14 September 2005
Maori Party Supports NZUSA
With student debt today hitting $8 billion, the Maori Party stands in full support of the appeal by the New Zealand
University Students’ Association and Te Mana Akonga for voters to elect parties based on their willingness to address
the drivers of student debt.
“Basically from the time we established as a Party we’ve been supporting the call to address the drivers of student
debt”, said Dr. Pita Sharples, Co-Leader of the Maori Party. “In fact, our student loans, fees and allowances policy was
the Party’s very first policy announcement, back at the Te Mana Akonga Maori Student Debt Summit in December last year”.
The Maori Party believes a zero-fees policy should apply for all tertiary education given it’s a front-end investment in
the nation’s future. The Party is also calling for eligibility to allowances to be widened to include all students.
Together these policies would cost around $1.5 billion per year. Current student debt would be repaid after a 5 year
grace period and only when graduates earn 1.5 times the average wage. All interest payments would be waived.
“Labour’s promise to waive interest payments is a step in the right direction, but it totally misses the mark in dealing
with the crux of the issue which is the accumulation of debt in the first place”, explained Dr. Sharples. “They’ve been
extremely remiss in ignoring the source of the crisis”.
“When Parliament reconvenes the Maori Party will be pushing hard to get positive policy changes made in this area for
students, graduates and whanau. Increasing access to student allowances is the most immediate priority”.
“The Maori Party urges voters to consider the importance of tertiary education to the future of their whanau, tamariki
and mokopuna. Cast your vote for a party that will ‘walk the talk’ and stand up for your right to an education without
lifelong debt. Vote Maori Party!”
ENDS