Students React to Government’s Intention to Scrap Fees-Free
University of Canterbury Students have expressed concern at the Government’s recent announcement to scrap the Fees Free programme from next year onwards, after it was deemed a “failure”.
On RNZ’s Morning Report, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon claimed the original goals of Fees Free, to “increase tertiary numbers, …increase opportunities for low-income students, and support lifelong learning” were not achieved.
The government intends to pivot the funding to support trade-based qualifications.
Second year University of Canterbury student Jason – who now won’t be eligible for the final year of Fees Free– said that the prospect of his final year free gave him an incentive to study his desired qualification path in Christchurch.
He said “[taking on] more debt means more pressure to find a job”.
Jason would have considered spending a few more years at university had the Fees Free programme still existed.
“Fees Free might’ve meant a few more years around university, now [it incentivises me] to get straight into work”.
First year university student Chloe critiqued the decision to scrap the programme.
“It projects that [the government] are not sensitive about the cost-of-living crisis. It reflects that they’re not making our education top priority”
Aurora – while receiving her third year free - has relied on holding down two jobs alongside the Student Loan to get by, however working has taken a toll on time that could be spent focusing on study.
“I’m supposed to spend all hours training for a job I’ll have for the rest of my life, I’m just not able to”.
Likewise, second-year student George worked throughout the last years of high school, to ensure he could focus on study throughout university.
He found the decision “really backhanded… when students in the past were promised at least one year free”.
When former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the policy, which took effect in 2018, she said one of the initial goals was to tackle student living costs.
“Just getting by week-to-week has become a significant barrier to many people continuing to study”.
While the government already subsidises a significant amount on degree-level education - around $1.262 billion in 2024 according to the Tertiary Education Commission, remaining university fees are still a significant sum to front up for students straight out of high school.
Jason expressed concern over the “impacts [on] people with lower incomes” university fees will have with the scheme being scrapped.
Aurora also added to this concern. She speculated “They are very happy for people with generational wealth to go to university while those without are left to struggle for themselves”.
According to educationcounts.govt.nz, 2025 saw a 1.1% decrease in enrolled students participating in tertiary study compared to 2024, however domestic enrolments in Universities increased by 1.5% in the same period.
Image: Stephen Trinder, WikiMedia Commons.