Give Our Students Enough To Eat: ATSA Calls For A 10% Increase To Student Living Support – Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association

ATSA is calling on the Government to increase the Student Loan living costs and Student Allowance by 10%, arguing that support has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living while students face one of the toughest employment markets in years.

For many years, students have relied on part time work to supplement their income. However, with youth unemployment now at its highest level in more than a decade, many students can no longer rely on finding work to make ends meet.

A 10% increase would put an additional $51.69 per week into students’ pockets. For many, that could be the difference between covering the essentials and falling short each week. It could mean being able to buy warm clothing, afford groceries, or avoid skipping meals to pay rent.

The increase would be particularly important for disabled learners, who face significantly greater barriers to employment. Disabled people have an unemployment rate of 14.1%, compared with 5.6% for non-disabled people, while the employment rate for disabled people is just 38.2%, compared with 78.5% for non-disabled people. These disparities mean many disabled students have fewer opportunities to supplement their income through paid work, making adequate student support even more critical.

ATSA Chair Zara Weissenstein says students across New Zealand are struggling to meet their basic needs.

“Students are telling us they simply can’t find work. Many are turning to foodbanks because the current level of support isn’t enough to cover the basics. We wouldn’t be asking for this increase if students had access to employment. This is about making sure students can eat, pay their rent, and live with dignity.”

“For disabled students, these challenges are often even greater. Many face additional barriers to finding work while also managing the extra costs that can come with disability. Increasing student support is an important step towards ensuring every learner has an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Recent labour market figures show youth unemployment has risen to 17.2%, the highest level in many years, leaving students disproportionately affected by the economic downturn. Without employment opportunities, many students are left relying solely on living costs or allowances that have not kept pace with inflation.

“If living costs and the Student Allowance had increased in line with inflation over the years, we wouldn’t now be calling for such a significant adjustment,” Weissenstein said.

ATSA is urging the Government to increase student support by 10% so students can afford the essentials while completing their studies. Students should not have to choose between paying rent, buying food, or staying enrolled in tertiary education. Increasing student support would provide meaningful relief for all students, while recognising the additional barriers disabled learners face in accessing employment and achieving financial security.