Tertiary Education

Greens back striking tertiary workers, call for greater support

The Green Party backs the Tertiary Education Union members who are striking across universities and polytechs today to demand better pay, better conditions and more support for the sector."The Greens stand in solidarity with striking tertiary workers all around the country. Tertiary education should be recognised and properly funded as the public good it is” says Green Party tertiary education spokesperson Francisco Hernandez.  "Whether they’re lecturers, researchers, librarians, administrators or allied staff, our tertiary sector workers deserve fair pay and...

Posted at October 21, 2026 1:14 PM by Francisco Hernandez

people and communities

Seymour plan would strip students of the services they rely on

The Green Party says ACT leader David Seymour's proposal for voluntary student fees will finish the job of destroying student associations and the campus experience."Students are not customers who pass through a campus and leave. They are the people who make a campus what it is, and they should have real power over how it runs," says Green Party tertiary education spokesperson Francisco Hernandez. "In 2012, ACT's Voluntary Student Membership Bill ripped out the guts from student associations across the...

Posted at August 11, 2026 11:55 AM by Francisco Hernandez

services and systems

Green Party pushes for extension of $50 fuel crisis relief payment to students, alongside Winter Energy Payment

The Green Party has released an updated Member’s Bill to extend the Winter Energy Payment to tertiary students and temporarily raise this year’s payment for students by $50 a week, to match the fossil fuel crisis response payment.The Winter Energy Payment begins today, 1 May, and is currently provided to beneficiaries and pensioners to help them heat their homes until October, while other families are receiving the temporary $50 boost to help cover fuel and the cost of living. “Right now,...

Posted at May 01, 2026 11:26 AM by Francisco Hernandez

services and systems

Government once again squeezing young people into one-size-fits-all model

The Green Party has serious concerns with the proposed changes to NCEA by Luxon’s Government, which will undo decades of progress towards a student-centred system. “Luxon’s Government is squeezing our young people back into one-size-fits-all model. Anyone who has met more than one child knows that they are all different,” says the Green Party’s education spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan.  “Education must be shaped by communities to meet everyone’s needs if we want our mokupuna to thrive.”  “What the Minister announced today has confirmed what people...

Posted at March 26, 2026 11:11 AM by Lawrence Xu-Nan

services and systems

Green Party launches petition to Save our Polytechs

The Green Party is today launching a petition calling on the Government to properly fund our polytechs, and end the cuts.“It’s time for the Minister for Vocational Education and Training to step up and support polytechs–not throw them to the wolves like she has so far,” says the Green Party’s tertiary spokesperson, Francisco Hernandez.  “Our polytechs provide people with the training they need to do the jobs they want and the work our communities rely on. We need our polytechs. ...

Posted at August 25, 2025 9:00 AM by Francisco Hernandez

services and systems

Minister must back regional vocational education with real support

The Government’s move to re-establish ten polytechnics fails to ensure the thriving, future-focussed vocational education sector Aotearoa deserves.“This sector deserves more than just lip service. It’s time for the Minister to put her money where her mouth is and support thriving regional polytechs–not throw them to the wolves like she has so far,” says the Green Party’s tertiary spokesperson, Francisco Hernandez.  “The lack of support and ad hoc planning through the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga has already resulted in the...

Posted at July 15, 2025 8:14 AM by Francisco Hernandez

services and systems

Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom

The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. “This has nothing to do with free speech, this is about polluting our public discourse for political gain,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Tertiary Education, Francisco Hernadez.   “Universities play a critical role in our society, providing a platform for informed and reasoned debate, the kind of...

Posted at December 19, 2024 2:56 PM by Francisco Hernandez

services and systems

Tertiary lifeline buys time to get model right

The Green Party is today welcoming news that the Government will ensure much needed funding for the tertiary sector.“We’re proud to have worked with the Tertiary Education Union, Student Associations and Minister Tinetti’s office to have helped drive the solution announced today to patch up University funding in the face of fluctuating student enrolment,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for tertiary education, Chlöe Swarbrick. “This Budget reallocation is a practical step to address immediate needs. Crucially, it buys the Government...

Posted at June 27, 2023 12:33 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick