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OUSA is considering withdrawing from the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), but NZUSA maintains membership is worthwhile.

OUSA President Harriet Geoghegan says the main reason OUSA is considering withdrawing from NZUSA is a lack of value for money. “For the amount we put in we get very little in return that we couldn’t do better and cheaper ourselves.”
   Co-President of NZUSA David Do counters this claim, saying the amount of OUSA fees that go towards NZUSA is approximately the price of two coffees per student ($5: clearly Do hasn’t had a flat white at the The Fix lately). “Through our strong national voice, through your two cups of coffee, we’ve helped achieve wins for you, wins for students, collectively saving you millions of dollars.” 
   Among the “wins” Do listed were interest-free student loans, and making the passing of VSM not a “foregone conclusion.” Do says NZUSA has fought for “wins” at a local and national level, an assertion Geoghegan dismisses. 
   Geoghegan tells Critic “All of our most effective lobbying and advocacy has been done by OUSA about localised issues.” Additionally Geoghegan asserts that NZUSA has not been doing everything it has promised. “The main problem is trying to do too many different things and not achieving any of them.”
   Do is aware of OUSA’s concerns, and says it is well within OUSA’s rights to suggest changes to NZUSA. Do claims NZUSA is responding to OUSA’s concerns, saying a working group has been set up to look at the structure. 
   However Geoghegan suggests that changes have only been made once OUSA began making moves to withdraw, and despite NZUSA’s positive steps, Geoghegan is not optimistic that the necessary changes will be made. Additionally Geoghegan contends that the advantage of a centralised student voice is lessened by NZUSA’s need to cater for the needs and wants of each student organisation, which are sometimes different, or surplus to, OUSA’s needs or wants.
   VSM was cited as the reason why the decision to withdraw wasn’t made earlier in the year, though Geoghegan noted that the VSM process has highlighted the issues, and costs, of NZUSA. “It shows that we aren’t fine with the status quo but are instead making sure we are as responsible as possible with our students’ money.”
   Students will be consulted as to whether OUSA should stay or withdraw from NZUSA, although Geoghegan is doubtful many students will be motivated enough to vote. “To be honest I don’t think students will know enough about the issue to fully engage or care.”