Tertiary students across Aotearoa New Zealand are disappointed by the Governments COVID-19 tertiary student support
package announced on 14 April. Students are finding themselves in desperate situations due to the culmination of
insecure housing, employment, income and study
“The announcement yesterday fails to meet the hardship needs of tertiary students. Not only does the increase in course
related costs force students to take on additional debt, students are unable to put course-related costs towards rent
and food costs, despite these being the main areas of student hardship” says NZUSA President Isabella Lenihan-Ikin.
She says, “students remain the only group in society that are forced to borrow to live during this period of
uncertainty.”
Forty-four students’ associations across New Zealand have supported the National Student Action Plan on COVID-19, which
focuses on implementing a Universal Student Allowance.
NZUSA President Isabella Lenihan-Ikin says “This is the time that the Government needs to ensure that students are
encouraged to remain in their studies by alleviating the week-to-week financial hardship that students face. The
Government needs to get real about the financial insecurity students face.”