“An awful betrayal”: UC students protest fees free cuts

The protest came after the Government confirmed the policy would be removed as part of Budget 2026, ending a scheme first introduced by the Labour Party in 2018, as a way to help cover tertiary education costs.

Students at the protest said the move would place more pressure on young people already struggling with the cost of living and rising student debt.

Protestor Jay Duguid said many students had enrolled in university expecting they would eventually qualify for Fees Free support.

“Education is a job,” he said.

“You have to spend time and effort to learn, and we need it in a society where we want people to be able to go into jobs that take education to get there.”

Duguid described the decision as “an awful betrayal to young people”.

Speakers throughout the protest criticised the Government’s wider approach to tertiary education, arguing university should be treated as a public investment rather than an individual cost.

UC Socialist Society president Luke Thompson told the crowd the cuts reflected a growing “user pays” approach.

“This attack has been going on for decades,” he said.

Protest organisor Ruby Love Smith said many students were already under financial strain.

“We are not wasteful spending; we are your future,” she said.

UCSA Arts Representative Beatrix Gillings said students who expected to receive their final year free would now face thousands of dollars in extra debt.

“Their expectation of fees free is gone,” she said.

“$12,000 extra to pay.”

Gillings accused the government of prioritising its own interests over students.

“We are here today because our government has decided that education matters less.”

The Government has defended the decision, saying the scheme was expensive and did not significantly improve participation rates among disadvantaged students.

Students at the protest also called on the University of Canterbury and the UCSA to take a stronger public stance against the cuts. 

Metro News has approached both the National Party and Labour Party for comment.