2007 President's Welcome

Tena Koutou Katoa - welcome to OPSA!

OPSA is your association run by students for students, so your issues are our issues! From advocacy to film processing, emergency grants to student IDs, Team OPSA is here to help you. It may be a personal or academic issue - come and see us because we get things done.

As OPSA President, I am elected to represent students. On a local level the President is a member of the Otago Polytechnic Council and sits on various other boards and PEACs (Permanent External Advisory Committees). The President is also the spokespeople for OPSA and of the OPSA executive committee.

On a national level OPSA is a member of FEDEX (Federation of Executives) of the national students’ association (NZUSA). It is a national coordination and lobby group; its main focus is free education and a student allowance for all.

The Labour government has taken a step in the right direction by removing the interest from the student loans of graduates, but this has done little to change the spectacular failure that is the Student Loan Scheme. Students and graduates owe well over $8 Billion and is clearly a burden on society as our graduates leave our shores and choose not to have children, or are unable to buy a house. To be involved in a CAMPAIGN GROUP come up to the OPSA office on Level 1 of the Student Centre, or email the President

If you are interested in getting involved with the Association - from being co-opted onto the student executive, class representatives, helping organise social events or writing for our student magazine please come up to the OPSA office for more information. We are situated on level one of the Student Centre on Harbour Terrace, and operate during business hours (9.00am - 5.00pm).Go well in your studies.

Richard Mitchell

2007 President