NEWS

If there is one thing New Zealand’s political parties can apparently agree on this election, it is that something has gone badly wrong at the supermarket. What they cannot agree on is what to do about it. ACT wants to make it easier for another supermarket chain to enter the country. Labour wants to prise open the wholesale networks controlled by the existing giants. National and New Zealand First want to split Foodstuffs in two. The Greens would go further still, forcing b

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney DON’T MINE THE MOANA? A FINAL WORD ON OUR CLIMATE CONUNDRUM On September 26, Greenpeace activists occupied an Earth Sciences New Zealand-owned ship named Tangaroa. One was dressed as President of the USA Donald Trump, while the rest waved various signs carrying messages opposing seabed mining in the Pacific. By early afternoon, Police had removed them without much hassle. Spokesperson Juressa Lee stated that the ship had been used t

New ADHD rules were supposed to broaden access to diagnosis. But Te Herenga Waka’s planned free assessment pathway never opened, private assessments still cost around $1000 or more, and publicly funded care remains limited. Salient investigates the gap—and the student market in prescription stimulants growing around it. In several Signal group chats shown to Salient, prescription ADHD stimulants are advertised with the casual shorthand of any other student-marketplace sale. O

Elected 2027 VUWSA president Charlotte Lawrence is excited to make the position her full-time gig next year after she finishes studying in only a weeks’ time. The history major brings a huge sense of enthusiasm for community orientated events, protests, and campaigns to the role, and looks forward to mobilising student action to bring about change. “I think it’s going to be a really monumental year,” she told Salient. Lawrence grew up in Upper Hutt, where she attended St Ora

In the run-up to the 2026 election, Salient is interviewing all of the major parties to understand their responses to the issues students face. Here, Qiulae Wong, leader of the Opportunity party, pitches Opportunity. What is the biggest challenge facing students in New Zealand in 2026? I think it’s the real lack of vision for this country. Things are tough, cost-of-living is tough, all of it is really challenging, and it doesn’t feel like there is much hope on the horizon ei

News Writer Martha has done a run down of all of our summer festivals, unfortunately, she got too carried away and overdid the word count. Check out the first one below, and read the rest by scanning the QR code at the bottom of this article. Everyone knows about Laneway, has been stuck in the mud at R&V, or has missed out on a ticket for Electric Ave in the online queue. If you’re real hard-core, you might even have been a part of the annual Wellingtonian migration down to

Boulcott Hall has welcomed thousands of students through its doors since opening in 2013, but the University will stop operating it as student accommodation from the beginning of 2027. A University spokesperson said the decision “reflects changing student preferences, with growing demand for more flexible, self-contained living options, and a reduced need for traditional ‘dorm-style’ accommodation.” However, of the 142 responses to a Salient Instagram poll, 94 percent of st

In the run-up to the 2026 election, Salient is interviewing all of the major parties to understand their responses to the issues students face. Here, Tamatha Paul, former VUWSA president and Wellington Central electorate MP, pitches the Greens. What is the biggest challenge facing students in New Zealand in 2026? Cost of living, hands down. But equally, there’s just the lack of hope for the future.The lack of job security, internships, and opportunities, especially here in We

Charlotte Lawrence has been elected VUWSA President for 2027, beating Ethan Rogacion and Skyla Ashford with a landslide 59.18% of the vote. The results were announced on Thursday 24 September at the VUWSA Annual General Meeting, following three and a half days of voting across Te Herenga Waka. During the campaign, Lawrence centred her pitch on helping students thrive, promising to make life cheaper for students, build student political power and create a greater sense of com

Christopher Simpson This article is about a vending machine. While I love a nice V as much as the next student, there is one machine in particular that I do not like. In fact, I hate it. Ahab has Moby dick, Sherlock has Moriarty, and I have the refrigerated vending machine on floor six of the Kelburn Library. Let's unpack this together, shall we? Kia ora. Like many students at Te Herenga Waka, I would like to get a degree. And to get that degree, I am likely going to need to

Finleigh Frost In 2023, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington cut staff to fix a forecast $33 million deficit. The cuts were presented as a one-off. Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith wrote in that year's annual report that the University had "completed the programme of work" and would "return to normal business in 2024." Three years on, the University still says the same thing. In a statement provided on behalf of Chief People Officer Kate Tibbitts, Te Herenga Waka said:

VUWSA 2027 President Charlotte Lawrence says she “will ensure VUW doesn’t start charging for Mauri Ora.” But was the University actually considering it? When asked what that concern was based on, Lawrence pointed to conversations between the University and students over the 2027 Student Services Fee. Lawrence was involved in part of that consultation in her 2026 role as VUWSA Engagement Vice President. Her concern had a basis. The University confirmed to Salient that students

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney THE PANGUNA DILLEMA The newest country in the world could be dropping very soon, thanks to some major progress in the independence process for the island of Bougainville. The island nation waged a war of secession against Papua New Guinea after the sabotage of a massive copper mine on the island led to a harsh response from the PNG Defence Force. The mine in question is the Panguna mine, which was a huge money maker for PNG and one t

Charlotte Siriman The 2026 election is coming, whether you’re ready for it or not. Candidates are hitting the campaign trail, and your feeds are about to get a whole lot more political. But before you can have your say, there’s one slightly less exciting piece of admin to sort out: making sure you’re actually enrolled to vote. That’s where we come in. Generation Vote is a non-partisan, volunteer-run organisation delivering civics education across Aotearoa. We don’t tell

The VUWSA President leads the Executive and acts as the association’s principal student representative, advocating for students to the University and local and central government. This year, Skyla Ashford, Charlotte Lawrence and Ethan Rogacion are contesting the role. Salient asked each candidate questions tailored to the promises they have made during their campaigns, which you can read across the next three pages. Candidate: Ethan Rogacion You’ve criticised a culture of ove

The ballots are in. Now we wait to see which bird rules the roost. The year’s third-most-anticipated election is over. Voting has closed in Forest & Bird’s 2026 Bird of the Year, and somewhere in the depths of the ballot box, Aotearoa’s next celebrity is waiting to be crowned. For the past few weeks, more than 70 native birds have been competing for the title, complete with campaign managers, endorsements, and increasingly committed supporters. But behind the memes and electo

The Welfare Vice-President advocates for student wellbeing and support, with a focus on issues including financial hardship, housing, health, equity and access to education. This year, Pyper Adams, Sasha Boyce and Katie Townsend are contesting the role. Salient asked each candidate questions tailored to the promises they have made during their campaigns, which you can read below. Candidate: Katie Townsend Of food, housing, and health, which would you prioritise first, and why

The Academic Vice-President represents students on academic issues, working with students and University staff on academic programmes, policies and procedures, and helping lead VUWSA’s student-representation work. This year, Sage Garrett, Aría Lal and Shay McEwan are contesting the role. Salient asked each candidate questions tailored to the promises they have made during their campaigns, which you can read below. Candidate: Shay McEwen What have you learned from your curren

The Engagement Vice-President leads VUWSA’s student-engagement work, working across clubs, campaigns and events to strengthen participation in campus life and connect students with the association. This year, Lewis Collins, Sophie Guerin and Akasha Sergeant are contesting the role. Salient asked each candidate questions tailored to the promises they have made during their campaigns, which you can read below. Candidate: Akasha Sergeant What would you do to make VUWSA more visi

In the run-up to the 2026 election, Salient is interviewing all the major parties to understand their responses to the issues students face. Here, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, ACT list MP and tertiary education spokesperson, pitches ACT. What is the biggest challenge facing students in New Zealand in 2026? One of the issues which I've heard in various debates is definitely the cost of living issue. I know it's a genuine thing as students have limited hours to work alongside their stud

Election season brings with it one of democracy’s less celebrated traditions: covering every available fence, verge, and intersection with enormous photographs of candidates telling you to vote for them. And, almost as reliably, someone gives one a moustache. Election billboard vandalism is hardly new. Candidates have long acquired missing teeth, devil horns, and various anatomical additions before election day. But this year, Wellington’s vandals seem to have developed ambit

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney I have to start today’s piece with an apology to our dear Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. Last time around, I claimed that he would not be attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) this year, but it turns out he did in fact make himself present. Luxon flew over and spent the last 36 hours in Palau, just in time for the hand shaking and photo ops that closed the gathering out. If Luxon wins this year's election, he will have the opp

In the run-up to the 2026 election, Salient is interviewing all the major parties to understand their responses to the issues students face. Here, former Vic student and National’s youngest MP Tom Rutherford pitches National. What is the biggest challenge facing students in New Zealand in 2026? Without a doubt it's cost of living and the state of the economy. I think students are under pressure and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. Over the last three years rents have started s

Psi/Andrew Booth A series of anonymous attack ads targeting candidates in the VUWSA election have appeared on Instagram in recent weeks, with some using AI-generated imagery and falsely claiming to have been authorised by current candidates. Salient has identified links between two accounts involved in the campaign, @studentlobbyist and @vuwsagirl. Separately, @vuwsagirl has been linked to an earlier advertisement associated with the Save Our Clubs campaign. Save Our Clubs sa

Election campaigns are very good at telling you that this is the most important election of your lifetime. They are less good at telling you whether your bus fare will go down, whether your rent might be capped, or what happens to your student loan once you graduate. This guide tries to make that choice a little easier. It breaks down what each of the six parties currently represented in Parliament—National, Labour, the Greens, Te Pāti Māori, ACT, and New Zealand First—is a

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney That time of year I know you’ve all waited for with baited breath has finally arrived. I am, of course, talking about the Pacific Islands Forum, where the leaders of the Pacific congregate to hash out the big issues facing the region. Well, that’s what it’s supposed to be at least. This year, it is to take place in Palau, and by the time this article is released the conference will have concluded. But from where I'm seated, things wil

In the run-up to the 2026 election, Salient is interviewing all of the major parties to understand their responses to the issues students face. Here, Shanan Halbert, Labour list MP and Tertiary Education spokesperson pitches Labour. What is the biggest challenge facing students in New Zealand in 2026? Students are paying more to live and more to study, which is making higher education less accessible. Labour stands by ensuring tertiary education is accessible to everyone in t

The Electoral Amendment Act 2025 came into force on 20 December 2025 and was fully in place by 1 January 2026, making several changes to the Electoral Act of 1993 and therefore altering the way the general election will be run on Saturday 7 November, 2026. Among the changes is an amendment to electoral law that stipulates the last day to enrol to vote or update your enrolment details is 25 October, thirteen days before the Election Day. Previously, any unenrolled person wishi

Aotearoa flaunts some of the world’s most unique and captivating landscapes, with its rolling greenery, dramatic fjords, golden beaches, and striking mountain ranges. The scenery brings only one idea to mind: what a perfect place to build a 78,000 square meter AI data centre. That is presumably what Singapore based company Datagrid said when they submitted their proposal to build exactly that in Makarewa, just North of Invercargill. The 3.5-billion-dollar project has gained a

Zara Boon The Israeli embassy in Wellington is reportedly preparing to move from its Brandon Street offices to the Fisher Funds building at 20 Ballance Street, following more than a year of regular pro-Palestinian protests outside its current location. The planned relocation was reported by The Post in May. The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), citing that report, said only some occupants of the 13-storey Ballance Street building had been told that the embassy was

Cybersecurity Company With Deep Links to Israel Visit the Hub Mantis Toboggan, M.D. It’s week two of the mid trimester break at Kelburn campus. The library is sparsely populated, but the hub is a hive of smart-casual clothes, caterers running around with canapés and coffees, and the grating chatter of tech bros. The Tertiary ICT Conference 2026 is being hosted in The Hub at Kelburn Campus, with the theme of “Imagine | Empower | Belong.” Major brands like PB Tech, Microsoft, a

In the run-up to the 2026 election, Salient is interviewing all of the major parties to understand their responses to the issues students face. Here, Keegan Langeveld, young New Zealand First chairman and candidate for Auckland’s Maungakiekie electorate pitches NZ First. What is the biggest challenge facing students in New Zealand in 2026? Cost of living, but more specifically power prices. Daily fixed charges have skyrocketed in the last few years, and that's where most stu

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney We still have quite some time before November 7, our beautiful election date, and yet I am already sick to death of polls and surveys. I don’t know how many times I can see a series of numbers and percentages that tell me no one is happy before I consider disengaging from politics and picking up a new hobby like fly fishing or crocheting. But I would miss Christopher Luxon’s exceptional oratory skills too much to ever do that. One sur

CW: Cancer, familial loss. On Friday 28th August, San Fran will come alive with Pōneke’s best dance music as more than 15 DJ’s take the decks from six o’clock all the way until three in the morning. All of them are doing it for free, with the entirety of profits set to be donated to Cancer Society New Zealand. The fundraiser, dubbed Daffodil Dancefloor, is the brainchild of Ben Bonetti. Together with Gabe Stuart, Jessica Arndt, and Seini Denicaucau, as well as the support of

Students will elect one of their two representatives on the University Council when voting opens on Monday, 10 August. The Council is Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s highest governing body, responsible for overseeing the institution’s strategy, finances, leadership, and long-term direction. Electronic voting will close at 5pm on Friday, 14 August. All students are eligible to vote, and the election will use first-past-the-post, meaning the candidate with t

The National Party appears to have developed a new campaign strategy just in time for the election. It is called amnesia. National is suddenly presenting themselves as the party prepared to fix the justice system for survivors of sexual violence. The rebrand only works, however, if we forget what the National-led Government has already done with the power they have. In May 2025, the Government rewrote the pay-equity system and forced the legislation through every stage un

Despite his right-wing political connections, Arie Joe’s campaign for a seat on the University Council prominently features similar branding to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Joe’s candidacy has also brought attention to his Save Our Clubs campaign, his admitted use of pirated analysis software, and a domain registration bearing his name for an invite-only men’s club. Arie Joe, a former Wellington president of the Taxpayers’ Union youth wing (Generation Screwed) is runn

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney It’s hard to deny the importance of sport in the Pacific. Our sea of islands has produced countless athletic success stories, and Pacific peoples have become famous world-wide for their sporting achievements. Not only is sport a great cultural unifier, but it is also an essential pathway for many Pacific people to find a level of success that is much harder to come by otherwise. In smaller nations that depend on their relationships wi

New Zealand loves cats. We have one of the highest rates of cat ownership in the world. But is owning one realistic for students? Iona Anderson, president of Cats Protection Wellington, says there is a lot to consider before adopting a cat. “There are some things we’d want to talk through with a student wanting to adopt,” says Anderson. “How long will they be a student for? Are they intending to travel at the end of uni—a lot of people want to get out of the country, and a c

In 2023, I adopted my cat, Beans, from the Wellington SPCA. I had moved to Wellington from the United States the year before, and adopting her felt like a way to mark my first anniversary in the city. Wellington was beginning to feel less like somewhere I was temporarily living and more like somewhere I could build a future. With all my family still in the United States, I wanted a companion. A pet seemed like the closest thing to having family here. I was drawn to cats b

Te Herenga Waka student Milla Brown says there has been “so many benefits” since she began fostering Bella, a 17-year-old cat, through Cats Protection Wellington’s senior foster program last June. She described the long-haired domestic as “really good company” and a great source of emotional support as well as entertainment. “She’s very cute, she’s very cuddly. She hangs around giving people cuddles, eats, sleeps—rinse and repeat. “The good thing with an animal is that when

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MOANA The Rock’s horrific wig in the live-action Moana was not the only distressing thing in the Pacific news landscape this month. Movies I don’t plan on watching because they look AI generated aside, there is much to be discussed about the ever-changing ocean we all inhabit. So let's run down some of the significant stories from July, from further escalations in occupied West Papua to even more securi

New tenancy rules make it harder for landlords to reject pets without explanation, but students wanting a pet may still face added costs, shared liability, and restrictions based on where they live. Since 1 December 2025, tenants have been able to ask their landlord for permission to keep a pet under changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a request. However, tenants must receive permission before bringing the animal into the property, u

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney It’s safe to say that the Cook Islands have had their fair share of political scandals and moments of tension over the past few years. The current Prime Minister, Mark Brown, has seen the spotlight quite a bit since that very public stoush over a deal signed with China that New Zealand was not consulted on. While that might seem like us poking our nose in other islands' business, in all fairness the Cook Islands exist under a ‘special

If you’ve visited Mauri Ora’s reception lately, you might have noticed some changes. There’s a wall… with plants. But the lovable, joyous fish tank which soothed the room? It’s gone. As avid fish fans—In 2024, Salient proudly led a proposal for VUWSA to spend $7,000 adopting a shark—we sought to get to the bottom of this fishy business. Removing Mauri Ora’s fish tank was clearly a load of carp, so we demanded answers from Mauri Ora’s head sturgeon himself, Kevin Rowlatt. “

The Public-Private Partnership That Requires Your Urinary Tract On Monday, Health Minister Simeon Brown unveiled what he called a “bold, innovative step” to grow New Zealand’s private health sector, announcing a new initiative to “legalise ketamine to all under 35s” and “give it out to anyone under 30 for free.” Officials stressed the policy is not a drug giveaway. It is, they said, “a targeted economic intervention,” designed to “unlock capacity” and “reduce pressure” on the

As a high-school student, I became obsessed with OneSushi’s chicken katsu bowl. I still am. It was a cheap, reliable lunch that offered plenty of bang for your buck. I wasn’t the only one. In a 2017 post on r/newzealand, one user gushed about OneSushi’s “small” chicken katsu bowl costing just $7. Today, the same bowl costs $13.50—a 93% increase. Inflation has been brutal, and has been for years. But not that brutal. According to the Reserve Bank’s inflation calculator, $7 i

Lauren Morley The Opportunity Party (previously known as TOP) is, for the fourth election in a row, braving the ever changing political landscape. Free from ideology and rhetoric, Opportunity is campaigning to be the next kingmaker, and the bridge builders our parliament so desperately needs. Since their recent rise in the polls, Opportunity has become subject to a wide range of scrutiny. Interestingly, their criticisms have been quite contradictory. The left-wing parties cl

Plans for Student Health to offer free ADHD assessments from trimester two will not go ahead after the service failed to secure the additional funding needed to run them without worsening wait times for other patients. Student Health Director Kevin Rowlatt told Salient the proposed service would have required extra clinical staff, with an in-house pathway estimated to cost between $200,000 and $300,000 each year. “We were not able to secure that additional funding at this sta

Sally Stirrup It’s that time of year again where the rain clouds hang heavy in the sky, threatening to unleash precipitation on all humble umbrella-fighting, coat-forgetting, electronics-protecting students. But the late waterlogged arrival to class is not the worst of it, oh no! For there is something far more sinister the humble pedestrian fears… a slippage, and not of the nipple variety. As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t stop it from slipping