Election Result Means Fairer Loans System

“The election result means there will be a fairer system of student loans in New Zealand”, said University of Canterbury Students’ Association President Darel Hall.

“It is abundantly clear that the vast majority of New Zealanders do not accept the proposition that loans should attract interest even greater than home mortgage rates. People from all political persuasions do not believe that is fair. This government will change that.

I am extremely proud of the part that student representatives from the University of Canterbury have had in the student loan campaign over the last two years. In 1998 we identified loans, and in particular the interest on loans, as the issue where we could make a realistic difference.

UCSA representatives pushed loans to the front at every opportunity; NZUSA, the South Island tertiary institutions election strategy meeting, postering and leafleting across Christchurch, lecture speaking, an e mail campaign, media opportunities, rallies and with politicians that we invited to campus. In addition, Vice-President James Caygill organised a petition of over 5000 students calling for a reduction of interest while studying.

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