2010 Wrap Up
10 December , 2010
This is our last campaign communication of the year. We’d like to extend a warm thanks to everyone who has been involved in the campaign this year - from writing submissions to attending actions, from signing postcards to coming to gigs.
It has been a tough battle so far but one that is so critical – keeping student associations and the services and clubs they support is not only important to students, it’s important to parents, to high school kids, to sporting and academic achievement , to music and cultural communities and most importantly for fairness and equity in this country. We have seen what VSM did to student associations and services in Australia and we don’t want that happening here. We have to keep fighting.
This campaign will pick up again in late January and if you sign up to our campaigns loop you'll be the first to hear the next steps in the campaign - there are links on this website. See everybody then.
We hope if you’re getting a break that it is a safe and happy one!
The SOS Campaign Team
So what happened at last weeks actions?
6 December , 2010
Cheers everyone who took part in our actions last week to take a stand against VSM! Interestingly, one result is we finally got to meet with the VSM Bills sponsor Act MP Heather Roy herself – our first audience with her!
Here’s a rundown on the events that took place and the associated media.
Wellington: Some local students and members of the public wore gags to represent the silencing of students if the Act Party’s Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill is passed, and to show the government is still not listening to the majority of the public’s voices on this issue. Banners were also unfurled and displayed at this action – the ones signed by students against VSM from campuses right across the country. Following the event, students and the NZUSA co-presidents were invited to meet with MP Heather Roy to voice their concerns regarding the Bill’s impacts.
Auckland: ‘Silent’ action as above and flyering outside Nikki Kaye’s office was successful.
Nelson: Visited MP Nick Smith’s Nelson office, where members of the Student Executive passed over their signed banner to his office to represent NMIT students concerns that VSM will impact on their students’ association and its ability to deliver essential services, such as advocacy, representation and events.
Media on the events:
TVNZ: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/students-plan-protests-against-membership-bill-3932457
3 News story: http://www.3news.co.nz/Students-to-hold-silent-protest-over-union-bill/tabid/309/articleID/188869/Default.aspx
We also had contact with Otago Daily Times, Dominion Post and Radio Live.
Photos from Wellington event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teu/sets/72157625378059655/
Photo from Nelson event here
Photos from Auckland event should be up on our Facebook page shortly.
Events this week !
30 November , 2010
Currently university and polytech students can choose whether membership of their student association is universal or voluntary. Heather Roy’s Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill would impose Voluntary Student Membership (VSM) on all students’ associations across the country, dramatically slashing funds to students’ associations and the services and clubs that rely on them.
The National Party have so far supported the Bill also despite 98% of submissions to Select Committee opposing it. The government are ignoring our voices. We are taking action this week to call on National to listen to our voices and vote against this Bill.
Wellington – Wednesday 1st December @ 12 outside Heather Roy’s office, 15 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington. This will be a silent event with ten or fifteen students and members of the public wearing gags (not a rally) to represent the silencing of students under VSM , plus the government not listening to the majority of the publics voices on this issue. Come along and support this event and if you want to join the 'silenced students' please come along wearing black.
Also at 9pm that night there will be a debate on VSM at the Backbenchers in Wellington. Drinks from 7ish.
Nelson – Wednesday 1st December @ 5.30pm Students presenting National MP Nick Smith with a student-signed banner voicing opposition to the VSM Bill . Come along - Nick Smiths office, 544 Waimea Road, Annesbrook, Nelson. Nelson
Auckland – Wednesday 1st December @ 12 outside Nikki Kaye’s office, 82 College Hill, Freemans Bay, Auckland . This will be a silent event with ten or fifteen students and members of the public wearing gags (not a rally) to represent the silencing of students under VSM , plus the government not listening to the majority of the publics voices on this issue
Christchurch – Wednesday 1st December @ 12 outside Nicky Wagners office, 222 Bealy Avenue , Christchurch. This will be a silent event with ten or fifteen students and members of the public wearing gags (not a rally) to represent the silencing of students under VSM , plus the government not listening to the majority of the publics voices on this issue. Come along and support this event and if you want to join the 'silenced students' please come along wearing black.
Palmerston North – “No VSM” awareness gig on Friday 3rd December at The Royal, Palmerston North. Please see Radio Control or MUSA website for details.
Voluntary student membership 'a mistake'
20 November , 2010
Wise words from the national student union president across the ditch about their experience with VSM....
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4366661/Voluntary-student-membership-a-mistake
Students request urgent meeting with PM to save student services
11 November , 2010
Students are requesting an urgent meeting with Prime Minister John Key to discuss how to save student services, representation, and welfare provisions from an Act Party Bill after it was voted through on its second reading in Parliament last night.
“It is not too late for John Key to step in and save over a century of student representation and services from the Act Party,” says NZUSA co-President David Do.
“NZUSA, as the national representative body for tertiary students, is requesting he meet with us urgently to re-consider his Government’s support of the Act Party Bill. John Key met with Warner Brothers to save ‘the Hobbit’ - we are asking he do the same to save the important services and experiences students’ associations provide for university and polytechnic students in New Zealand,” says Do.
“Students’ associations have made significant contributions to campus life and to wider New Zealand society over many decades. Champion rower Mahe Drysdale began his rowing career with university sport, and even the Minister of Tertiary Education cut his teeth in student radio at Massey University before going on to set up the very successful company Radioworks,” says NZUSA co-President Pene Delaney.
“National said it wanted to listen to students and the public when they supported the Bill going to Select Committee. New Zealanders have made it clear that they do not support this legislation - over 4800 submissions were received by the Select Committee on the Bill, and an overwhelming 98% were against,” says Delaney.
“We are not asking for a law change or any government subsidies - all we want is for the current law, which works well, to remain. John Key can do the right thing by looking at sensible pragmatic solutions on how to improve frontline services and representation for students, not cutting them away for the ideology of the Act Party,” concludes Delaney.
NZUSA last night wrote to John Key asking to meet with him urgently.
Tonight - online public meeting on VSM and parliamentary vote
10 November 2010
The online public meeting on VSM and other tertiary sector issues is on tonight at 7pm - you can sign on here
Following this meeting it's highly likely the second reading vote will take place at Parliament. This will decide whether the Bill goes to Committee stage. There is still time to encourage your local National MP to vote against this Bill tonight - go to our Take Action page.
Online public meeting on VSM
3 November, 2010
On Wednesday next week The Green Party are hosting an online public debate/meeting on VSM and various other tertiary sector issues we're facing at the moment. Sign on here! and take part.
Lobby Week - this week!
1 November, 2010
We have one week to build pressure on the Government before the Second Reading goes to vote… and a new website to help you lobby effectively in this weeks Lobby Week. Please spread the word and read this blog post.
The Act Party has a Bill before Parliament that would impose Voluntary Student Membership (VSM) on campuses across New Zealand, devastating services and silencing students.
At present, when students enrol at most students' associations they pay a levy that goes towards services like advocacy, welfare services, events like
Orientation and support for clubs and sport. They also become members of their students' association, the democratic organisation run by students for students that controls how that money is spent. Students can opt out of membership and their association will not receive that levy.
If the Bill is passed, it will cut funding to student services, student representation , sports and cultural clubs and the other things we know and love about student life. Check out our info page on VSM for more about what students stand to lose.
The Bill is due for its Second Reading despite 98% of submissions to the select committee saying students, the public and tertiary institutions don’t want it.
We need to act fast to stop this Bill before its Third and final reading. With your help we can save our – and your - services.
