University of Canterbury students to protest proposed Fees Free cuts

University of Canterbury students will unite on Thursday to protest the proposed cuts to the Fees Free scheme.

The policy was first introduced by the former Labour government in 2018 and initially covered tertiary students’ first year of study, before the current coalition government changed the scheme to final year fees in 2025.

A press release by Ōtautahi for Fees Free, a group created by UC students in support of clubs on campus, said “students nationwide have pushed back against the government’s decision to axe the scheme completely, and UC students are no different,” demanding the government “reinstate the scheme.”

According to the press release, the Fees Free scheme provided 40-50,000 students annually with their first year free before 2025 and has since benefitted around 1,500 students so far.

“The goal is to advocate for accessible education and push back against decisions that make university less attainable for ordinary students,” said first-year student, Ruby Love-Smith.

“We want to demonstrate that there is real public opposition to the removal of Fees Free and broader frustration around the cost of living as a student in Aotearoa,” she said.

On Thursday 28 May at 12pm, the University of Canterbury’s C-Block Lawn will be filled with students protesting the proposed cuts to the Fees Free scheme. PHOTO: Zoe Fenton.

“The year of fees free was great for the reduced burden of debt students felt once graduated,” said former student and University of Canterbury Students’ Association President, Luc MacKay.

While acknowledging the reduced stress the Fees Free scheme has provided, MacKay’s concerns lie within the “immediate cost of living for students.”

“Whilst fees free is great in principle, I would rather see this money directed to a winter energy subsidy or a food stamp system for students,” he said.

The Fees Free scheme was implemented with the hope young New Zealanders would be encouraged to enroll in tertiary study, particularly those from low to middle income families.

However, not all students support reinstating the scheme.

GoldSoc President Jesse McKendry said the policy failed to account for students who had already completed tertiary study before entering university.

Having previously completed a level four qualification, McKendry said he was ineligible for Fees Free despite coming from a low-income background.

“Not all disadvantaged students were able to access them in the first place… a lot of wealthy kids could access them just as easy,” he said.

McKendry believes the government’s funding could be better directed toward broader economic investments.

Thursday’s protest is one of several student-led responses taking place across Aotearoa and will begin at 12pm on the C-Block Lawn at UC’s Ilam campus.

Posters made by Ōtautahi for Fees Free advertising the protest. PHOTO: Zoe Fenton.