumers, their right to be informed, and their
right to not only be presented with choices, but to have the
opportunity to make choices as educated consumers.
“Consumers around the world are being urged today to expose the very real damage caused by poor or non-existent consumer protection. As stated by Consumers International consumer protection is always part of the solution – whether the problem is faulty products, service providers ignoring complaints, or irresponsible lending. Students are not alone”.
Note: On 15 March 1962, President John F
Kennedy gave an address to the US congress in which he
formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the
first world leader to do so, and the consumer movement now
marks 15 March every year as a means of raising global
awareness about consumer rights.
ENDS
______________________
NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
We stand for opportunity, for all.
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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