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.”

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”. 

When I saw the headlines about the end of fees free, I was filled with rage. Not for myself -- I got my fees free back when I started Uni -- but at the philosophy that seemed to underpin it.