from the OPSA President's desk...

Wow, it’s the beginning of the second semester already ...

2009-08-10T13:47:00.001+14:00

Wow, it’s the beginning of the second semester already – seems like the year has flown by. To all the new students, welcome to Otago Polytechnic! To all the returning students, welcome back.

It is well and truly the flu season at the moment. There are four people in the OPSA office that have been off sick with the flu. I had forgotten how much the flu really sucks.

Over the break we were away at an NZUSA conference up in Auckland. David’s report is in this month so you can read about it from his perspective. If you are wanting to know any more, then drop into the OPSA office and ask. It was great to catch up with the other associations and see what they are up to, which leads me onto the next part.

Many of the OPSA executive have been working on a campaign which is going to be launched really soon: the message of the campaign is “Study is a Full-Time Job”. Are you sick of the perception that students are drunk layabouts? I know I am, and so are the executive! Keep an eye out on campus for the posters, and also for someone wandering around with a camera and a mini-whiteboard. If you see them, then offer to have your picture taken with the number of hours you study written on the whiteboard.

I am going to run a competition. The winner will be announced in the next month’s Gyro; the first prize will be a $50 phone card. The competition is simple, in 200 words or less tell me why you deserve to win the phone card.

Send your entries into Meegan@opsa.org.nz with “Competition” in the subject line please.
Right. I’m off to hunt down some LemSip.
Ka kite ano for now!

Meegan Cloughley
OPSA Acting President 2009

President's column (Gyro)

2009-05-28T15:37:00.001+14:00

And then there was one. Ryan has left, he’s gone back down to Clinton to make some money as a builder. Ryan will be missed around the campus by students. In accordance with the constitution, the executive elected me to be Acting President until the elections later this year.

OPSA hosted the Annual ITP conference this year; we held it out at the Otākou Marae. The conference went extremely well in my opinion. There was a lot of networking, and some strong outcomes of where the associations are hoping to move towards in the near future. The strategic plan was split up so that each association had something to work on: the two that OPSA are moving with are improving the networking amongst ITPs and increasing the ITP portfolio.

The National Government has said they are not going to put any more money into the tertiary sector in this budget. Yes, this is something that is concerning – the institutions need to get their money from somewhere. If the fee maxima scheme is removed, then the fees could go up by any amount that the institution feels like. For example your fees of currently $4000 could go up to $8000 or more. Even though the fee maxima scheme isn’t the best in the world, it at least doesn't allow the institutions free range in the increase of fees.

OPSA is currently looking at ways to protest against the removal of fee maxima. Keep an eye out too and get involved when the action takes place.

Meegan Cloughley
OPSA Acting President

Mid year already

2008-06-06T12:13:00.002+14:00

Its hard to believe that that we are in June already, in many ways we look back over the last 5 months and wonder where they have gone. We hare both really enjoying this job, really enjoying interacting with the students, and we are so grateful for the aweseom executive we have this year. Their passion for OPSA is contagious, they want to continue do great events for the students, and keep improving the environment here. Coming up on the 12 of June we are having an event in the Quad area, so if you are around come and check it out, there will be lolly scrambles, fun and free stuff!! I am not going to tell you what it is about, you will need to come along and check it out!!
Righteo time for me to head off and get some other stuff done

ka kite ano

Polytech Conference

2008-05-15T15:03:00.003+14:00

Well we are back!! 10 of us headed up to Nelson for the NZUSA (New Zealand Union Student Associations) for the Polytech conference, must admit the town is beautiful!! But nothing beats our campus!! (ok a bit biased)
It was great to meet some of the exec from other campuses and catch up with the presidents, the OPSA exec were fantastic, and showed that they had been doing their research on the different workshops that were at the conference. We are all still writing our reports for the conference, and if anyone is interested in reading them come on over to the office in a couple of weeks.
On to the next thing now, there is going to be another lunch time event coming up over in the quad, not going to tell you what it is for yet, but keep an eye out for the posters...I will give you an idea of the date, it will be on the 12th June. We are looking into having some more social events as well like another quiz night, and maybe something else in the evening, if you have any ideas please let us know!

Righteo, until next week

Term 1 wind-up

2008-05-02T13:10:00.002+14:00

Well with the month of April drawing to a close, it is time we made a special mention of the new OPSA executive committee. Elected less than 2 months ago, the exec is already expressing their interest in student issues for 2008.
With almost all of the portfolios taken these guys have been out organising events such as 10 billion dollar debt day and helping plan the campaigns for the year, on the 8th of April we are taking the Executive on their first conference in nelson. This is an annual conference held by NZUSA to help represent polytechnics on the national level. It’s a great chance for the exec to get out there and start expressing their opinions on things and really start learning about the issues face by today students around New Zealand.
A big thanks to all of you guys and girls who came along to the recent 10 billion dollar debt day on the 10th, the turnout was great, and all of you were really vocal about the issues. And were really stoked about the signatures we got on the banner, some of the comments were awesome and we expect some real tractions on the debt issue in the next election.
Anyway guys enjoy the next half of the semester and we look forward to seeing you all at the next OPSA event which is to be confirmed.
Cheers
Meegan and Ryan
OPSA Co-Presidents 2008

March/April

2008-05-02T13:05:00.001+14:00

So here we go the 2nd edition of our blog, I hope you all have had the chance to read at least of these editions as they are OPSA's best source of communication with you guys out there.
Recently the OPSA quiz night was held with raging success, a big thanks to all of those that turned up to enjoy the night.
The demand was so great that we decided to have another one, so keep and ear out and be sure to be in for the next one
Also coming up is 10 billion dollar debt day on the 10th of april
on the 10th student debt will hit the 10 billion dollar mark so OPSA is having a bit of an activity to show our discust at the government and also give you guys and girls a chance to be heard. so be sure to be in the forth st campus quad and make yourself heard.
Also the OPSA Exec has been elected, so a big thanks to all of you who went to the AGM and had your say in how OPSA is run. In may we will be taking the Exec away to nelson for their first NZUSA
(New Zealand Union of Students Associations)Polytechnic confernece. while away they will be representing all of you on national issues and helping NZUSA decide on what direction to take on these issues.
So if you have anything you would like them to take away and discuss with NZUSA and other ITP's let OPSA know.
Anyway people keep up the good studys and feel free to let us know whats going on in your side of things if you feel the urge
Cheers Meegan and Ryan
OPSA Co-Presidents

O week

2008-02-29T13:08:00.001+14:00

It is great to see the campus alive with students!! Orientation was a lot of fun, getting to meet some of the students through the inductions and orientation events, and both look forward to meeting more of you over the year. It seems that in the first week there is a lot of information that is given to everyone, and I remember when I was a student I was feeling really overwhelmed with it all, I guess the main thing that we would like everyone to remember is if you have any questions at all, OPSA is here for you.
At the moment there are nomination forms out to get on to our executive, they are available in Gyro, and also at the OPSA office if you want to pop in and grab one. Being on the exec is a lot of fun, you get the opportunity to meet other students on a national level at conferences. OPSA is a member of NZUSA, New Zealand Union Student Association, the national body that represents students, it works towards making students lives a lot better, if you want to have your voice heard more than it already is, become one of our exec and use that avenue. If you want to know what the different types of portfolios that are available again just come on into the office and we will print one off for you.
Time to head off and get some other work done, we are both looking forward to meeting you over the coming year.

OPSA Co-Presidents

Presidents Goodbye

2007-11-08T14:23:00.001+14:00

The elections have been held and your 2008 Co-Presidents have been elected which means I will be vacating office on the 31st December 2007.

It has been an absolute pleasure serving you all for the past two years. Thank to all our members who have made my job as exciting as possible. Thank you to all polytechnic staff and senior management who showed me a great deal of respect and took what I had to say seriously.

Thank you to the OPSA staff without whom my job would not have been possible at all. The staff do not give themselves enough credit for the work they do. OPSA have a fantastic group of staff and I would like to thank each and every one of them for assisting me in performing my duties and President of the Association.

To everyone who is graduating at the end of this year. Congratulations on your achievements. Remember graduation day is your day. Enjoy it.

To everyone who is continuing study next year. Hang in there when the going gets tough as the rewards at the end are well worth it.

To Ryan and Meegan, good luck for next year. Keep up the good fight.

Thank you,

Richard Mitchell
2006 Co-President & 2007 President

The Year That Was - 2007

2007-11-08T14:22:00.001+14:00

January

Enter two new Presidential staff. Well one new and one not so new. January was a good start to a great year. Richard and Ryan begin planning for the year and outlines events and such things.

February

Enter….students. OPSA was flooded with students’ requiring ID cards and assistance with various things such as enrolments issues and student loan and allowance applications

Orientation
This years Orientation was the highest ticket selling orientation in orientation history

Student Services Area
OPSA opened out student service self service area which includes binding, laminating, black and white and colour photocopying, internet access, OP network access, fax machine.

March

OPSA Annual General Meeting
OPSA’s annual general meeting was held in March. At this meeting the 2007 OPSA Executive was elected and the meeting accepted the 2006 budget, approved the 2007 budget and accepted the 2006 Co-Presidents report.

Graduation Parade
The parade preceding the graduation ceremony was enjoyed by all and was a change for all graduates to enjoy a day dedicated entirely to them.

March Graduation
The first graduation for 206 was held in the Town Hall. OP also held their third Maori Graduation Ceremony

St. Patrick’s Day
OPSA celebrated St. Patrick’s Day (well at least the Friday before) with a fantastic morning breakfast for all students who were brave enough to come out at 8:30 in the morning. Such a great feed.

April

Interest Fee Student Loans
OPSA celebrated the 1st anniversary of Labours Interest Fee Student Loans policy by providing cake in the student centre and combining with OUSA to provide events on both the University and Polytechnic campuses.

May

Soup Kitchens
After the success of the Soup Kitchens in 2006, OPSA restarted these to help you through the winter months.

June

Holidays
A big part of June was taken up with holidays.

July

Gyro Digital
OPSA embraced the digital age and put your magazine, Gyro, online. This can be viewed at http://www.gyro.org.nz

August

2007 University Sport Snow Games
Otago Polytechnic was the only polytechnic in New Zealand invited to enter a team for the 2007 University Sport Snow Games. The games were full of hard fought competition and the Otago Polytechnic got a silver medal. Hadley Boyle (Bachelor of Product Design) has taken Otago Polytechnic’s first ever medal at the University Snow Games.
Boyle’s combined run time of 137.88 in the Snowboard Giant Slalom Men’s placed him second out of 35, between Phil Dominick of Massey Albany (first place with 137.27) and Will Marshall of Canterbury University.

OPSA’s new logo
OPSA created a new logo. It is much more modern and good looking.

September

Fee Setting
Despite the work that was done around a zero fee increase at Otago Polytechnic for 2008, the Otago Polytechnic Council still voted to increase 2008 tuition fees to the maximum allowable under the Fee Course Cost Maxima Scheme.

Tertiary Challenge
OPSA worked with a group of students from the Otago Sports Institute lead by Geoff Simons and Terry Wilson in organising the Southern Tertiary Challenge. Unfortunately, for reasons outside of OPSA’s control, the Southern Tertiary Challenge was cancelled.

Cultural Food Festival
12 groups from various nations cooked food for the day. All groups were well received and nothing but positive comments were made about the day.

October

SJS Regional Chair
Ryan Ward was nominated for the position of 2008 Student Job Search Otago Regional Caucus Chair. There were two candidates nominated and the vote was tied. Ryan, proving that he is a bigger man than the other candidate, withdrew warning the newly elected RC chair, and I quote, “I will ride him for all of 2008”.

November

OPSA Staff Awards
In recognition of the quality of the lecturers at Otago Polytechnic, OPSA awarded eight staff, from student nominations, the 2007 Staff Awards.

OPSA Blues Awards
OPSA was honoured to award the following students with the 2007 OPSA Blues Awards:

Media Release; OP Fees Raised by Maximum

2007-09-06T16:00:00.003+14:00

Otago Polytechnic Council today increased fees by the maximum allowed under the fee maxima policy. Most students studying at Otago Polytechnic in 2008 will now see their fees increase by up to 5% on the 2007 levels.

This is the fourth 5% fee raise passed the Otago Polytechnic Council in as many years.

“Students will have now seen a virtual fee increase of more than 16% since 2004. This completely out strips inflation” states Richard Mitchell, OPSA President.

“It is disappointing to see that the Council has backed away from their own commitment and responsibilities to barrier-free education” states Mr Mitchell.

The Otago Polytechnic Council also had the option of a zero percent fee raise.

“This would have sent a very obvious and bold statement to the government stating that the Council are not prepared to pass the costs of under-funding on to indebted students.” said Mr Mitchell

Government under-funding contributes largely to the problem.

“While it would be easy to blame the Council for free increases, the root of the problem is under-funding by successive governments is” says Mr Mitchell

Contact for further comment:
Richard Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974
Mobile: 027 320 2956
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Media Release; Students warn Polytechnic council against further fee increases

2007-09-06T16:00:00.001+14:00

Students at the Otago Polytechnic warn the Polytechnic’s council that fee increases would not be tolerated by students under any circumstances.

“Students at Otago Polytechnic are fed up and annoyed after paying hundreds of dollars in constant fee increases and will not tolerate further increases,” said Richard Mitchell, president of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA).

Otago Polytechnic chose to increase its fees up to the maximum of 5% under the Fee Course Cost Faxima scheme for the past two years

“Fee increases are not necessary to balance the Polytechnic’s books. Why the Polytechnic would want to take even more money in 2007 from students who are already struggling to pay the bills is a complete mystery,” said Mitchell.

“The government needs to put its money where its mouth is and start funding tertiary institutions properly,” stated Mr Mitchell

The Polytechnic will set it’s 2008 tuition fees at the Polytechnic Council meeting this afternoon, Wednesday 5th September 2007, at 3:15pm

Ends

For more information contact:
Richard Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA)
Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974
Mobile: 027 320 2956
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Media Release; OPSA Spices it up

2007-09-06T15:59:00.000+14:00

Tomorrow OPSA hosts it’s second ever International Food Festival following the success of last year’s event.

“Last year’s Food Festival was well patronised and very colourful event, with a good chance to sample food from many areas of the world.” said Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA) President, Richard Mitchell.

The Festival showcases the ethnic diversity of the Otago polytechnic. Food stalls this year include; Samoa, India, Kiwi, Japan, Ireland, and the United States of America.

“Otago Polytechnic students come from many different areas of the globe, and the Festival is a great opportunity to see the different flavours of the Polytechnic” stated Mr Mitchell.

This year’s Festival will also see new stalls including a Queertopia food stall, and a stall featuring the famous good of a fictional country.

Food will be served at 12 noon, Wednesday 5 September. Prompt attendance is recommended for those wanting a great range of samples.

Further information:
Richard J Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974
Mobile: 027 320 2956
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Media Release; OPSA Calls for Investment in International Students

2007-08-13T16:59:00.001+14:00

OPSA welcomes National's recognition for the need to invest in international students. On Friday Pansy Wong pointed out that "In 2004 there were 112,675 foreign fee-paying students, which slumped to 98,266 by 2005. A more than 10% drop in a single year cannot be ignored". However, Pansy did not say what or how National would reverse these figures.

Students know of course.

The best way to invest in international students and increase numbers is to decrease the inflated fees international students pay.

However, Ms Wong also states that "What was a growing and lucrative foreign currency earner for New Zealand has suffered at the hands of Labour's inconsistent immigration and international education policies."

OPSA is concerned National sees international students as cash cows to be used to help fund our currently under-funded education system.

OPSA calls for all parties to increase investment in education by increasing funding and regulating fees downwards.

For more information contact:

Richard J Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974
Mobile: 027 320 2956
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Letter to New Zealand Government on behalf of UniQ@OPSA

2007-06-30T16:36:00.000+14:00

Mark Burton, MP
Minister of Justice
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Thursday, 28 June 2007

Dear Mark,

Like most New Zealanders, I think everyone deserves a fair go. However, there is a legal argument called the "Homosexual Panic Defence" which is plainly unfair to Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Kiwis.

Too many times in New Zealand a murderer's sentence has been lessened because it is claimed that their victim allegedly made sexual advances.

New Zealand has some of the most progressive LGBT laws in the world but Homosexual Panic Defence is unjust and discriminatory.

On behalf of the queer and queer-friendly members of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association, I urge you to create and table a bill in parliament that will remove the “Homosexual Panic Defence” from New Zealand legislation.

Thank you,

Richard Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974
Mobile: 021 182 6274
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Letter to New Zealand Government re: Minimum Fire Detection Requirements

2007-06-30T16:35:00.000+14:00

Hon. Chris Carter, MP
Minister for Housing
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Tuesday, 26 June 2007

To Hon. Chris Carter,

Since the beginning of 2007, there have been two house fires in student flats in Dunedin. Though there have been no causalities and serious injuries in either of these fires they have still been tragic and emotionally hurtful for all those involved.

I believe that both of these fires highlight a serious gap in New Zealand legislation in terms of fire safety for residential flats. I agree that the tenants of these flats have a responsibility to ensure that the flats that they are renting are protected as much as possible from the dangers of fires, I also believe that the landlords need to be responsible for providing safe housing conditions for their tenants and this includes preventive fire measures and fire detection systems.

I understand that there is currently legislation in place that requires buildings with rooms more than a given number to have sprinkler systems and smoke alarms in place however currently no requirement exists for landlords of residential flats/houses.

To this end, on behalf of the members of the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association, I would to request that you formulate and table a bill in the house of representatives that requires landlords to fit the flats they rent out with minimum requirements of fire detection systems (including smoke alarms in all rooms and a certain number of fire extinguishers depending on the numbers of rooms in the flat).

Too often it takes a tragedy when several people perish in a house fire before the government will enact preventative legislation. The best thing the government can do in this situation is to create legislation before a tragedy occurs.

Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss this request in further detail.

Thank you,

Richard Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association

Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974
Mobile: 021 182 6274
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Media Release; Can National Really Change its Spots?

2007-06-15T14:04:00.000+14:00

If National are to avoid its mistakes of the nineties it needs to change some if its policies.

Their tertiary education policy still advocates the reforms on education made by the last National government that badly failed students and the country.

OPSA welcomes any real deviation away from this path. Mr Key is quite right when he says "there are half a million New Zealanders who've now got used to not paying interest and we have to listen to that pretty carefully", and he probably also thinking about the next generation of families who adding further debt to their children will be pretty unpopular.

Indeed National probably remember the effects their highly unpopular education reforms from their last term in office: National dramatically increased Labour's student fees, ended universal student allowances, invented student debt, attempted to destabilise students' associations, and made quality/funding cuts. These rampant reforms saw education a consistent top 3 voter concern during their entire term. But can National really change its spots?

OPSA is under no illusion that Mr Key's motivation to keep interest-free is because of the popularity of interest-free rather than any admission of the failures of National's previous education policies. Students are sick of being a political football for the last two decades and OPSA welcomes any real commitment from National to not reversing interest-free.

For further information contact:

Richard Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Tel/Fax: (03) 477-6974
Mobile: 021-182-6274
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

ENDS:

Media Release; Still Too Much Subsidy

2007-06-10T22:08:00.000+14:00

The Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA) is pleased to see DCC Councillors are favouring halving the amount DCC is proposed to subsidise the new stadium project. However, OPSA claims that the newly proposed amount of around $50 million is still far more than the City can, or should, afford.

“The newly proposed subsidy needs to be halved again. The City is currently struggling with its $100M debt, it simply makes no sense to go a further $50M in debt for a project that really brings nothing new to the city” said Richard Mitchell, OPSA president.

Over half of OPSA members do not believe the stadium should receive any rates-sourced funding at all. The overall average subsidy OPSA members believe is appropriate for local bodies to contribute is around 10%; less than half of the newly proposed amount of $50M.

A further concern to OPSA is that any proposed subsidy must be fixed. OPSA believe the calculated cost of the proposed stadium is unrealistically low and the actual cost will be much higher. OPSA urges the DCC and ORC to limit any contributions to a fixed dollar amount, rather than a percentage of an unknown - and potentially spiralling – amount.

“Any local body contributions must be absolutely fixed amounts; to promise an essentially open cheque-book would be totally unacceptable” said Mr Mitchell.

Further information from:

Richard Mitchell
OPSA President
(03) 477-6974 or 027-320-2956

Media Release; Dunedin Free Bus Service

2007-05-26T17:13:00.000+14:00

Today OPSA presented its case-study for a fare-free citywide bus service at DCC and ORC draft annual plan hearings.

“OPSA sees effective public transport as a key to keeping Dunedin a healthy and vibrant city, and a solution to parking and congestion problems. The convenience of simply being able to hop-on and hop-off buses wherever and whenever you liked without a pocket full of coins would make bus usage far more desirable.” said OPSA president, Richard Mitchell.

As long as the cost of public transport is anything close to private transport, users are always going opt for the vastly greater flexibility of private transport. While more suitable routes and timetables are always needed, fares are one dimension to bus usage than could be addressed immediately.

In the North Island Horizons District Council found making it bus service free around its congested campus area increased usage by over 100%. This is supported overseas by other cities that have free bus services; especially in the US where many tertiary institutions and local authorities arrange free buses for students.

A free bus service is affordable. There are a number of ways it could be charged, but if distributed over DCC/ORC rates OPSA calculates it would mean totally free bus transport to all residents for the cost of less than $2 per week per household - about half the price of a new stadium - and an amenity that would be used every day by many more residents.

The DFBS discussion-paper can be obtained from OPSA, or can be downloaded as a Word document from http://www.opsa.org.nz/downloads/FREE_BUS.doc

Media Release; Students Bag Rate-Payer Funded Stadium

2007-05-26T17:10:00.000+14:00

Today OPSA presented its survey of Otago Polytechnic student opinion on the proposed new stadium at DCC and ORC draft annual plan hearings. In the face of a postal survey that avoided student opinion, and recent attempts by ‘Our Stadium’ to misrepresent student opinion (ODT, 26 April), OPSA conducted its own informed survey of student opinion.

The key finding is that 63% of respondents do not support a new stadium, compared to 37% who do support a new stadium. This support drops to 24% if it involves increases to rates, or flow-on increases in rents (full results below). This is consistent with the DCC’s original residents’ survey with 66% against, and 22% for a new stadium.

OPSA’s survey differs significantly from the Carisbrook Stadium Trust’s survey reported in today’s ODT , in that it was an informed and more meaningful survey; OPSA’s survey did not avoid the hard questions - respondents were also asked about support for the stadium if they had to pay for it through their rates.

“We’re not surprised that a survey which simply asks ‘do you want a new stadium?’ elicits a positive response. However, a meaningful survey that asks ‘do you want a new stadium if will cost you?’ is a different question, with a different answer” said OPSA president, Richard Mitchell.

OPSA’s survey also elicited many comments from OP students that the proposed stadium was unaffordable to the city and its rate-payers, that Dunedin was too small for such a stadium to be financially viable, and that upgrading the current stadium would be preferable.

OP Student opinion on a New Stadium

Lack of Support
63% of respondents do not support a new stadium compared to 37% who do support a new stadium. However, this support drops to 24% if it involves increases to rates, or flow-on increases in rents. This is reasonably close to the original residents’ survey with 66% against, and 22% for a new stadium.

Qualified support

It should also be noted that many of the supporters commented that they only supported a new stadium if it could secure top level international rugby games, or if was truly multi-purpose.

Need

Only 16% of all respondents believe a stadium is needed. Even stadium supporters are not convinced it is needed; 32% of stadium supporters do not believe Dunedin actually needs a new stadium.

Who should pay?

The majority of respondents did not believe a new stadium should be funded by rates or rent increases; 58% opted for a $0 increase in rates or rent to pay for a new stadium. Only 25% would pay extra rates or rent to fund a new stadium (largely, but not exclusively supporters).
Irrespective of supporting the stadium or not, almost 100% of respondents believed the majority of the stadium should be funded privately (eg private funding, sponsorship, user-pays, etc), instead of from rates or Council money.

How much?

58% of respondents believe the DCC/ORC should not subsidise the project at all. Only 25% believed it should be subsidised by local authorities. The overall average subsidy respondents believe should be made by local authorities is 13%.
The overall average rates increase respondents would pay was $42 per annum.

City debt

Irrespective of supporting the stadium or not - almost 100% of respondents believed the DCC should be planning to decrease its total debt instead of increasing it.

Spending Priorities

55% of respondents believed improved public transport and parking should be number one spending priority for local authorities. Of the stadium supporters 32% believe a new stadium should be the top spending priority, 28% of supporters believe public transport and parking should be the top spending priority.

Media Release; Students' hopeful of United

2007-05-17T19:56:00.000+14:00

United Future today claimed they "will work to fulfil the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Labour-led government to see lowering of the age of eligibility to a student allowance." After over a decade of 25 year olds being treated like children students are hopeful of such comments.

"What does this mean? asks Richard Mitchell, OPSA president, “Are United going to step up and demand lowering of allowance eligibility as a requirement for United's vote for Confidence and Supply?"

"We welcome any party to persuade the government to increase access to allowances, but students are sick of being a political football and hope this is a concrete demand." said Mr Mitchell.

Students agree with United's Judy Turner’s comment that “It defies logic that once again, there is no reduction in the age of eligibility for student allowances".

United Future's policy of lowering the eligibility age for a student allowance is well-matched with the position advocated by students since National introduced means-tested allowances in the early 1990s for "children" of up to 25 years old.

"It is appalling this farce of 25 year old 'children' has continued. Sure the Labour led government has slightly opened criteria, but not nearly enough." said Mr Mitchell.

"Universal student allowances are of course the best option, they are not only fairer but solve all such eligibility criteria problems." said Mr Mitchell.

For further information contact:

Richard Mitchell
President
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Tel/Fax: (03) 477-6974
Mobile: 021-182-6274
Email: president@opsa.org.nz

Big Dick's Column

2007-05-15T08:57:00.001+14:00

Welcome to term 2. I trust you are all well and truly rested and ready for the busy end of semester one. There are a couple of things I would like to bring to your attention:

International Workers’ Day: Also known as May Day, this takes place on the first of May and is a day where we celebrate all the workers around the world. It’s a day where we can celebrate all the work done by unions and other worker organizations around the world. So, to celebrate, drop everything you are doing, take off all your clothes and run naked down George Street. Actually, on second thought — please don’t.

Just remember, ask not only what you can do for your union, but what your union will do for you. University Sport New Zealand (USNZ): USNZ are currently discussing whether or not to expand their membership criteria to include polytechnic members. Membership would allow Otago Polytechnic students to take advantage of the services offered by USNZ and also would allow you to attend the various sports events run by them. I am currently seeking advice and direction on what you think of this idea. E-mail your comments to president@opsa.org.nz.

OPSA Events: I am currently in the process of planning events for the remainder of semester one and for the beginning of semester two. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please email these to president@opsa.org.nz.

OP Print-Charging: I know this is frustrating many of you and, rest assured, it’s fucking me off also. I have been told three or four different things regarding the (poorly) introduced polytechnic print-charging system. I am currently discussing this with Polytechnic management and will get back to you all ASAP.

Well, by now you’re probably sick of reading what I have to say. Go well in your studies and remember OPSA are here for YOU.

Te manu e kai ana i te miro, nona te ngahere

Te manu e kai ana i te matauranga, nona te Ao

The bird who feasts from the miro owns the forest

The bird who feasts from knowledge owns the World

Thank you,

Richard Mitchell

President

Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

ODT Article; Uni games may open arms to polytech students

2007-05-07T11:14:00.000+14:00

One of New Zealand’s oldest multisport events may soon embrace a new group of competitors.

Breaking a tradition which began with the first event in 1902, polytechnic and technological college students are likely to be invited to compete in the University Games.

University Sport New Zealand (USNZ), the student-run organisation that organises the games and six other sporting events annually, has agreed in principle to expand membership to more than 213,000 stu dents studying at the country’s 20 polytechnics.

The final decision on constitutional changes will be made next month, and president Hamish Hopkinson, of Auckland, said he was reasonably confident the membership rules would change.

“We’ve been talking about this for the past 10 years but nothing has happened. It is time we dealt with it,” he said yesterday.

The University Games, held each Easter, are the secondlargest multisport event in the country, behind the Masters Games. This year’s games, in Christchurch, attracted 2150 competitors in 46 team and individual events.

USNZ staff also organised an annual cricket tournament, triathlon and snow games, and was this year planning the inaugural yachting regatta. In addition, three regional tertiary challenge events were held, which also involved polytechnic stu dents.

Bringing polytechnic students on board was an exciting opportunity to broaden competition, Mr Hopkinson said.

“More competitors and more teams means better competition.”

USNZ had worked hard in recent years to improve the image and quality of competition at student games, he said.

“In the 1980s and early 1990s, university events were dominated by alcohol. But we have spent the past few years trying to be a more professional organisation.

“By bringing polytechnic stu dents on board we would represent 100% of tertiary students and would grow our influence in the sporting event sector.”

Initial support from Otago Polytechnic students was positive, student association president Richard Mitchell said yesterday, particularly from the institution’s Sports Institute of Otago and Adventure.

There would be some natural rivalry between university and polytechnic competitors, he said.

This article was taken from the Friday 5th May 2007 edition of the Otago Daily Times with the express permission of the writer, Allison Rudd.

Media Release; 2007 OPSA President's March Graduation Speech

2007-03-31T19:10:00.000+14:00

Purchasing a car. Buying a house. Getting married. These are all tough decisions. The decision to embark upon tertiary education can also be a very tough decision. For some of you this has meant leaving home for the first time. Moving to a new city and meeting new people. For others, you have returned to tertiary study after being in the workforce for many years. Having to remember what it was like to study, how to study and also dealing with the stress that comes with it.

It doesn’t matter why you decided to enter tertiary study, all that matters is that you made. Today is your opportunity to celebrate the journey you have been through.

Your journey has consisted of many hours huddled over books, essays, computers, projects and having to learn to deal with the stress that is placed upon students in today’s society. You have had to fit your studies around such things as looking after your children, running a household, and spending time with friends among a huge array of other things.

Graduation day is a day where we all come together to celebrate each and every graduands outstanding achievement. An achievement that for some has been a smooth road to victory. You have always known what you wanted to do. For others, the road to graduation was not so smooth. You may have had to battle through many obstacles such as family issues, financial discomfort, and personal fear. You should all feel a great deal of pride and satisfaction in yourselves for completing your journey. Today is your day.

There are a number of defining moments when you are a student. That first assignment you had to do. The tension you felt before you got your marks back and the joy you felt when you passed. I can also almost guarantee that all of you can remember the last assignment you completed. The feeling of relief you felt as you handed it over and realised that you are coming to the end of an era. For some of you, today is the end of classroom education for you, however you will all continue learning from this day forth making yourself better at what you do for the benefit of yourself and for the benefit of society. For those that have made the decision to continue on your journey you will be gaining a further in-depth knowledge in your chosen area and this will benefit you in both educational growth and personal growth.

Our wonderful graduands here, with all their unique differences will be able to fix, teach, programme, organize, create, and generally sort out a wide variety of things. I am proud, as I am sure is everyone behind me, of our graduands unique differences that will make for an exciting future for generations to come.

Otago Polytechnic graduates will go on to inspire many people to achieve as you have done today. Along with those who have assembled here to honour your unity in graduation today I pay tribute to your accomplishments and wish each exceptional one of you an exciting future- a future which celebrates and values your accomplishments today and into the future.

Along with our graduands there are a number of other people here today that deserve praise and thanks also. These people have been through the good and bad times of studying. They have seen the stress, the tears, the frustration and the happy times for our graduands. They are very rarely seen or heard during the course of study yet they have helped the graduates through their studies more than is recognised. The people I am talking about are the friends and family that have joined us here today to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduands. On behalf of those graduating today, thank you.

In closing, let it be one alone that stands among the other stars in the sky.In other words be your own leader and achieve.

Thank you.

Media Release; It some cases, it's not the size that matters

2007-03-31T19:07:00.000+14:00

The National Student Debt has now hit a massive nine billion dollars

“Nine billion dollars in student debt is staggering. Student debt is a serious threat to our society and can no longer be ignored,” said Richard Mitchell, President of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA)

“Student debt is making it increasingly difficult for graduates to own their own home, is delaying graduates from having children, and hindering New Zealand’s future” stated Mr Mitchell

A recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report commented that the current system does not address to the full extent the financial barriers students face in accessing Tertiary Education

“There are two simple ways to alleviate the student debt problem. First, introduce a universal student allowance. Second, bring back free education. It’s that simple”, says Mr. Mitchell

Today students will be active on campuses around the country promoting the detrimental effects of the nine billion dollar student debt crisis.

OPSA urge the government to recognise the effects the student loan scheme is having on students and graduates and immediately move towards introducing a universal student allowance and free education

Media Release; Student leader challenges the government

2007-03-01T00:23:00.000+14:00

Student leader challenges the government

Otago Polytechnic students are pleased at the government’s drop in student debt interest rates from 6.9% to 6.8% for 2007-2008. The drop will mean some small relief for graduates than still do pay interest on their student debt.

“While ‘interest free’ has improved things for many graduates the Government have failed to attack the real problem – debt itself.” said Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA) President, Richard Mitchell.

Less than 20 years ago tertiary education was free - and less than a decade ago Labour policy was still for universal allowances and lower fees. The ineligibility of the vast majority of students to allowances has not been largely addressed. Fees themselves have not lowered, but grown.

“Three terms into a Labour lead government and students are still borrowing simply to eat, this is just not acceptable” said Mr Mitchell.

All that has changed is the removal of interest on a growing debt of fees and living debt. So while students welcome a slight shift down in interest rates there is still much work to be done to make tertiary education fairly open to all New Zeanders.

“I challenge the government to do something to actually lower fees” said Mr Mitchell.

2007 President's Welcome

2007-02-05T09:58:00.000+14:00

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

2007 President's Welcome

2007-01-19T00:06:00.000+14:00

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@opsa.org.nz.

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

Media Release; Australia Streets Ahead

2006-12-14T18:23:00.000+14:00

Otago Polytechnic students welcome the recent announcement that the student loan repayment threshold will be raised. From 1 April next year, the income level at which borrowers will have to start repaying their loans will increase from $17,160 to $17,784 per annum. However, students believe that the increase is not enough.

“It is pleasing to see that the threshold heading in the right direction, but such small increases mean nothing when compared to tertiary fee increases every year,” said OPSA Co-President Richard Mitchell.

Further, students feel New Zealand’s repayment threshold is ridiculously low: “The idea that people on $17,000 are ‘rich’ enough to be paying their debt at the same rate as someone on an income of over $100,000 is laughable” said Mr. Mitchell.

“Indeed New Zealand has one of the harshest student debt repayment thresholds when compared to countries with similar loan schemes” said Mr. Mitchell. Australia’s repayment threshold is over double New Zealand’s threshold, at over NZ$37,000; Canada NZ$29,614; and United Kingdom NZ$37,400.

“The threshold should well above an income level where people are having difficulty meeting the costs of every day living such as food, rent and power.” said Mr. Mitchell. OPSA urges the government to considerably increase the repayment threshold so that those on lower incomes are not forced to repay 10 percent of their loan when they are struggling to make ends meet.

Media Release; 40th Birthday Ball and Poly is coming to the Party!

2006-10-17T14:21:00.000+14:00

The Otago Polytechnic Student’s Association (OPSA) are pleased to announce their up and coming Masquerade Ball. The Otago Polytechnic 40th Birthday Masquerade Ball will be held at the Savoy on the 28th of October.

The Ball is open to all students and staff plus their partners, as well as all Ex-students and staff.

“We are really excited about this event as is the Polytechnic. The Polytechnic is providing a birthday cake to go along with the celebrations. We have also worked closely with the Polytechnic to keep tickets at the very affordable price of $25 each” said Natalie Absalom, OPSA Co-President.

“It is going to be an awesome night out. Where else can you go out with fellow students, colleagues and old friends have entertainment, food and a birthday cake provided for such a reasonable price?” Points-out Richard Mitchell, OPSA Co-President.

All those interested in attending the Otago Polytechnic 40th Birthday Masquerade Ball should contact the Otago Polytechnic Student’s Association on 477 6974.

Media Release; OPSA does it again

2006-10-16T15:55:00.000+14:00

The Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association are ecstatic about one of their own being elected to NZUSA. Natalie Absalom, 2006 OPSA Co-President, has been elected as the National Women’s Rights Officer (NWRO) for 2007.

“It’s going to be hard work but it will be an amazing experience and I’m determined to do well,” said Ms. Absalom.

Ms. Absalom has been a member of the OPSA executive for three years including one year as Vice-President and one year as Co-President.

“Having worked with Natalie for a year, I know she is extremely passionate about the Student movement and will be an exceptional asset to NZUSA,” stated OPSA Co-President Richard Mitchell.

2007 will be the second year an OPSA President has held the National Women’s Rights Officer position.

“It’s nice to see an OPSA President take the role of National Women’s Rights Officer. This will help cement NZUSA’s commitment to representing the ITP sector well”, says Ryan Ward, 2007 OPSA Vice-President-elect.

ENDS

Media Release; Surplus needed for infrastructure

2006-10-12T10:52:00.000+14:00

With the Government about to announce a record surplus, students are calling on Labour to invest the money in education and health, rather than continuing to under-fund the country’s infrastructure with unnecessary tax-cuts.

“New Zealand already has some of the lowest income tax rates in the western world, there’s no way we should be considering tax-cuts until we have a well functioning health and education systems, decent roading, affordable power, etc.” said Natalie Absalom, OPSA Co-president.

“As the Government is set to make a record $10 billion surplus, fees are still increasing and two thirds of students don’t have a living-allowance. This under-funding is also
having an impact on staff wages and constantly threatens quality.” said Richard Mitchell, OPSA Co-president.

“It is disappointing that Labour, who fought the last election on investing in public services, is considering tax-cuts while health and education is still in disarray.” said Natalie Absalom, OPSA Co-president.

“This is a great opportunity to invest in health and education. The Government should use the surplus to create a world-class tertiary education system, where all full-time students are supported with a living-allowance.” said Richard Mitchell, OPSA Co-president.

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-10-09T15:01:00.001+14:00

In the spirit of all things fabulous organised by OPSA, the annual ball is BACK

Welcome back from your well deserved holiday, We trust you all enjoyed yourselves. As there are only a few weeks left of study, this means that living costs and allowances will slowly begin to disappear. If this is the case for you, We would like to remind you about student job search situated on the University of Otago campus. SJS have a good range of jobs available and most jobs come with a decent pay rate. You can signup online and view jobs at www.sjs.co.nz

In other news, OPSA have recently elected their 2007 President and vice president. Richard Mitchell, 2006 co-president, will take on the full president position with Ryan ward as his vice president. Thank to all those who voted and congratulations to those that one the AJ Hackett prizes and t-shirts.

We would also like to give a huge congratulation to those students who participated in and organised the cultural food festival and showcase. Both events were fantastic with excellent turn-outs.

And in the spirit of all things fabulous organised by OPSA, the annual ball is BACK on the 28th of October! This year it will be “The Masquerade Ball”. Esquire suit hire are offer a great deal for the night and Fairies, Wizards and Gifts have an awesome selection of masks with student discount. Other discounts will be available to ticket holders. Tickets, available from OPSA office, are only a mere $25 which includes entry, supper and entertainment. Tickets are selling fast so get in quick!

For those students who are returning or thinking of returning in 2007, OPSA would like to hear about any new services or events we can offer in 2007. Of course, this does not mean that other students can’t tell us about new services we could offer or events we could hold. If you know of a good service or event, pop into the opsa office and have a chat with the staff.

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-10-09T15:01:00.000+14:00

Media Release; OP Fees Raised by Maximum

2006-08-11T21:30:00.000+14:00

Otago Polytechnic Council today increased fees by the maximum allowed under the fee maxima policy. Most students studying at Otago Polytechnic in 2007 will now see their fees be raised by 5% on the 2006 levels.

This is the third 5% fee raise passed the Otago Polytechnic Council in as many years.

"Students will have now seen a virtual 16% increase in their fees since 2004. This completely out strips inflation" states Richard Mitchell, OPSA, Co-president.

"It is disappointing to see that the Council has backed away from their own commitment and responsibilities to barrier-free education" states Mr Mitchell.

The Otago Polytechnic Council also had the option of a zero percent fee rise.

"This would have sent a very obvious and bold statement to the government stating that the Council are not prepared to pass the costs of under-funding on to indebted students." said Ms Absalom, OPSA, Co-president.

Government under-funding contributes largely to the problem.

"While it would be easy to blame the Council for short-sighted money grabbing, but under-funding by successive governments is the root of the problem" says Natalie Absalom.

OPSA Fee Setting Submission

2006-08-03T19:41:00.000+14:00

The Otago Polytechnic Students' Association Fee Setting Submission for the 2007 Academic Year has now been sent to Otago Polytechnic Councillors. You can view the submission at http://submission.opsa.org.nz

We are still collecting signatures for our petition.

Thank you,
Richard Mitchell
Co-President
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association

ODT; Tertiary Changes May Help in Otago

2006-07-28T17:46:00.000+14:00

Otago's tertiary institutions could be among the winners from a new funding system for the sector.
Tertiary Education Minister Michael Cullen announced yesterday he was ditching the "bums-on-seats"
funding in favour of more planning when distributing the $2.5 billion the Government puts into the
sector. The change, from 2008, is expected to allow institutions to step off the funding rollercoaster,
where money is uncertain until the students arrive.

Instead, tertiary institutions will negotiate three-year funding plans, taking into account both their
teaching load and the underlying cost of their part in the education system.

"Essentially, I want to change the mindset of the sector, so that it ceases to see dollars attached to
current year enrolments, and begins to see them as an investment that the government is making in
a tertiary provision plan that extends to the medium-term and beyond," Dr Cullen said in a speech
to an industry training conference in Wellington.

The current "bums-on-seats" system has operated since the late 1980s, but is regarded as having
led to funding blowouts in recent times, particularly in areas of low-quality provision and at the
expense of education and training where the economy needs it.

Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said the announcement appeared to confirm the
Government would be looking at funding institutions for their basic organisational capability.

Under the present system, just $250,000, or 1%, of the polytechnic's core annual funding was not
linked to student enrolments, which left it extremely sensitive to any shift in student numbers.

"We are talking about the same amount of money being re-cut. Therefore, this is not a signal that
we are all saved. In that sense, I guess we have to be a little hesitant about what it means," Mr Ker
said.

"So, what this signals is a sustainability of funding that provides good time frames for individual
institutions to work through any adverse changes in the underlying market."

While there was more detail to come, it looked like the relatively smaller population base of Otago
would be taken into account when deciding what funding was required to make courses sustainable
in this part of the country, Mr Ker said.

Students said the reforms would need to be accompanied by more funding.

Otago Polytechnic student co-president Natalie Absalom said Dr Cullen's plan merely changed the
window dressing without addressing underfunding.

Co-president Richard Mitchell said the new system, with its emphasis on funding course
completions, would create new issues for the polytechnic sector, as a portion of their core business
was learners that were upskilling.

"Under a model that funds completions only, both the institution and the learner may be left out in
the cold, as far as funding is concerned. Essentially, this model could actively discourage upskilling
by refusing to fund it."

But the changes were welcomed by Association of University Staff president Prof Nigel Haworth,
who said universities had long been disadvantaged by a model that failed to take account of the
higher costs of research-based institutions.

"The three-year funding cycle will also allow institutions to make better long-term strategic
decisions," he said.

Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly welcomed the greater role for employers and
industry in shaping educational priorities, signalled in the announcement.

Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said the reforms would ensure resources were
focused towards courses that met social and economic priorities.

However, National Party education spokesman Bill English said increased planning costs would
have to be covered by reducing funding for courses.

University of Otago and Dunedin College of Education spokesmen declined to comment until they
had time to look at the announcement.

This article was taken from the Friday 28th July 2006 edition of the Otago Daily Times with the express permission of the writer, Tom McKinlay.

Media Release; Cullen does ostrich on under-funding

2006-07-27T18:00:00.000+14:00

Announcements made today by Tertiary Education Minister Dr. Michael Cullen are merely changing the window dressing and not addressing the on-going issue of under-funding.

“The key problem in the tertiary sector is under-funding. This newly announced funding model promises nothing to address the issue of under-funding,” stated Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association Co-president Natalie Absalom.

OPSA agrees that the current demand-driven, or “bums-on-seats”, funding model is flawed and has consistently advocated for its replacement. However, despite claims that the new model addresses these flaws, all it does is put the current issue into different wording.

“If you don’t have enough bricks to build a house, no matter how often you move those bricks around, you are still not going to be able to build that house,” said Ms. Absalom.

Adding to this new system will create more issues especially for the Institute of Technology / Polytechnic sector. A portion of a Polytechnic’s core business is learners that are up-skilling.

“Under a model that funds completions only, both that institutions and the learner may be left out in the cold as far as funding is concerned. Essentially this model could actively discourage up-skilling by refusing to fund it” stated OPSA Co-president Richard Mitchell.

Contact:

Richard Mitchell or Natalie Absalom
Co-Presidents
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Richard: 021-182-6274
Natalie: 021-165-8963

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-07-19T17:10:00.000+14:00

Money, money, money. Must be funny. In a rich man’s world. Everybody needs money. You need money to pay the rent, buy food and enjoy your weekly extra curricular activities. On August 11 the Otago Polytechnic Council is likely to charge students even more money for their tuition. What the f***? They wanna charge me more money? But I already pay….(insert swearing violent language here)

Fear not people.

The Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA) feels exactly the same way you do. We are currently in the process of organising a fee setting campaign urging the Council not to increase fees. OPSA Representatives are currently roaming the campus collecting signatures for a petition to be presented to council. If you have not signed the petition yet, please do so. We have also drafted a submission that is now open for public comment. If you would like to have input into the submission simply pop into the OPSA office and speak to your friendly Co-Presidents or if you have any ideas for the campaign we want to know about it.

We, as a student body, need to stand up and say “we have had enough.” We need to let Council know that we will not stand for more fee rises.

On another note, if you are suffering financial hardship and are unsure where to turn, come and have a chat with the OPSA staff. We have access to a number of financial funds that enable us to take the worry out of your finances. We can offer budgetary advice, financial grants, and short-term loans.

Go well in your studies and remember OPSA is here for you.

Media Release; Don't watch this space

2006-07-04T16:30:00.000+14:00

Figures release by AC Nielson show that public tertiary institutions wasted over $28 million nationally on marketing and advertising campaigns that do not help students make decisions about their tertiary education studies

Otago Polytechnic spent over $760,000 on advertising in 2005. Figures show that expenditure on Marketing at Otago Polytechnic increased 33% or $191,603 between 2004 and 2005.

"Otago Polytechnic wasted an extra $190,000 on useless marketing campaigns last year which many students paid for with a 5% fee increase. This is not acceptable,” said Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA) Co-President Richard Mitchell.

The Ministry of Education accepts that mass marketing campaigns for tertiary
institutions do not work. This is also re-affirmed by potential students. Research by NZUSA showed that only 6% of students cite marketing campaigns as a reason why they choose the institution they did and even Minister of Tertiary Education Dr Michael Cullen has said that these campaigns are a waste of public and student money.

Unnecessary mass marketing campaigns by tertiary providers is a symptom brought about by the “bums on seats” model of funding tertiary institutions that doesn't deliver results for students and instead wastes public and student money on TV, radio and newspaper ads that have been shown to have little effect.

Natalie Absalom, Co-President of OPSA states “As both a student and tax-payer I find this sort of financial carelessness disgusting, it has to stop now!”

OPSA calls on the government to fund tertiary institutions in a manner that meets the needs of their communities.

For more information contact:

Richard Mitchell and Natalie Absalom
Co-Presidents
Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Richard: 027 320 2956
Natalie: 021 165 8963

Fee Setting Campaign

2006-06-22T20:46:00.000+14:00

The Otago Polytechnic Students' Association are currently running a campaign urging the Otago Polytechnic Council not to raise course fees for students.

If you do not want to see your course fees raised, please sign the petition at the OPSA Office.

If you would like to get involved in the campaign, please contact Richard Mitchell either by email richard@opsa.org.nz or on 021 182 6274.

Media Release; OPSA Supports ASTE Fixed Term Campaign

2006-06-22T20:43:00.000+14:00

The Otago Polytechnic Students' Association supports the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE) in their campaign against improper use of fixed term appointments in Tertiary Institutions.

"Many Tertiary Institutions have been using fixed term appointments to disguise shady employment practices and to employ staff when a permanent contract should have been offered" " says Otago Polytechnic Students' Association Co-President Richard Mitchell.

"All tertiary staff deserve employment conditions, such as job security, just like any other employee in the country" says Otago Polytechnic Students' Association Co-President Richard Mitchell.

"Fixed Term Contracts also lead to unnecessary stress for staff with the end result being lower quality education delivered to students" Mr. Mitchell stated. "OPSA supports real jobs with real conditions", Mr. Mitchell emphasized.

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-06-19T18:42:00.000+14:00

It’s a frosty old town; Dunedin is a very frosty old town. There is a culture that exists in this town which seems to allow many of its inhabitants to believe they have the right to act as judge jury and executioner of you simply because you are a student.
This culture is so dominant it has permeated the hallowed halls of our beloved institution. It was not that long ago I was at a meeting where the defacing of polytechnic property came up in the discussion, without a shred of evidence the majority of the attendees concluded that a student had to be responsible. It was not until I pointed out that there was no proof that a student had perpetrated the crime that the meeting entertained the idea that the act of graffiti may have been committed by a person other than a student. Just before I continue with my column, I would like to say if you are the little vandal drawing on the wall… Stop it, now!

So as students what should we do about the student-hating culture? While we are blamed for a lot of things we shouldn’t be, let’s start by telling the small number of our mates who act like dickheads to stop acting like dickheads. Burning couches in the street is never a cool thing do. While I agree that North Dunedin would probably be over-run with crap couches, I don’t believe this justifies risking people lives and destroying our roads. A nice wholesome flat road trip to the dump can be fun, and it is far more likely to please the powers that be. Hell yeah, Road Trip. However, if we continue along our current trajectory we, as a student body, are liable to find our civil liberties eroded. So come on guys lets make sure our good time tonight does not see our freedoms go up in smoke tomorrow.

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-05-02T14:52:00.000+14:00

In today’s age one would have thought that discriminating against those younger than you would be a thing of the past. However, it would appear that the Bill of Human Rights allows for such a thing. Thank god that the Green Party has come to the rescue an introduced a members bill that will hopefully remove such discrimination. Should it pass, no more will youth be working 40 hours weeks to earn what an adult earns in 30.

I hope you all managed to take a couple of minutes out of your busy schedules on the 28th April to remember those that have lost their lives while working. When I think back over the years, I remember all those people who I have known who lost their lives doing what they enjoyed. May they rest in peace.

Today we celebrate International Workers Day. Drop everything you are doing, take off all your clothes and run naked down George Street. Actually, on a second thought. Please don’t. Today we celebrate all the workers around the world. It is a day where we can celebrate all the work done by unions and other worker organisations around the world. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

Ask not only what you can do for your union, but what your union will do for you.

At a recent Fire Service Commission Function it was quite typical that the University Deputy Proctor and Campus were rather quick to say that students were the only people in Dunedin that lit fires. What a load of absolute crap. Thankfully the fire service knew the truth and came to our aid by pointing out that the 6 people arrested at the Hyde Street Keg Race a few years back were indeed not students.

Until next time, enjoy your studies and remember, OPSA are here for you.

Polytech seeks rationalisation funding

2006-04-12T13:00:00.000+14:00

Otago Polytechnic needs to find up to $15 million to wrestle its property portfolio into shape, as a blow-out in one of its leases puts on the pressure.

Chief executive Phil Ker said yesterday the polytechnic had worked out it would cost between $12 million and $15 million to rationalise its properties.

While the amount the Government would be asked to fund was not finalised, it could be a substantial part, Mr Ker said when approached.

In the end, we are going to make a case that if you were in Cabinet, you would want to support, Mr Ker said.

The case would be ready by about June, he said.

An unexpected $500,000 blow-out in a land lease has provided extra impetus for the polytechnic to centralise its operations at its Forth St campus, but such plans have been made previously.

In 2001, then chief executive Wanda Korndoffer tried to make a start, but came unstuck as the budget blew out.

Mr Ker said achieving that now would make the institution extraordinarily efficient from a property point of view.

In looking to the Government for help, the polytechnic was not doing an Oliver Twist, and accepted its job was to manage the institution, but some factors were conspiring against it.

The polytechnic has been buffeted by Government funding decisions in the past two years, as well as hit by falling enrolments due to a strong job market. Those problems, on top of the prospect of higher lease costs, meant the polytechnic was battling an operating deficit this year.

In the end, the Government owns us. It is a Crownowned operation, so it is incumbent on us to put together the sort of case that says, ‘if you are a prudent owner, this is what you would invest in your asset’, Mr Ker said.

The property causing the polytechnic difficulties is L Block, which sits between Anzac Ave and Parry St, and is the base for architecture, building, horticulture and engineering courses.

Deputy chief executive Dr Robin Day confirmed the polytechnic faced a potential $500,000 lease hike at L Block, where the lease has come up for renewal for the first time in 20 years.

Dr Day said the lease was under negotiation, so he did not want to comment further.

However, he said the polytechnic had enough room at its Forth St campus to accommodate all its Dunedin operations, including those in L Block and its Tennyson St catering programmes.

It is not just an issue of our leases, it is also an issue of our other properties, he said.

Other factors include pressure on space from the polytechnic’s fast growing design school, which is using office space in Great King St on a short-term lease, and a shortage of quality studio space for students at the School of Art.

This article was taken from the Monday 10th April 2006 edition of the Otago Daily Times with the express permission of the writer, Tom McKinlay.

Move to allay student fears over course cuts

2006-04-12T12:58:00.000+14:00

The financial difficulties facing Otago Polytechnic are scary, according to student copresident Richard Mitchell.

Low enrolments, on the back of several unfavourable Government funding changes, have left the polytechnic facing the possibility of a $1 million deficit unless it can get a cash injection from Wellington.

But whatever happened, students already enrolled would be looked after, Mr Mitchell said when contacted.

Chief executive Phil Ker has given an assurance that they are going to phase courses out, he said.

If students were in the first-year of a three-year degree course that the polytechnic judged to be not viable long-term, they would still get to finish.

The polytechnic would just stop taking new enrolments, Mr Mitchell said.

There aren’t any courses I have seen that in my opinion would need to be phased out, but I am not the one keeping the books and I see it from more of a community perspective, he said.

Mr Ker has launched an institution-wide review of the viability of courses, but it is not expected to identify many to be immediately phased out.

The polytechnic is down 230 students on last year, but much of the shortfall is spread thinly across a large number of courses.

Mr Ker said earlier this week the polytechnic was hopeful of Government funding help on the basis that its programmes were meeting the Government’s strategic objectives for the sector.

Mr Mitchell said it was not a case of the polytechnic running courses that were not relevant.

The country needed scientists, but the polytechnic had been forced to shut its science programme last year because people simply were not enrolling, he said.

While many of the factors that had contributed to the institution’s very serious financial situation were beyond its control, it was now clearly up to the polytechnic to plot a way forward.

Mr Mitchell said he had confidence in Mr Ker to lead that effort.

The polytechnic is to quicken the development of flexible delivery options for courses, to allow those in work or who can not otherwise attend full-time classroom-based courses to enrol.

It is a model Mr Ker has been advocating both at Otago and through the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand grouping of polytechnics.

Mr Mitchell said flexible delivery had a lot going for it but they would have to take care in its implementation.

Unless it was done correctly, with the right support from staff, course quality could suffer, he said.

In many situations there was no substitute for the classroom environment.

However, the polytechnic did have to act, as there was no reason to believe a cool-down in the job market, that had been a factor in low enrolments, would turn their fortunes around, he said.

This article was taken from the Saturday 8th April 2006 edition of the Otago Daily Times with the express permission of the writer, Tom McKinlay.

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-04-03T13:30:00.000+14:00

While the Labour Party MPs congratulate themselves for making the Student Loan Scheme fairer for students, I am still here. As you feel a little more free from your debt burden, I am still here. Sure this policy puts a clink in my armour but I am far from mortally wounded. In fact I am growing every day, getting larger with every course related cost, every fee increase and every living cost payment. I am still here.

This policy change does nothing to help you pay the power bill or put food on the table. This policy does not address the issues on unfairness that surrounds the means testing of parents of students under 25 years old. This does little to return the New Zealand education system to one that values learning and learners above all else. Yes it is a tiny little baby step in the right direction but that is all it is, because I am still here.

If you really want me gone you will have to fight long and hard for a policy change that ensures a return to a free education. The same system that provided a debt-free education to the MPs, CEOs, Institution managers and Council Chairs who are committed to further indebting you with additional fees rises and restricted access to allowances. So enjoy your interest-free loans but remember I am still here.

Love the Debt Monster.

2006 March Graduation Speech

2006-03-25T14:41:00.001+14:00

The decision to embark upon tertiary education can often be a very daunting experience. Having to decide what to study and also where to study. For some of you this has meant leaving home for the first time. Moving to an unknown city and having to meet new people. For others, you made the decision to return to tertiary education after being in the workforce for many years. Having to remember what it was like to study, how to study and also dealing with the stress that comes with it.

Whatever your reason to entering tertiary education you all deserve to be graduating today. Today is your opportunity to celebrate the journey you have been through.

A journey that has consisted of many hours spent huddled over books, essays, computers, projects and having to learn to deal with the stress that is placed upon students in today’s society. There has been the early morning rush to find a car park or the last minute rush to put the finishing touches on an essay. You have had to fit your studies around such things as looking after your children, running a household, and spending time with friends among a huge array of other things.

Graduation day is a day where we all come together to celebrate each and every graduands outstanding achievement. An achievement that for some has been a smooth road to victory. Everyone always told you that you would get a good qualification and go on to become something great. For others, the road to graduation was not so smooth. You may have had to battle through many obstacles such as family issues, financial discomfort, and personal fear. You should all feel a great deal of pride and satisfaction in yourselves for completing your journey. Today is your day.

As a student myself I understand that there is a certain amount of pressure that is put on today’s student to succeed not only in an education sense but also in a personal sense.

There are a number of defining moments when you are a student. That first assignment you had to do. The tension you felt before you got your marks back and the joy you felt when you passed. I can also almost guarantee that our graduands can remember the last assignment they completed. That feeling of relief as you handed it over and realised that you are coming to the end of an era. For some of you, today is the end of classroom education for you, however you will all continue learning from this day forth making yourself better at what you do for the benefit of yourself and for the benefit of society. For those that have made the decision to continue on your journey you will be gaining a further in-depth knowledge in your chosen area and this will benefit you in both educational growth and personal growth.

Our wonderful graduands here, with all their unique differences will be able to fix, teach, programme, organize, create, and generally sort out a wide variety of things. I am proud of our graduands unique differences that will make for an exciting future for our whanau, and generations to come.

Otago Polytechnic graduates will go on to inspire many people to achieve as you have done today. You have gained an education in the face of over inflated education costs, hideous student loans and inaccessible allowances and this is a wonderful accomplishment. Along with those who have assembled here to honour your unity in graduation today I pay tribute to your accomplishments and wish each exceptional one of you an exciting future- a future which celebrates and values your accomplishments today and into the future.

Along with our graduands there are a number of other people here today that deserve praise and thanks also. These people have been through the good and bad times of studying. They have seen the stress, the tears, the frustration and the happy times for our graduands. They are very rarely seen or heard during the course of study yet they have helped the graduates through their studies more than is recognised. The people I am talking about are the friends and family that have joined us here today to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduands. On behalf of those graduating today, thank you.

In closing, WAIHO RÂ KIA TÛ TAKITAHI ANA NGÂ WHETÛ O TE RANGI,
Let it be one alone that stands among the other stars in the sky.
In other words be your own leader and achieve.

Thank you.

2006 March Maori Pre-Grad Speech

2006-03-25T14:41:00.000+14:00

Pre-Graduation is an event of pride….honour…and above all personal recognition of the journey through tertiary education that you have completed.

To be a able to celebrate such an event in an atmosphere that you consider to be comfortable and for your friends, family and lecturers to be able to personally congratulate you for your successful completion along a journey that has consisted of hours spent huddled over books, essays, computers, projects and having to learn to deal with the stress that is placed upon students in today’s society. There has been the early morning rush to find a car park or the last minute rush to put the finishing touches on an essay. You have had to fit your studies around such things as looking after your children, running a household, and spending time with friends among a huge array of other things.

For those that have made the decision to end of their journey along the winding road that is tertiary education, as an Otago Polytechnic graduate you will go on to inspire many more Maori in today’s generation and in future generations to realize their full potential and allow them to succeed as our graduands have succeeded today.

Moving into the work force can be as daunting and sometimes even more daunting than the decision the undertake tertiary education, but as you join today’s fast pace workforce you will continue to learn skills that will enable you to better yourself not only educational but also in a personal and professional sense.

For those that have decided to continue on your journey, you will gaining further in-depth knowledge in your chosen area and will continue to improve yourself both educationally and personally.

Whatever decision you have made, from today you are a benefit to society both now and into the future. The skills you have gained whilst here at Otago Polytechnic be they from a lecturer or from your fellow students will be skills that you will always be able to depend on whether you encounter a personal issue or a work-related issue.

Always be proud of what you have accomplished and no matter what anyone else tells you, you have managed to complete a journey in the face of a fair amount of pressure.

In closing, let it be one alone that stands among the other stars in the sky.

Thank you.

The Nat and Dick Show

2006-03-08T17:30:00.000+14:00

Are some people being just a little too sensitive about their religion recently? So some T.V. show rips your sacred virgin mother of God and the head of your church…so what? Shouldn’t we all just get over ourselves?

All because the club you are involved with calls itself a religion does not assure it above critique. If religions truly have the god-given right to do as they pleased free from any comment from the wider community, then Destiny Church should not have copped any comment for their boot stomping, t-shirt wearing hate march on parliament. Surely I am not the only one to see that would be wrong!

Lets us not forget that the church in question here is the Roman Catholic Church. And Catholic church-goers believe they drink and eat the body and blood of Christ every Sunday. I think that is a-little screwy and very gross and definitely not good credentials for a group of people claiming the moral high ground. Why don’t these people follow my example and live and let? I mean I don’t protest against their weird cannibalistic tendencies, why can’t they let me kick back and have a good chuckle at a T.V. show?

Having said all this, the Catholic Church is not all bad.
Good-sorts like St Patrick were Catholic’s and his feast day is coming up on the 17th of March. At OPSA (in an effort to smooth things over with the church) we are holding a St Paddy’s Day Breakfast BBQ on Friday the 17th of March starting @ 8:30am.

The Nat & Dick Show

2006-02-12T18:50:00.000+14:00

Education is a right. Your right and you have the right to expect and get quality education. No-one has the right to prevent you getting the quality education you deserve. So how do you recognise if you are getting the quality that is owed to you?

Easy, we at OPSA- your students' association have put together a quick check list so you can know when you are getting quality. When receiving quality education you will be provided:
# Access to up to date relevant information
# Teaching staff that are appropriately trained and qualified
# an area provided for you to conduct your studies in as near to ideal as possible
# Support for you progressing through your study pathway that is always available, clear and accurate.

Furthermore, when you are receiving quality education no-one has the right to:
# make you feel bad about yourself
# make you feel foolish
# criticise you personally and any critique of your work must be done sensitively
# make you feel as if you are luck to be here.

At OPSA we are committed to ensuring that your rights are met. If there are any issues with the delivery quality or support of your education, we are the people to call. We are pretty good at getting things fixed and often just sitting down for a chat will help.

We have fab office staff: Lesley, Mark (Baxter) and Christian. As well as 3 elected staff: Richard, Natalie (the co-presidents) and Terry (the vice-president) we still need more people to continue our good work. We have our AGM on the 22nd of March where we would be looking to form our students’ association executive. We need students from all courses at all level, in short we need you.

Media Release- Bailing Polytechnics won’t stop the sector sinking

2006-02-10T16:04:00.000+14:00

National's Education spokesman Bill English, yesterday criticised Labour's $3 million suspensory loan deal to bail out Whanganui UCOL. Bill English claims that these types of rescue packages will do nothing to solve the financial problems that are becoming increasingly endemic in the polytechnic sector.

Such bail-outs are a consequence of tertiary sector under-funding. Otago Polytechnic student leaders condemned the last twenty years of sustained under-funding of the tertiary sector, at the hands of both Labour and National.

“Continued under-funding is the cause of the financial difficulties faced by many of the countries polytechnics and not bad management as Mr English suggests” says Natalie Absalom, Co-President of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association.

“The ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach to the funding of our polytechnics is a poorly thought out policy, surely funding a fence at the top of the cliff would be far more cost effective and would go someway in ensuring quality education is delivered” Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association Co-President, Richard Mitchell states.

"The polytechnic sector is sick, perhaps the medicine Dr Cullen should be prescribing is an ounce of prevention rather a pound of cure" says Ms Absalom.

Comment raises doubt over polytech degrees

2006-02-07T10:02:00.000+14:00

Polytechnics' degree programmes could yet come under threat from new
Tertiary Education Minister Dr Michael Cullen, Otago Polytechnic student
co-president Richard Mitchell said yesterday.
At a recent student conference in Wellington, Dr Cullen said, in an
unscripted moment, he wanted to see polytechnics stick to their core role
within the tertiary education sector, Mr Mitchell told yesterday's meeting
of the Otago Polytechnic council.
Polytechnics' traditional business was sub-degree and trade courses, not
degrees, Mr Mitchell said.
That was previously the preserve of universities but polytechnics had
moved into the area.
Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said he had explicitly quizzed
high-ranking education bureaucrats at a meeting last month on that issue and
was told categorically there was no agenda to remove degrees from
polytechnics.
That left open the possibility in the future of looking at the delivery
of post-graduate courses at polytechnics, Mr Ker said.
Otago Polytechnic offers one of the largest range of degree courses in
the sector and is about to add a further course, a bachelor of environmental
studies.
Members of the council want to see results from the $770,000 their sector
association, the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand
(ITPNZ), receives from the country's polytechnics.
A new funding model for the sector body went before councillors at their
meeting yesterday, and several said they would be calling for Otago
Polytechnic to pull out if the ITPNZ did not become more productive in the
coming year.
The new funding model is a result of a threat from the Manukau Institute
of Technology to pull its contribution.
Long-time ITPNZ chief executive Jim Doyle announced his resignation
earlier this week.
The polytechnic council's chairman Graham Crombie and deputy chairman
Mike Ferrari were re-elected unopposed for another year.

This article was taken from the Friday 3rd edition of the Otago Daily Times with the express permission of the writer, Tom McKinlay.

Dr. Michael Cullen Speech to NZUSA Conference

2006-02-01T17:48:00.000+14:00

It is a pleasure for me to be here today to address your conference at the
start of what will be an important year for tertiary education in New
Zealand.

When I became Minister for Tertiary Education late last year there was an
immediate burst of enthusiasm in some parts of the sector. The perception
was that having a minister who is also the Finance Minister would surely
provide the tertiary education sector with inside running on any matters to
do with the Budget and additional funding. If there was any largess to be
spread around, it was suggested, I would quietly ensure it would go first to
tertiary education.

It is important that I burst this bubble of expectations fairly early. One
might in fact argue that having the Finance Minister as your minister is
something of a poisoned chalice. Like the local constable who cannot afford
to be seen as lenient with his own family members, Finance Ministers feel
the need to apply additional scrutiny to any new budget bids in their own
portfolios.

In my role as Finance Minister I need to ensure that the taxpaying public
get good value for their money, and that all new expenditure passes rigorous
tests in terms of delivering social and economic outcomes that benefit the
whole community.

Having said that, I am very confident that 2006 will be a good year for
tertiary students and tertiary providers. The Labour led government has
shown in the last six years that when additional resources are available we
are prepared to make major investments in tertiary education in terms of
quality and access.

Equally important, we have begun to turn the tertiary sector away from the
rather simplistic market-based model of the 1990s, which, while it resulted
in burgeoning numbers of people engaged in tertiary study, led to a loss of
focus in parts of the sector. As I will argue later on, governments in the
1990s achieved increased quantity and greater responsiveness to short term
opportunities, but at the expense of quality and relevance to the long term
needs of the community and the economy.

There is still work to be done. We are committed to objectives such as
reducing student debt, maintaining and building on our generally high
quality standards, ensuring that institutions are well managed, and
developing a funding system that supports quality and relevance.

So far this year a number of new initiatives have already come into force:

„h From 1 January 2006 the amount of money students can earn before their
allowance is affected has been significantly increased. The personal income
threshold for students has increased from $135.13 before tax per week to
$180 before tax per week. And the combined income thresholds for couples has
also been increased. Whereas before, if a couple's before tax combined
income was over $270.26 before tax per week, they were eligible for the
earning spouse rate of Student Allowance, now this threshold has been
increased to $360 before tax per week.

„h In addition, students will no longer automatically lose their allowance
as soon as any other income they have is above the personal income limit.
Instead, any other income a student receives above the threshold of $180
before tax per week will reduce their before tax weekly Student Allowance
dollar for dollar. This means, for example, that a single student can now
earn $180 per week before tax and couples can now earn between them $750 per
week before tax before their entitlement to an allowance is abated.

„h Additional support has also been provided to students from families with
more than one child in tertiary education and to students with separated
parents. Previously, $2,200 of parents' annual taxable income was
disregarded for Student Allowance eligibility purposes for each additional
dependent 16 to 24 year old student in full-time study (additional to the
student whose allowance eligibility is being calculated). This disregard has
now been increased to $7,000.

„h An additional disregard of $3,400 per year will be introduced for
students whose parents are living separately, to recognise the additional
costs of running two households.

The next important date will be 1 April this year, when important changes to
the Student Loan Scheme come into effect. These will mean that no borrower
living in New Zealand will pay interest on their loan. In addition there
will be an amnesty period on penalties for borrowers living overseas who are
in arrears with their payments.

I imagine that the details of this new policy are well known to you.
Certainly this is an area in which the NZUSA has been energetic in
presenting a student¡|s perspective. You deserve credit for not only keeping
the issue in the public eye, but also arguing on the basis of the broader
public good, both social and economic.

This is not a matter of providing anyone with a free lunch, let alone
providing young National and Act supporters with subsidised capital for
investment in the financial markets. It is a policy aimed at improving the
skills base of New Zealand through improving access to tertiary education
that is high quality and relevant. It has been designed both to cut the cost
to students of tertiary study and to encourage skilled New Zealanders to
invest their skills in the New Zealand economy.

So, from 1 April this year, all borrowers who are studying part-time or
full-time will continue to have the interest on their student loans written
off; and all borrowers who are not studying, irrespective of whether they
have graduated with a qualification, will pay no interest on their student
loan. The only proviso on that will be that they are living in New Zealand.

Interest will be charged on student loans when borrowers are away from New
Zealand for more than 183 consecutive days. If the borrower has returned to
New Zealand for a short visit of less than 31 days the time in New Zealand
will be counted as if the borrower had remained overseas.

When a borrower has been overseas for more than 183 consecutive days,
interest charges will be backdated to the day after the borrower left New
Zealand. Interest will cease to be charged once the borrower has been in New
Zealand for more than 183 consecutive days. If the borrower goes overseas
for 31 days or less during a period of 183 consecutive days, the time
overseas will be counted as if the borrower had remained in New Zealand.

Inland Revenue will also have discretion to grant an exemption to the rules
covering time spent overseas under a variety of circumstances. These include
where borrowers are studying full-time at postgraduate level overseas; where
they are employees on oversees posting; or where they are in employment that
requires a significant amount of travel. The rules have also been designed
to accommodate circumstances such as an unplanned period of absence - for
example, visiting a sick parent ¡V or an unavoidable delay in returning to
New Zealand due to unexpected circumstances such as illness.

The interest free student loan policy will apply to both existing and new
loans.

As a further inducement to encourage skilled graduates back to New Zealand,
non-resident borrowers who are in default for non-repayment of their loans
will have their penalties cancelled under a special amnesty if between 1
April this year and 31 March 2007 they agree to keep their current liability
up to date for two years.

These new policies come with a hefty price-tag. The operational cost is
estimated to be $218 million in the first full year of operation, rising to
$269 million by the end of the decade. It is also estimated that the
interest free regime will cause a one-off reduction in the value of the
student loans portfolio held by the Crown of around $1.5 billion. There will
be a further impact of around $500 million due to a shift in accounting
treatment from book to fair value.

Alongside changes to the loan regime itself, we are also pursuing the goal
of reducing student debt by improving and enhancing StudyLink's financial
information service. Tertiary study is a major commitment of time and
resources, and it requires grappling with uncertainties about future earning
streams and trends in the labour market.

Ideally what we want to achieve is a situation where graduates are
comfortable with their level of debt given the value of the qualification
they wish to attain and their future career prospects. What we want to avoid
is graduates whose debt is entirely out of proportion with the benefits they
receive from their tertiary study.

Achieving that is a matter both of directly reducing the burden of debt
through measures such as the no interest policy, and also helping students
assess the options in advance (and to reassess them midstream, if necessary)
and make the best decisions about their student finances. The enhancements
to StudyLink should see this service provided to around 20,000 students in
2006/2007, which is a 25 percent increase over the previous year.

There are of course other issues still on the agenda with respect to student
finances.

The fee maximization regime was brought in to protect students from the
imposition of sudden large increases in fees. It was prompted by a number of
instances where, part way through a course of study, students faced
significant fee hikes without adequate explanation.

By and large it has been successful in that objective. As with any attempt
to impose a lid on price increases there have been issues around what
constitutes a price increase and which costs are covered by the regime. Some
students have complained of additional costs being imposed by way of non-fee
expenses. And some institutions have felt aggrieved that their attempts to
hold down fees in the past have not been adequately recognised, in essence
that they are being punished for their past restraint.

I think these are teething problems rather than indicators of a flaw in the
policy or its implementation. However, it is something I am keen to keep
under review.

So far I have focused on the issues that relate to how the total cost of
tertiary study is shared. I think it is important to broaden the context,
and to keep in mind the outcomes that individual students and the community
as a whole are seeking out of the tertiary education system.

Tertiary education is not simply a consumer good, although some people
undoubtedly treat it as such, and some institutions have come dangerously
close to marketing their product as a lifestyle choice. Education is an
investment; an investment of time and financial resources and foregone
earnings on the part of students and their families; and a major investment
of public funds by government.

This is a crucial expenditure in terms of our goals of building a highly
skilled workforce, fostering innovation and transforming our economy to one
based more firmly on knowledge industries and high-value niche products.

This is where quality and relevance become pivotal concepts. Indeed I would
argue that these are key issues from the perspective of students. While
questions of financing inevitably loom large in student politics, I would
suggest that they pale into insignificance in comparison with issues such
as:

„h The standard of pedagogy;

„h International benchmarking of courses and qualifications to ensure their
ongoing value in the global marketplace;

„h The capacity of the tertiary system to attract and retain staff of
international calibre;

„h How well graduates are equipped to address the key social challenges New
Zealand is facing, to provide the skilled professional workforce that
employers need, to undertake ground-breaking research, and to create the new
businesses that New Zealand is well-suited to foster.

My government has taken some actions already around quality and relevance.
We have placed limitations on certificate and diploma courses to avoid them
being used as low-cost cash-cows. And we have reviewed the funding of
courses with a high recreational element to ensure that enrolments bear a
close relationship to the actual demand for these skills.

Later this year we will be issuing a new Tertiary Education Strategy. The
first TES covered the period from 2002 to 2007, and inevitably focused to a
large degree upon bedding in the 2002 reforms to the sector. That work has
been done, and the next TES is, as it were, the first opportunity to plan
with a clear road ahead.

A key objective of that new strategy will be to shift from a focus on
enrolment to a greater emphasis on teaching quality and on managing learning
programmes toward better outcomes. We need to examine course completion
rates, and to minimise the number of students who embark upon programmes of
study but get lost in the system through insufficient foresight and
planning, or through inflexible bureaucratic process which do not allow them
to customise their study according to their needs and their family
situations.

The major outstanding issue is the funding system, and you can expect
further action this year alongside of the development of the new TES. The
current EFTS system is too much based on funding quantity (¡¥bums on
seats¡|, to use the familiar phrase) and it provides no particular
incentives to pursue relevance and to enhance quality.

It is based on the rather simplistic market model that captivated
governments during the early 1990s. Some proponents still regard it is
elegant in terms of economic theory. The fact is that it gives very blunt
signals about quality and relevance. Instead, it encourages increasing
quantity (and a concentration on high margin course offerings) and instead
of relevance and mixture of course offerings with are safe bets and some
which border on being faddish.

I am not suggesting that institutions are like rather complicated laboratory
rats who need financial stimuli in order to prompt them towards relevance
and quality. Academic staff are, with very few exceptions, passionate about
doing a good job of teaching and research, and eager to explore the links
between their subject and the modern world in which they and their students
live.

The problem arises when a poorly designed funding system starts to undermine
these intentions. We cannot ask TEIs to simply ignore the realities of the
funding system; and yet there are no winners when the pursuit of student
volumes puts the standard of teaching in jeopardy and hampers the ability of
staff to remain current with the latest research in their subject areas.

My officials are currently identifying alternative options, and so I am not
yet in a position to indicate what specific changes may occur. However, the
objective is clear. It is a funding system that reflects what the community
values in terms of the broad set of skills that are needed for transforming
our economy, strengthening our society and celebrating our unique culture.

Our conviction as a government is that we can and must create a tertiary
sector that, without exception, provides education that is high quality in
terms of international benchmarks and the expectations of learners and
employers, and highly relevant to the skills needed to face the economic and
social challenges that New Zealand faces.

It will be a system that offers students a sensible regime for financing
their study and living expenses, one that recognises that education is a
public good as well as a private one and that facilitates rather than
constrains the ability of students to make good choices and follow their
aspirations to the extent of their abilities.

I believe that in the next five years this goal is well within our grasp.

Thank you.

2006 Co-Presidents Welcome

2006-01-31T22:54:00.000+14:00

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 Co-Presidents we are elected to represent students. On a local level the Co-Presidents is a member of the Otago Polytechnic Council and sits on various other boards and PEACs (Permanent External Advisory Committees). The Co-Presidents are 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 Co-Presidents.

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.

OPSA Media Release

2005-09-15T12:58:00.001+14:00

No Interest - or No Builders

Treasury papers released by Michael Cullen yesterday emphasises that no interest on student loans is vital. With student and graduate debt reaching $8 billion dollars yesterday the proposed interest wipe off will have positive outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Labour has been criticised for ignoring Treasury’s costing of this policy and creating their own. However, Treasury’s costing is based on a demonstrably flawed model:

Since 2000 students have paid no interest while studying. The huge increase in student loans Treasury predicted simply has not happen. Treasury have used similar flawed projections of increases for the costing of Labour’s latest interest free policy.

“While Treasury’s projections are completely over the top, the reality is that the country desperately needs more skilled workers.” said OPSA President, Rachel Dibble.

“Certainly if Labour’s interest free policy is implemented there will probably be small increases in student numbers. Even if these were in the absurd magnitude Treasury projects, this can only be a good thing since New Zealand suffers a skill shortage that can only be solved by improving access to courses.” said Ms Dibble.

“Has anyone tried to get a builder or plumber lately? Trades people are desperately sought after but face a huge student debt if they consider studying. If we don’t stem this debt, the brain drain will mean NZ will soon be short of many other graduates like nurses, lab technicians, and quality IT professionals” said Ms Dibble.

OPSA Media Release

2005-09-14T12:42:00.000+14:00

Thank you very much for your high student debt…

Student Debt hits $8 Billion

Student debt today hit $8 billion dollars. OPSA will be issuing its own ‘money’ tomorrow – “redeemable Sept 17” to observe the occasion.

“This debt will have an outrageous effect on the country. There will be a flow on cost to services supplied by graduates, and drive the cost of living higher. The current brain drain overseas will worsen” said OPSA President, Rachel Dibble.

The $8 billion debt milestone comes just one week after a Colmar Brunton poll was released showing that 74% of New Zealanders believe more students should receive a student allowance; Three weeks previously, a similar Colmar Brunton poll found that 76% of New Zealanders think the student loan interest rate is too high.

There are 3 key drivers of debt:- Fees, Allowances (or rather lack of), and Interest. None of the major parties have policy that will decrease this debt.

“Indeed fees are still rising as we go to the polls - Under National fees increased 12% per annum; under Labour this has slowed dramatically – but they are still increasing. – we need fees to be decreasing…” said Rachel Dibble.

The best offer from the two main parties is the welcome wiping of interest:

The interest component of loans means a lower income worker (eg a nurse) can end up paying more for their education than a high income worker who can pay off their debt more quickly (eg a doctor). In reality, many current graduates will die before they have paid their debt off.

“OPSA welcomes the proposed dropping of interest, and encourages voters to elect a government who will meet the country’s education needs…” said Rachel Dibble.

2005-08-27T12:29:00.000+14:00

The Rachel Report

Prime-Ministers & Prime Cuts

The steak knives are out and the menu being consulted. What will be gone by lunch-time? Is that sugar-free – or will an artificial sweetener keep you interested?

Let’s keep in mind here that whichever promise/bribe/cut/shuffle is offered by any political party it is merely a side-salad to the rotting meat and potatoes that is increasing $7 billion student debt crisis.

Up until casting your vote on September 17th all the parties will be talking up their policies (see OPSA’s election guide at www.tekotago.ac.nz/opsa) .

The major parties will be hoping we either remember the good things they have done… Labour for example – while not coming to the party with a living allowance for all students, or LOWERING fees, they have: no interest while studying, 50% of loan repayments on the principle, fee freeze then limited fee rises and increased eligibility to allowances.

And they will definitely be hoping we forget the bad things - National… hmmm… when they were in power in the 90’s … Fees rose on average 12%, they abolished the universal allowance that every full time student was entitled to, and hey… they introduced the student debt loan scheme. The proposed tax cuts are very interesting… isn’t it funny how those with a Brash-like income stand to gain the most?

As gYRo goes to print Otago Polytechnic will be preparing to set the fees for 2006. I have put forward a paper asking for cost analysis of fees including a zero fee rise, and fee grandparenting options for degree courses. Of course, this would all be totally redundant if one of those major parties took on the policies of the minor parties (Alliance, Greens, Maori Party, and the Progressives) who are proposing a return to free education!!!

The Rachel Report - July

2005-07-25T13:54:00.000+14:00

When oh when?

It’s been another long month of no election date. At the time of writing neither Labour or National have released their tertiary education policy. Why is that? The cynic in me reasons’ it is because there is little worth mentioning to be released. The glittery optimist wonders if they are working on the details of a policy giving a living allowance for all and a move to zero fees within 5 years - type of release to stun the voters with. My fingers and toes are crossed.

At a recent political panel National’s candidate acquiesced by commenting that they were pretty much in line with Labour. That other voice in my head (a result of three years in student politics) questioned this. Labour has made incremental changes, however, ripping the away the Under 25 Married & Independent Circumstances Allowances from 6000 students was not a stunning move. With massive fee increases and a solidifying of the student debt/loan scheme while in Govt. National’s history does little to endear them. Education debt – quick or slow?

Doing it for the children…

I have heard the rhetoric from both parties. “We have to consider the young kids who can’t read or write” – so increase funding, halve class sizes. “We need to consider the Health sector spend”. Damn right. With a Med grad. owing $68k, a Nursing grad. owing $20k how is the public going to afford health care in 3,5, or 10 years time. That’s if they are in the country to do so!

So lets make a List…

MMP gives us two voting options – Party and List vote. Both are powerful. To demonstrate:- say Alliance won only five electoral seats but got 50% of the 'list' vote - then they'd get 50% of the seats in the house (despite only having five electoral seats). Where do the extra 45 MPs come from - the party's list

and have a Party…

Which of the minor parties would you like to see as a potential Government partner? A vote for a minor party doesn't even mean you fully support their agenda - it simply means you think the main party should tend more towards the minor party’s view; i.e. You might not believe in the environment as much as the Greens do, but you might think that Labour needs to be more like the Greens. Since Labour are the major party their policy will always be dominate, but if they want the Greens to support them in government they're going to have to make their policies a little more green friendly.

with Quality lollies…

So the Education Minister put on gloves and had a big old clean-up of the Polytechnic Sector. Without a doubt there should be quality courses and funding where it’s needed. There needs to be caution exercised about what is needed, and who makes those decisions. It is very easy to diss a course because it does not seem relevant to YOU. It may be very relevant to someone. Every local community is diverse and has different needs. This needs to be considered carefully otherwise we will have too many (to use an abstract idea) green jellybeans and not enough black ones.

PBRF…see you real soon…

You might recognise PBRF from such shows as “University Funding system” and “Performance Based Research Fund”… now it’s coming to a Polytechnic near you… It’s the ‘newest, sexiest’ way Education institutions will be funded. Currently the EFTs system we have means 69% of your fees are govt. funded. Your user-pays fee top up makes up over ¼ of the rest. PBRF is basically a graded system based on how much research capability (people who are doing post grad. study or have PhD’s) an institution has, or is doing. The more flash people doing research the more money an institution gets. It’s not just a university thing anymore. While there are some positive aspects to PBRF it is vital to consider the implications. How will teaching/research time be allocated? Who determines what is valuable research? Will lecturers be ‘headhunted’ because of their rating? Some disturbing gender results came out of a recent AUS (Association of University Staff) survey showing that women are under-represented in many areas of this. Negotiations are underway for the round that OP will be involved in, so let’s hope it is all about quality!

Remember – OPSA is here to advocate, negotiate, agitate on your behalf. If you want to get involved in YOUR students’ association come on up to Level 1 of the Student Centre, Harbour Tce and have a chat.

Go well in your studies,
Rachel
www.tekotago.ac.nz/opsa

OPSA Media Release

2005-07-21T14:27:00.000+14:00

National does little to fix student/graduate debt disaster

There is very little heart-warming news for students or graduates in National’s Student Loan rebate announcement today.

“Any changes to student loans would be made much easier by addressing the actual interest rate. All students and graduates would clearly benefit equally from interest free loans, or at least lowering the rate would be a good start” said Rachel Dibble, President of OPSA.

In policy announced today, Don Brash's objective was to keep young people in New Zealand and reduce the barrier the student debt loan scheme has created.

“These minor changes do not take into account time taken off work by parents to raise children or address the huge inequality of repayment times between women, Maori and Pasifika students and graduates” said Ms Dibble. “Government policy needs to address the key drivers of debt namely rising fees and reduced access to a living allowance.”

From 1990-1999 the last National -led Government, fees rose by 16% and access to allowances dropped from 85.4% eligibility in 1990 to 36% in 1999.

“National is muddying its own history in ridiculous attempts to convince voters there is concern for the education of the future youth it is so clearly not in touch with” Ms Dibble said.

The Rachel Report - June

2005-06-19T14:05:00.000+14:00

As we head into June the subliminal messages are creeping in everywhere…the burning question is when is the election? I hear many people asking though… why should we vote?

Why should we vote when we are struggling with our exams and essays? Why should we vote when the IRD just sent a letter telling us the total of our student debt is now $34k, & there is another year to study? Why should we vote when education ministers had a free education? Why should we vote when we know that under funding means Otago Polytechnic will have to drastically scale back or stop the free computing course, so popular in Dunedin? Why vote in an election when we have to fight fee rises? Why vote? Because you’re worth it!

Reasons to vote according to Rachel…

#1. You get to have pure unadulterated power while your pen is poised over ANY unticked box
#2. You look younger – less worry (student ID is so handy if you are only 18…)
#3. You get to choose a party that supports free education
#4. It’s cheaper than buying shoes
#5. It’s more instantly gratifying than buying Lotto.
#6. it gives the coffee farmer twice the income…no wait… that’s when you
buy FAIR TRADE coffee)…

Meanwhile… OPSA has worked with OP to have 3 water coolers installed on campus. Students came out and supported the ‘I see debt people’ - Student Debt is bigger than King Kong campaign action on May Friday 13th. The debt monster bet King Kong, the debt zombie and, unfortunately, with the “interest chainsaw” also beat the student (at least he won a team-OPSA t-shirt!)

The Minister of (he got it for FREE) Education Trevor Mallard reflected that kindergarten kids were more reasonable than 1000 pissed-off students and graduates when they marched on Parliament on May 17 demanding a living allowance for all. He said no, because the budget has already gone to the printers… (so nyah nyah nyah…) Can we just vote him off the island… please??

devotedly fighting for a free education…

Rachel
opsaprez@tekotago.ac.nz

2005-05-13T09:31:00.000+14:00

Friday 13th Nightmare on Debt Street!

Students at Otago Polytechnic are today going to fight the worst horror
fiend of all the Student Debt Monster in the Otago Polytechnic Quad at
12p.m. Friday the 13th of May.

The latest Studylink figures show the number of students receiving allowances have fallen by over 20 percent since 2001. This is despite Governmental claims that it has increased access to student allowances.

"This year's changes to student allowance eligibility have seen more students forced into debt rather than fewer. This makes a mockery of Labour's promise to make education more affordable, they should be ashamed" said Rachel Dibble, President of the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association.

Student fees now make up approximately 60 percent of student and graduate debt, a situation unchanged under a Labour government.

"Neither Labour nor National have tackled or slowed down the Debt Monster both have increased fees, and indeed fees have doubled under Labour led governments since 1999" said Dibble.

Tomorrow being Friday 13th the finest horror villains will take on the Debt Monster in the Polytechnic Quad. OPSA wishes these villains success against Helen's pet Monster.

Filming starts on location at the Otago Polytechnic Quad at 12 noon.

Ends.
For more information contact:
Rachel Dibble
OPSA President
Phone 021 1294 203

The Rachel Report - May

2005-05-06T17:41:00.000+14:00

Okay okay okay, S.T.E.P right up to the newest side show attraction, less compelling than the hairy woman, more disturbing than the flexible tattooed man… yes, it’s the Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities – or S.T.E.P as it is ‘affectionately’ known. What is it you ask? Well just hand over your increasing education fees and we can have a chat. This is Minister of Educations’ new baby. It outlines where he wants to take Education in the future and includes some pretty good jargon, but it is really interesting is to note one bullet point

· “students and learners now have more choices, information and advice and a smaller financial burden due to the holding of fees and changes to student loans and allowances” (Mallard S.T.E.P 2005-2007)

I think this is more a case of ‘hazardous STEP ahead!’ because the 2005 NZUSA Income and Expenditure survey - bona fide research - shows that students do ‘owe more than they own’ – it’s not just a cool OPSA t-shirt! Graduate debt has increased and Otago students have among the highest rents in the country. I just have to question what kinds of choices are available when so clearly choice is “in the eye of the (wallet??) beholder”.

Interesting also to note at a recent TAMU (Governmental) training I attended as a council Rep we had miss the Student Debt slide because we ran out of time… be assured that with 5 student presidents attending we did go back to that later!!

Student Debt IS bigger than King Kong! Watch out for student action and a nifty little poster and postcard. Send off the postcard and put up the poster… it’s all action here!!

As they say, it’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings… and well… I’m only humming at the moment!!

The word on the street is that OPSA have new hoodies and t-shirts with go faster stripes AND in go-faster red! Check them out – wear them out! Who’s singing now??…

President's Graduation Reply (speech)

2005-03-21T19:26:00.000+14:00

It is brilliant to be here today. To march through Dunedin City and to enjoy such a dazzling day is fantastic. There is so much energy and zing in this hall, it’s that feeling of excitement that only a graduation has.

Today is surely the best time to reflect upon the amazing accomplishment today’s graduates have achieved. They have had the thrill of facing a challenge, of looking tertiary education straight on and deciding “Yes – education will make a difference; I will take up this challenge!”

It is appropriate, therefore, that we celebrate our graduate’s spectacular achievements, and remember the multifaceted aspect of the challenge, which, for each and every graduate is on one level, very personal.

The act of signing on the dotted line at the beginning of a course may have meant spending time with computers… a challenge if the on button is something you haven’t been “formally introduced to”… it may have included knowing intimately the muscle structures of humans, skeletal structures of cats, or the building structures that shelter us from the elements. It may have meant ceasing full time work to enter full time study – a huge commitment on many levels – or confronting the challenge of dyslexia and having essay successes and let’s not forget the deeply personal challenge of two minute noodles for dinner, again…

The multifaceted challenges begin to sparkle here – where personal challenge crosses over into our whanau, our hapu – our family and our community.

Many of our wonderful graduates will have faced the early morning challenge of “out of bed, weetbix, shoes and the …”Is there time for socks” thought before racing out the door to be on time – and that’s just for your kids – let alone getting to polytech on time with the ever-present car park challenge! It may be the multitasking challenge of juggling the cost of a text book, the weekend rugby subs or the winter power bill.

Whatever the challenge, the path of study is rewarding. Along the journey you learn many things about yourself, made new friends and gain new skills… however, as is often the case with challenges there is a less than wonderful aspect.

The fact that many of today’s’ graduates - who make up our family and community - have had to take on a student loan for fees and/or borrow money to pay for rent and food is especially concerning. I have to ask if there is something in our society that needs challenging when nudity and broken bottles generate more discussion than the reality of our youth and struggling families being burdened for life with student debt.

The present cost of education and the burden it places on our graduates is an obvious and unavoidable reality and we must continue to challenge future governments so there will be no student debt to affect birth rates, send our cousins and brothers overseas, or stop people from entering higher education. This year especially, challenging the fact that student debt is society’s cost is very relevant.

Today’s remarkable graduates know the challenge of education intimately and the challenge now will be to go out and use your education to make our local and national community fantastic. I am confident the future will be amazing because of the dedication and perseverance that has brought you here today. That you have challenged yourself to be here today will touch individual people and our community in ways you will never know. Graduates, you deserve this day of appreciation. I genuinely thank you and offer you glittering warm wishes for future successful challenges.

Media Release - Dunedin - it's all debt here

2005-03-18T12:28:00.000+14:00

Dunedin – it’s all debt here!

The latest research commission by the New Zealand University Students’ Association (NZUSA) shows that students studying in Dunedin are the most indebted in the country (Income and Expenditure Survey, 2005). Average student debt amongst Dunedin College of Education, Otago Polytechnic and University of Otago students is $18,949. The single most indebted students in New Zealand are at the University of Otago who, on average owe $23,432.

“What we see here are the combined and outrageous effects of excessively high tuition fees and living costs borrowed from the student loan scheme” said Steven Sutton, president of the Otago University Students’ Association. “A majority of Otago students live away from home and are forced to borrow money for necessities like food and rent.”

The research shows that the single largest weekly expense for Dunedin students is accommodation with a staggering $99 on average being spent on accommodation per week. “This makes a mockery of the idea that Dunedin is a markedly cheaper place to live and study than elsewhere around the country” said Rachel Dibble, president of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association. “Students’ cannot “get over it” and it is not a “smart move” when debt is increasing and student poverty is a reality” said Ms Dibble.

Ends.

For more information contact:

Rachel Dibble Steven Sutton
OPSA President OUSA President
Phone 021 1294 203 Phone 021 274 0217

the Rachel Report...March

2005-03-16T10:41:00.000+14:00

And the Oscar goes to…

Students in all variations of stress and dress are getting a bit of public hammering about rubbishy surrounds and glass on the ground. Councillors are talking big but thinking small. There is varying support from the public, and interestingly; the tertiary institutions themselves are keen to make a good go of organising things to encourage a cleaner North Dunedin.

The term “student” is usually associated to the 18-25 male cohort, however, I have been emphasising the diversity of age and places of residence of Polytechnic students. This does not make the trashy issue go away. And how can we achieve harmony? An ‘interesting’ response was in the ODT on March 7 – the DCC cleans up and bills the students’ associations respectively. The theory was that ‘when OPSA gets the bill the OPSA will tell you off’. Why do I get a feeling that this would be as tasteful as sardine & pickle ice-cream?

So what can we do to clear the pong of this issue? OPSA already has $1 rubbish bags (10 @ $9); we could stock blue bins and string for cardboard. We could investigate huge rubbish levies (or just throw that idea straight in the bin with Oscar) or we could use advice from you, the student. For example which days are best for rubbish collection? Let me know…

As I write I find it extremely disturbing that there is such a huge emphasis on zero rubbish tolerance when we still live in a world/city where there is no zero tolerance for rape, violence and discrimination. Will we ever see a DCC working party addressing NO Drink Spiking, NO Date Rape or NO Sexual Discrimination in Dunedin?

…team OPSA needs drivers…

Remember, the OPSA A.G.M is in the Bayrooms on the 23rd March. There is a free finger food lunch. OPSA needs students to run the student executive. WE NEED YOU!! Come along and hear what OPSA was doing in 2004 and tell us how to make this year successful for you. What kind of election campaigns do you want to be involved in? Join the Graduation Ball committee, organise ‘mature’ students meetings (you can define mature…) hey, whatever, whoever – come along and be part of team OPSA.

So if you want to yell… come yell at me first!!

Rachel

The Rachel Report

2005-03-02T17:01:00.000+14:00

Tēnā Koutou Katoa – ngā mihi mahana ki o koutou.
Warm greetings to you all – welcome to Polytech for 2005. It is a big change to spend time studying at a tertiary institution these days – so whether you are continuing studies or here for the first time I wish you the best of success – both academically and personally.
All about OPSA

Team OPSA is here working for you in many ways. If you need advocacy or advice, an emergency loan/grant or just a coffee and a chat, then come up and see us. It is vital that you are well supported while you study – the last thing you need is study stress!

OPSA is student run – if you are interested in being part of the OPSA executive, or want to be a class representative then check out your free (just like your education should be) issue of gYRo. There are many things offered to you beyond study – UniPol gym, Clubs and Societies and the great coffee at the café to help through the day! Remember to collect your free diary, pen and wall planner when you get your student ID up here in the OPSA office.

HOT DEAL!! $7 Billion Student DEBT*

The Labour government has failed to deliver for students over the last two terms, with pathetic attempts at changes to the spectacular failure that is the Student Loan Scheme. Students and Graduates owe well over $7 Billion and is clearly a burden on society as our graduates are leaving Aotearoa, choosing not to have children, or are unable to buy a house.

*incl. bonus compounding interest!

Helen got it for free… why not me?

Maybe it is early senility but scores of Baby-boomers are conveniently forgetting they had a free education! With this shedding of responsibility it looks like they are feathering their financial nests with little regard for the younger generations. Adding to this, Helen Clarks’ most recent farce is to urge parents to save for their kid’s tertiary education. So, you can’t afford a house, or save for superannuation and you owe $37k…but please…save $30K for your kids’ education…

To be involved in a CAMPAIGN GROUP come up to the OPSA office on Level 1 of the Student Centre or email opsa@tekotago.ac.nz.

This year Orientation is rocking with the Gladeyes, Concord Dawn, Dei Hamo and the legendary Violent Femmes playing on 2 March to name a few. Absolutely Femme-tastic!

Indebtly, as always,

Rachel
OPSA President