Rally Today For A Debt-Free And Democratic University
2 October 2013
Press Release: AUSA
Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) and Tertiary Education Union (TEU) are rallying today to send a strong
message to government and the University of Auckland. The organisations, representing staff and students, condemn the
continued underfunding of tertiary education and oppose the local erosion of academic freedom and student and staff
involvement in governance over their own institution.
Confirmed speakers include new Labour Party leader David Cunliffe, University of Auckland Law Professor Jane Kelsey,
Alistair Shaw from the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations and mayoral candidate John Minto from Mana Movement.
Representatives from the Green Party and New Zealand First will also be present. The rally has been endorsed by the
Public Services Association and the Service and Food Workers Union.
The host for the event is political commentator, Martyn Bradbury.
“Our rally calls for a Debt-Free Future. This is AUSA and the TEU’s alternative vision for tertiary education, where
graduates leaving the institution are not weighted down with an impossible debt-burden. We call upon the Government to
immediately reverse the succession of cuts to student support and to rethink their attitude of education as a cost and
instead see investing in students as enriching society,” says Daniel Haines, President of AUSA.
Issues the rally will bring to students’ and the public’s attention include the lockout of students at the upcoming
fee-setting meeting.
“Fees at New Zealand Universities have increased at 4% each year since that became the maximum, or cumulatively 21.7%
over the past five years. This has run ahead of the government contribution which has increased by only 16.5% and been
essentially flat in terms of inflation-adjusted per-student funding. Students have been paying more for less.”
“For academics there has been a gradual undermining of their academic freedom, where impositions like the PBRF mean they
are forced to teach and undertake research in an increasingly restrictive culture that undermines genuine intellectual
enquiry,” continues Haines.
Staff and students are committed to “Reclaiming the University”, AUSA and TEU’s campaign to raise awareness of staff and
students currently not being involved in making decisions that affect them.
The rally will take place at 1.00pm on Wednesday 2nd of October (today) in the student quad, University of Auckland.
Food will be provided.
Facebook event:
Full List of Speakers:
David Cunliffe (Leader of Labour Party), John Minto (Mana Movement), Vernon Tava (Green Party), Alistair Shaw (New
Zealand Union of Students’ Associations), Joe McCrory (Public Services Association), Jane Kelsey (Law Faculty), Campbell
Jones (Sociology Department), Cris Shore (Anthropology Department), Nigel Haworth (Business School), Daniel Haines (AUSA
President), Curwen Rolinson (NZ First Youth President), Hannah Williams (Auckland University Pacific Island Students’
Association).
ENDS