Tue, 2 Jul 2002
Labour Promise on Student Allowances Still Short of Real Substance
The Aotearoa Tertiary Students' Association (ATSA) is pleased to see Labour's commitment to increasing eligibility to
Student Allowances by raising the parental income thresholds, as announced in its Education Policy today. "Although
positive, these proposed changes still fall short of what students and their families need." Julie Pettett, ATSA
President Julie Pettett stated today.
ATSA advocates an open and accessible education system, and a Universal Allowance is the best way to support all
students. "In 1992, over half of all students were eligible for an allowance. Now, less than one third have access."
said Julie Pettett, President of ATSA. "It is good to see Labour advocating a move back to equity, but they need to
consider more than parental income levels if they have any real commitment to help students."
Another effective step ATSA would like to see delivered by the next Government is the removal of arbitrary age
restrictions, embedded in the Student Allowance regulations, which define 25 year old students as dependents on their
parents. "The reason for this arbitrary age-ruling has never been about equity, and always about cost-cutting." Pettett
said. "Of all New Zealanders, students are the only group who are regarded as dependents until they are 25. This is
discrimination - justice demands that this age-ruling be abolished."