Source: Radio New Zealand
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says the government should invest more in the future of young people, not less. RNZ / Mark Papalii
The Green Party has criticised the government’s decision to scrap the fees-free tertiary education scheme.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed the scheme will be ditched in the upcoming Budget, following comments made by NZ First Leader Winston Peters on Newstalk ZB.
“Ongoing coalition negotiations have led to good budget policy decisions that further the immediate and long-term interests of New Zealanders,” she said.
Willis also confirmed students completing their tertiary studies this year would remain eligible for fees-free, but many of those students completing three-year-courses or longer had already had their first year free.
At the end of 2024, the government modified the system, offering students their last year free, rather than the first, as it was when Labour first introduced the policy.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson told RNZ the government should be investing more in the future of young people, not less.
“This is absolutely outrageous – another kick in the guts for our generations of young people particularly and anyone who wants to dream about giving back to their community.”
The Greens would fight to re-instate fees-free support, she said.
“The Greens know that it is a fantastic, wise, smart investment to invest in tertiary education for students and our communities.”
The government should be incentivising tertiary study, given more than 14 percent of young people were not in work or education, she said.
Students disappointed, not surprised
Victoria University Student Association president Aidan Donoghue said he was disappointed the scheme was getting the axe, but not surprised.
Aidan Donoghue supplied
“We’ve continually seen attacks on students from this government and this is just another example.”
Fees free encouraged some students to enter or continue study, because debt was a deterring factor, he said.
“To pay an extra $12,000 in fees is not a good pill to swallow.”
Scrapping the scheme would have a particularly tough impact on those from lower-income backgrounds, Donoghue said.
“Students have been calling for more money week-to-week and… we’re not sure that this will be replaced with anything else that will address the concerns of students with the cost of living.”
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand