Greens Slam Fees Free Cuts Amid Youth Crisis

With youth unemployment surging and young Kiwis leaving the country in record numbers, the Government’s decision to strip back Fees Free is being slammed by the Greens as economic vandalism dressed up as fiscal responsibility.

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson says the Government is callously trading away New Zealanders’ education opportunities to pay for tax cuts for the super-rich.

“Unemployment has soared since Luxon came to power, and the situation is even worse for our young people,” Davidson says.

Why cut education while youth unemployment explodes?

“While Luxon, Peters and Seymour have no hesitation in undermining New Zealanders’ dreams of contributing to society, the Green Party will fight to properly fund the aspirations of our youth and students.

“Over 14% of New Zealand’s young people are not in work or education but instead of helping people stay in study, the Government is snatching away the funding that supports and incentivises tertiary education.

“At a time when tens of thousands of our young people are fleeing offshore for better opportunities, we need to be investing more in them not less,” Davidson says.

Who benefits when tertiary education becomes harder to afford?

“’Fees Free’ recognised the benefit to Aotearoa of tertiary education and snatching this away is a clear sign of the lack of value this Government places on learning.

“Putting aside Peters’ obvious intent to destroy his own Government, this is yet another example of National, ACT and NZ First making ordinary New Zealanders pay to subsidise the super-rich.”