The UCSA is incredibly disappointed and shocked by the current Government’s decision to scrap the Fees-free policy in the lead-up to the release of the upcoming budget.
STATEMENT RELEASE ON 13TH MAY 2026, 10.02AM
The UCSA is incredibly disappointed and shocked by the current Government’s decision to scrap the Fees-free policy in the lead-up to the release of the upcoming budget.
We know that students who plan to attend, are currently at, or are graduating from university all take having their final year fees-free strongly into account when considering and pursuing tertiary education.
The way that the Government chose to just drop this information, without actually providing any details, has caused ongoing confusion, fear and stress to students across Aotearoa.
We call on the Government to immediately reverse this decision.
The UCSA deeply questions the decision-making here, and calls on the Government to:
- Reverse this decision and continue the final year Fees-free policy for 2026 and beyond.
- Provide evidence of Government consultation with students on the matter, from the very start when they began exploring the removal of such a substantial policy.
- Release the analytical documents showing how this decision has been explored.
- Give students actual details on this decision. This means clearly explaining:
- Why is this the policy being explored to cut?
- How will this happen?
- Where are our avenues for students’ associations and the Government to discuss the impacts of this decision on students?