10.48pm 7 June 2012
UPDATE: Students continue study-in protest, saying "Don't turn out the lights on education!"
Approximately 50 University of Auckland students remain in the University of Auckland library, participating in a silent
study-in protest titled "Don't turn out the lights on education!" organized by student group Blockade the Budget.
Vice chancellor McCutcheon had said students could stay until 10.30pm, however they are currently negotiating to stay
over night.
This protest is one of a series of organized student protests against the recently announced National Government's
budget.
The group of students behind the protests, Blockade the Budget, explains "This movement is not a one-off demonstration -
it is a sustained campaign against an ideological attack on education." Blockade the Budget continues "After police
brutality and mass arrests at the last protest sidetracked the public's attention on Friday, we are turning the focus
back on what the issues are." The issues include provisions to cut allowances at four years, freezing the parental
income threshold and an increased repayment threshold for graduates from 10% to 12%.
After the government's back down today on class sizes, student Alan Baroo says, "We are getting organised, and over the
coming weeks are building up for a mass demonstration on July 21st. We want to see the government reverse all education
cuts".
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ENDS