Members of the Aotearoa Post-compulsory Student Union are gathering in Palmerston North this weekend to work through
issues facing students over the coming twelve months.
"This conference is of great importance to students everywhere," said President John Barkess. "With a general election
around the corner it is important that the message is sent loud and clear to the incoming government that students have
had enough of being down-trodden."
"An example of this came last year when the tertiary sector bore the brunt of government cuts in reaction to the Asian
Crisis. We were told then that the sector would get back the funding should the situation improve. Once again the
government lied to us, the crisis has gone but where is our money? They have made no moves to remedy the situation and
have failed to answer our requests to address the issue."
"All of New Zealand needs to know how serious the situation has become as it is the children, grandchildren, siblings
and parents of the voters as well as the voters themselves that are being affected. Education is a bigger issue than it
ever has been in the election forum." Other issues to be addressed include:
¨ Effective Representation.
¨Accountability of associations to their students. ¨
Women's education and welfare issues
¨ Maori education and welfare issues
¨ Electing a new President for APSU Student Union.
The conference runs from Thursday night through till Sunday afternoon and is kindly supported by the Universal College
of Learning, Ezi-Buy and the Palmerston North Quality Hotel. "For the record, we are not chartering a plane and all
transport around Palmerston North is at the delegates own expense!"