“The government has a critical opportunity to fulfil its responsibility of safeguarding Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington and Otago University, staff, current and future generations of students and the entire tertiary education sector. By taking immediate and decisive action, we can prevent these staff cuts and establish a sustainable funding model that avoids such risks to tertiary education in the future.”

“In 1996, Grant Robertson, former NZUSA and OUSA president, highlighted that “students were not satisfied that universities had made all the efficiency gains they could, but the real problem was inadequate government funding of tertiary institutions.” In 2001, Chris Hipkins, former VUWSA president, called for serious change to the tertiary sector, stating, “The days when University Councils were encouraged to act like businesses and return substantial surpluses are over.” Two decades later, the message remains unchanged, but now it resonates within a context where we are witnessing the consequences of inaction.”