New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA) is a representative body that advocates for the interests of tertiary students in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. It has 14 member students' associations, with a combined membership of over 180,000 students. Between 1935 and 2006, it was known as the New Zealand University Students' Association.

History

The organisation was founded in 1929 as the New Zealand National Union of Students, and initially focussed its activities on sporting and social concerns. It changed its name to the New Zealand University Students' Association in 1935, and over time gave greater focus to issues concerning student welfare, such as student access to healthcare. It developed a strong involvement in social issues during the 1960s and 1970s, opposing the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

, Apartheid, and racial immigration policies, as well as supporting homosexual law reform.

The association has a long history of advocating for its members by opposing NZ Government policies it viewed as not in the interests of students. During the 1990s and 2000s the New Zealand government and New Zealand universities made large increases in fees for students, and limited access to allowances for study. These changes attracted much criticism from the NZUSA.

Members

North Island
  • ASA - Albany Students' Association
    Albany Students' Association
    The Albany Students' Association , incorporated in 1998, represents students at Massey University's Auckland Campus in Auckland, New Zealand. The ASA organises student events, publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies...

  • AUSA - Auckland University Students' Association
    Auckland University Students' Association
    The Auckland University Students' Association , founded in 1891, represents students at the University of Auckland. AUSA organises student events, publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies. It also produces Craccum magazine and bFM...

     (Associate Member)
  • WSU - Waikato Students' Union
  • SAWIT - Students' Association of Waikato Institute of Technology
  • WITSA - Waiariki Institute of Technology Students' Association
  • EITSA - Eastern Institute of Technology Students' Association
  • MUSA - Massey University Students' Association
    Massey University Students' Associations Federation
    The Massey University Students' Associations Federation represents the seven student bodies at Massey University's three campuses in Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington and Extramural students....

  • WISA - Whitireia Independent Students' Association
  • WSA - WelTec Students' Association
  • VUWSA - Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association
    Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association
    The Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association is the official students' association at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand...

  • MAWSA - Massey at Wellington Students' Association
    Massey University Students' Associations Federation
    The Massey University Students' Associations Federation represents the seven student bodies at Massey University's three campuses in Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington and Extramural students....

  • EXMSS - Massey Extramural Students' Society
    Massey University Students' Associations Federation
    The Massey University Students' Associations Federation represents the seven student bodies at Massey University's three campuses in Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington and Extramural students....



South Island
  • LUSA - Lincoln University Students' Association
  • OUSA - Otago University Students' Association
    Otago University Students' Association
    The Otago University Students' Association is the Students' Association of the University of Otago, New Zealand.OUSA provides "representation, welfare, advocacy, recreation, fun events and media" for its members...

  • OPSA - Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
    Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
    Otago Polytechnic Students' Association is an independent organisation founded in the 1960s that all Otago Polytechnic students become members of when they enrol, it is the sole students' association at OP.OPSA's aims include:...


Current activities

In the 2005 New Zealand general election
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...

 the organisation strongly advocated in favour of policies it long held. These include reduction of student debt, and universal access to student allowances for full-time students. Such policy was supported by many minor parties, including the Greens, NZ First and United Future. The previous Labour-lead Government introduced 0% student interest on student loans policy, but the organisation continues to campaign against decreasing access to student allowances, and systemic fee increases.

Structure

The organisation also has a National Women's Rights Officer (NWRO), who in 2008 will be Analiese Jackson (formerly Women's Welfare Representative at the Albany Students' Association
Albany Students' Association
The Albany Students' Association , incorporated in 1998, represents students at Massey University's Auckland Campus in Auckland, New Zealand. The ASA organises student events, publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies...

).

The Tertiary Women's Focus Group (TWFG) is a directive sub-group of NZUSA that is made up of women in students associations and coordinated the national Thursdays in black campaign.

List of Association Co-Presidents, Presidents, and Vice-Presidents
  • 2011 - David Do & Max Hardy
  • 2010 - David Do & Pene Delaney
  • 2009 - Jordan King & Sophia Blair
  • 2008 - Liz Hawes & Paul Falloon
  • 2007 - Joey Randall & Josh Clark
  • 2006 - Joey Randall & Connor Roberts
  • 2005 - Andrew Kirton & Camilla Belich
  • 2004 - Andrew Kirton & Fleur Fitzsimmons
  • 2003 - Roz Connelly and Fleur Fitzsimons
  • 2002 - Andrew Campbell and Charlie Chambers
  • 2001 - Sam Huggard and Andrew Campbell
  • 2000 - Tanja Schutz and Sam Huggard
  • 1999 - Karen Skinner and Tanja Schutz
  • 1998 - Sarah Helm and Patrick Rooney
  • 1997 - Michael Gibbs
  • 1996 - Grant Robertson and Alayna Ashby
  • 1995 - Paul Williams
  • 1994 - Jeremy Baker
  • 1993 - Kirsty Graham
  • 1992 - Dan Ormond
  • 1991 - Charlotte Denny/Emma Reid
  • 1990 - Suze Wilson
  • 1989 - Andrew Little
  • 1988 - Andrew Little
  • 1987 - Bidge Smith
  • 1986 - Alex Lee/Bidge Smith
  • 1985 - Jess Wilson
  • 1984 - Jess Wilson
  • 1983 - Robin Arthur
  • 1982 - Brian Small
  • 1981 - Deryck Shaw
  • 1980 - Simon Wilson
  • 1979 - Chris Gosling
  • 1978 - Lisa Sacksen
  • 1977 - Lisa Sacksen
  • 1976 - John Blincoe
  • 1975 - Alick Shaw

Name

The organisation changed its name from the New Zealand University Students' Association on July the 4th 2006, to better reflect the fact it represents students at a variety of types of tertiary education institutions.

External links

  • NZUSA - the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
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