Students dumpster diving as costs bite
TERTIARY STUDENTS in Auckland are turning to food banks and dumpsters to support themselves and student advocates say an unfair loan system is to blame.
Student associations believe the system does not acknowledge those tertiary students paying higher rents and transport costs and must be adjusted.
But the Education Ministry said students needed to think carefully about where they studied.
Auckland University of Technology student president John Kingi said the university food bank had seen a 50 per cent increase in demand over the past two years and there had been a similar increase in students seeking financial aid.
Auckland University second-year student Anna Cullum said the maximum amount of living costs did not even cover her rent of $200 a week. ‘‘We found that our rent is just above the [ Auckland] standard. We could be paying $180 or so but it’s a lot closer than other places so we don’t have to pay for the bus.’’
Cullum said she worked 12 hours a week and received muchneeded help from her parents to get by.
She said if students decided on which university to go to based simply on costs, nobody would go to Auckland or Wellington because of the high rents.
Kingi said $173 per week was not feasible to live on anywhere in the country, but particularly difficult in Auckland. ‘‘I think any reason- able person would believe that a brush that paints everyone broadly isn’t the right approach.’’
He said the financial stress of studying in expensive cities had an impact on study outcomes.
Wellington- based photography student Clare Callaghan said living costs covered her rent but nothing else. ‘‘If my parents didn’t help me as well I wouldn’t be able to survive. A lot of people don’t have parents who can give any money.’’
Meanwhile, Otago University third-year medicine student Tom Judd said the living costs loan covered his rent and bills ‘‘handily’’ in Dunedin as he only paid $120 in rent each week. ‘‘I think it’s pretty fair in Dunedin. Up there [Auckland] they probably need it to be higher.’’
New Zealand Students Association president Daniel Haines said many students had full- time placements and couldn’t always take on part-time work. He knew of students in Auckland forced to ‘‘ dumpster- dive’’ for food. ‘‘ The current government have made a lot of cuts to student support in the last five years. Students aren’t able to survive while they are studying, they need a massive review of the way that the system works.’’
An Education Ministry spokesperson said while living expenses varied between regions, a standard rate meant a balance for students and the taxpayer. ‘‘When students are deciding where to study, they need to consider all the benefits and costs of each option, including the different costs of living in different centres.’’