Hundreds of students marched through the University of Otago last Wednesday to protest the abolition of the Fees Free scheme. The campus-wide demonstration ended with the group occupying the St David’s building, protesting rising tertiary education costs and government funding cuts. According to the organisers, Education Action Group 26 (EAG26), around 400 students attended the Student Strike for Education, with approximately 250 taking part in the sit-in.
The strike was centred around seven demands directed at both the Government and the University Senior Leadership Team. Protesters called for the return of Fees Free education, increased tertiary funding above inflation, a universal student allowance, and the reinstatement of compulsory student union membership through the repeal of voluntary student membership legislation. They also urged the University to reject passing the costs of government underfunding onto students by opposing fee increases, prevent further cuts, and take a stronger stand against government austerity.
Demonstrators were seen carrying signs reading "Fund Fees Free! Stop the Cuts!", "Marx was right! Free education for all!" and "TAKE ME TO DINNER B4 YOU FUCK ME," while chants of "Austerity is class war!" and "No fees, no cuts!" echoed through the University.
Students were joined by members of the Tertiary Education Union (TEU), the Public Service Association (PSA), and a large contingent of local secondary school students, mainly from Logan Park High School. A few of these high school students addressed the crowd, arguing they would be among those most affected by rising fees and calling for the opportunity to attend university "without breaking my bank account". Strike attendee Alex told Critic Te Ārohi they attended in order to "make sure the next generation of students don't consider suffering the norm."
In a press release, EAG26 spokesperson Annabel Hankin rejected what she described as "a false narrative" that universities have no alternative but to increase fees and cut staff in response to chronic underfunding. "We reject the lie that this is anything but a bandaid solution that will decrease enrolments and damage the quality of our education," she said. At the rally, Hankin also pointed to the University's recent fee increases, noting course costs have risen by the Government-set maximum of 6% in each of the past two years. Namely, if that continues next year, that's almost a 20% increase in fees over the course of a three-year degree. "That is hundreds of extra dollars spent on the same courses while we deal with the cost of living crisis."
Critic approached the University to ask whether they intended to make any commitments toward fees, staffing, or services. The University pointed to its scholarships and student support initiatives, including increased support for the Pūtea Tautoko Student Relief Fund, but stopped short of ruling out fee increases, stating it “increases fees reluctantly” while facing financial challenges and reductions in government funding for research and tertiary education. The University said it was also pursuing greater collaboration across the tertiary sector and more strategic approaches to education, research and innovation, remaining committed to “delivering high-quality education and research” in an environment where “government funding is declining.”
Annabel Hankin of EAG26 also drew attention to Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson's autobiography, in which he argued universities needed to "make a stand" against government austerity during the 1990s. The sit-in was intended to pressure University leadership to do the same today, arguing management should resist shifting the financial burden of underfunding onto students through fee increases and staffing cuts. The sit-in at St David’s mirrors the protests Grant Robertson marched in as OUSA President in 1993, also protesting government cuts to the tertiary sector.
Following the march, protesters occupied St David Lecture Theatre, with the EAG26 describing the atmosphere inside the lecture theatre as "defiant" with students united in opposing recent changes to Fees Free policy and anticipated fee increases. "We are inspired by the actions of past students against the government attacks of the 1990s," spokesperson Petra Campbell said. "We want to show the University and Wellington that students are not afraid to exercise our right to protest, to disrupt, and to demand that our voices are heard."
The University spokesperson emphasised that “the University supports the right to peaceful protest and believes it is important for students and staff to be able to express their views on campus”, and then referred us to their Free Speech and Institutional neutrality policies.
The spokesperson also agreed that removing barriers to tertiary education was important, adding that the University had “been supportive of Fees Free as one of those initiatives.” The spokesperson said the removal of Fees Free would most immediately affect current students who will not complete their studies before the end of next year, as well as those planning to begin tertiary study in 2027. While the University said it was “difficult to say what the overall impact” would be, it acknowledged that “anything that increases costs on students will be unwelcome and challenging for some students.”
With an election on the horizon, the abolition of final year Fees Free, and massive policy changes in the University world, many tauira are wanting to make their voice heard. It’s likely this won’t be the last turn out for action, and Critic will keep you posted on any future developments.
