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Saad Aamir Fees Free was a policy that covered the first year of tertiary study, providing up to $12,000 in tuition payments per student at a cost of roughly $350 million a year to the taxpayer. It was presented as a policy that would improve equity and open the doors of higher learning for disadvantaged people. In 2024, the National-led coalition shifted the policy from the first year of study to the last. Then, on 8 May 2026, Winston Peters and Nicola Willis announced that

The weather’s cooling down, and with only a week left until winter officially ramps up that wind chill factor, it’s high time to hunker down. If you hail from the South of Aotearoa, you might be well versed in the practice of rolling your eyes at shivering JAFA’s and lending your jacket to those of us with more subtropical customs. But even for you cold-hearted highlanders and scarfies, the first winter after living in a warm family home or heated hall can be rough, especiall

Antonio Cadavid Member of the Wellington Community Justice Project, a student-led charity at Te Herenga Waka’s Law School When the Government speaks about asylum seekers, language of risk increasingly dominates the conversation. New Zealand migration policy relating to refugees appears to be shifting away from humanitarian protection and toward a risk-based approach, one that makes already vulnerable people even more vulnerable. Rather than treating asylum seekers as indivi

CW: Sexual assault, Homophobia An Anonymous Hater The Establishment. MishMosh. Red Square. For years, these were the bars students either avoided on a night out, or only ended up at once they were too pissed to care. But with Red Square set to close its doors, a serious question now hangs over Wellington’s student nightlife: where will students go when they want to party without any standards? On May 10, Red Square announced on Facebook that it would be closing after 23 years

Across much of the democratic world, a familiar pattern has emerged across various elections: young men, once part of the left’s natural base, are shifting right. In the UK and Germany, young men have been twice as likely than young women to support right-wing populist parties such as Reform and AfD. South Korean conservative parties hold a 30% advantage among young male voters. The same holds true across much of the rest of Europe and Canada, though curiously not Australia.

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney As these twelve weeks near their end, there is still no shortage of things going on in our sea of islands. So let's hop from island to island and round up some of the interesting and important stories going on in the moana as this trimester comes to a close. The Solomon Islands have been in and out of the news for a while thanks to the ongoing leadership crisis, where Prime Minister Jerimiah Manele was voted out of his seat due in pa

Just last week, Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi announced her split from Te Pāti Māori and subsequently the creation of a new political party, named after her electorate. Speaking to RNZ she said, “This is about restoring balance, strong local representation, and sending a clear signal that Tai Tokerau political power will no longer be taken for granted.” She said she hoped other candidates would do the same to “promote truly local decision-making and restore power to

For the past couple of months, I have been on a personal crusade. No, not to get the window fixed in the Salient office (but it was nice that that happened). No, not to victimise VUWSA with overly researched and pedantic hit pieces (but that scratched an itch in my brain I haven’t felt since my last Salient survey). No, my crusade has arguably benefitted students much less: to bring back Bacon Buttys at the Hunter Lounge. Picture this: two thick, crispy slabs of sourdough bre

It was a dramatic afternoon in the offices of the student magazine Salient, as staff gathered for the final news meeting of the trimester. What was expected to be a routine wrap-up quickly turned tense after senior news writer Ryan Cleland announced his departure from the publication following an alleged disagreement with co-worker Martha Schenk. According to several students present at the meeting, discussions became increasingly heated while the news team debated coverage p

For years, researchers at Te Herenga Waka, wanting to study depression in rats, could dunk them in a tank of water and watch how long they struggled before giving up. The Porsolt Swim Test (PST)—also called the forced swim test—was a standard tool in preclinical drug research for decades. Now, the University has made its position explicit: it won't approve the procedure anymore. VUW’s Animal Ethics Committee updated its website to formally reflect what had already become prac

The government has moved to scrap final year fees-free, resulting in up to $12,000 of extra costs for future and current students. When announced by Labour in 2018 (then as first year fees-free), the policy had four major goals: to reduce financial barriers to education, support life-long learning, reduce learner debt, and increase participation. A 2024 Ministry of Education analysis found that out of the four goals, the policy had only reduced learner debt and recommended s

The cybersecurity breach of online learning platform Nuku has caused alarm for students and staff alike, calling Te Herenga Waka’s reliance on digitised learning into question. Reports indicate that Instructure, the company that owns Canvas, and the software on which Nuku runs, were made aware of a “cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor” on 1 May 2026, that was “contained” by the following day. On Wednesday 6 May, the University informed students and s

VUWSA has decided to request $7000 from the VUWSA Trust to fund Re-O Week: a three-day, glorified party scheduled for the second week of Trimester Two. The request alone is concerning. Why would VUWSA consider a party to be a reasonable use of Trust money? Just weeks ago, students were left homeless after flooding damaged their flat. Across the University, demand for the community pantry has increased by 400% since 2024, as reported by Salient. It remains unclear whet

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney GOING BAND FOR BAND ON IMMIGRATION POLICY 26 votes to 22 have decided the fate of Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister Jerimiah Manele. The vote of no-confidence for his leadership finally took place on May 7, the third time the parliament of the Solomons had attempted to push him out in this manner. Former foreign minister Peter Shanel Agovaka—who crossed the bench to help take out Manele—threw out allegations that Manele was facilitatin

The newest addition to Aro Valley’s village strip is Octo, a record store, café, Yakatori restaurant, and listening bar all rolled into one. Opened to the public on May 1, it has already gained support and what’s shaping up to be regular return customers in its first week. “Cool set-up is going to absolutely hum,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “Will be back,” and “would eat again,” said two others. The unique concept of a “listening bar” originated in 1950s Japan as a tear

The People’s Republic of China is a state that splits the opinions of the world. Some see it as a repressive, authoritarian dictatorship, while others see it as the only sane alternative to the global influence of the West. Chinese people have been a part of our Pacific community since at least the mid 19th century, and since then China has seen an insane level of change in the form of civil war, revolution, and eventually the transformation into one of the world's premier gl

For years, researchers at Te Herenga Waka, wanting to study depression in rats, could dunk them in a tank of water and watch how long they struggled before giving up. The Porsolt Swim Test (PST)—also called the forced swim test—was a standard tool in preclinical drug research for decades. Now, the University has made its position explicit: it won't approve the procedure anymore. VUW’s Animal Ethics Committee updated its website to formally reflect what had already become prac

CW: Sexual Violence, Strangulation, Death Rough sex and sexual strangulation are becoming more and more common among students. An understanding of the risks involved, which can include headaches, pain, memory gaps, unconsciousness, or even death, is not. In the US and Australia, just under 60% of undergraduates have experienced sexual strangulation. While statistics from Aotearoa aren’t available, a report commissioned by ACC found sexual assault services were seeing admissio

“Tikanga doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s not something that’s been foisted on people because of a particular stripe of government.” That is how Māmari Stephens describes tikanga Māori’s place in legal education. Tikanga refers to Māori law, values, principles, and practices, and courts have increasingly recognised tikanga as part of Aotearoa’s legal system. At Te Herenga Waka, the Faculty of Law is now expanding the teaching of tikanga Māori across its Bachelor of Laws (L

Finleigh Frost The Government’s decision to lift the cap on course fee increases from 2.85% to a hefty 6% has left many students stunned. At a time when young people face high unemployment, a shrinking pool of part-time jobs, and bleak post-graduation prospects, doubling the allowable fee hike feels not just out of touch but fundamentally unfair. Yet beyond the immediate financial hit, there’s a deeper structural problem that feels increasingly difficult to ignore for those a

Hosting a good party in Wellington has become synonymous with a visit from noise control, and a noise direction notice pressed into the hands of the residence's most sober soldier. Particularly tasteful flats might hang these trophies on the wall as certificates of merit, the controversial décor perhaps even autographed by an aspirational DJ or two. The enforcement officers usually move in pairs for increased authority, often materialising in your living room or marching int

A look at four key commitments from the VUWSA President. This is part two of a three-part series examining VUWSA, with this instalment focusing on presidential promises. In his 2025 interview with Salient ahead of the VUWSA presidential election, Aidan Donoghue campaigned on a platform of expanded services and increased student support, promising that higher upfront costs would deliver long-term benefits. Now in the second half of Trimester One, this piece examines the progre

The first action of Mayor Andrew Little was to put a pause on the Golden Mile, given the project’s $80 million cost blowout. Six months on, whether the progressive policy will ever materialize is anyone’s guess. The Golden Mile is a proposed refurbishment of the corridor connecting Courtney Place and Lambton Quay. Despite initially being proposed in 2016, it has spent pretty much all that time in development hell, with constant delays preventing anything from happening. The

A blunt new campaign is telling Kiwi men something we’ve long avoided hearing: check your balls. Launched during Testicular Cancer awareness month, the “Lump Lottery” campaign is pushing young men to take their health seriously…with the unusual incentive of winning a brand new ute. Despite being one of the most treatable cancers, with a survival rate of 95-96% when caught early, Testicular cancer remains the most common cancer in men under 40 in Aotearoa. And many young men—

GenZ Aotearoa (GZA) recently hosted its inaugural National Youth Organisation Hui in Pōneke, bringing together youth leaders from across the motu to strengthen connections and reimagine the future of advocacy. Founded in January 2024 following the election of the current government, GZA emerged to help mitigate resultant feelings of disillusionment and voicelessness among Aotearoa’s rangatahi. Since then, GZA’s focus has evolved from resistance to regeneration. Their mahi fal

Reading cinemas have been closed for seven years. Two generations of Vic students have started and finished undergrad only knowing a dead building in the heart of Courtney Place. At long last, that’s about to change. Reading requires earthquake strengthening, and doesn’t have the money for it. After dragging their feet for a laughably long time, they’ve finally sold it to developers PrimeProperty, who will lease it back to Reading under the moniker of “The Court.” Reading Ci

TO LIVE AND DIE AT MT SMART STADIUM As Ardie Savea tackles folk in Japan, and Tana Umaga prepares to help coach the All Blacks, the plug has been pulled on Moana Pasifika. An admittedly shaky experiment in Pacific-lead rugby union has come into financial troubles to the tune of $10,000,000, leaving it unable to compete in the Super Rugby Pacific competition after this year. As a fan, it was not hard to see something like this coming—disappointing results, talent moving elsewh

This is part one of a three-part series examining the VUWSA executive, with this instalment focusing on student clubs. A proposal to shift control of student clubs from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington to the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) has sparked confusion and concern among club members, following a series of emails sent in late March. University management confirmed that “high-level conversations” have taken place with V

LET’S TAKE IT BACK:WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MOANA As Te Herenga Waka opens its doors again, I assume most of your brains are focused on un-read readings and half finished assignments, which probably doesn’t leave much room for the dynamic political landscape of the Pacific. But do not fret, that’s what I’m here for. Let’s take it back and catch us up on some of the stuff that’s gone down since we last spoke. For many, the biggest story has been the carnage brought on b

Anonymous Note: Medicinal cannabis, like any medication, may not be right for you. It is not right for everyone. Contact a medical professional to determine if medicinal cannabis may be right for you. If you have a Community Services Card, you may be eligible for subsidised medicinal cannabis. Talk to a healthcare professional for more information. I pay $402 a month to function. That’s what I pay now for medicinal cannabis. That number doesn’t include the initial appo

CW: Drug use, overdose, drug-related harm Survey Explores Student Drug Use, Experiences, and Attitudes at Te Herenga Waka CW: Drug use, overdose, drug-related harm Salient surveyed students to better understand how drugs are actually being used at Te Herenga Waka—and what that means for safety, harm, and support. This article covers everything from patterns of use and frequency, to harm, dependence, overdose, and access to drug checking, but one theme runs through it all. St

Student activists warn that celebrations of the Foundation’s newly announced policy targeting fossil fuel divestment across its portfolio may be premature. On April 1, the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation publicised a new policy prioritising the exclusion of companies who provide probable coal reserves and/or oil and natural gas reserves used for energy purposes. As the Foundation invests entirely via externally managed pooled funds, implementation will follow a

In 1971, US President Richard Nixon declared drugs “public enemy number one.” What followed was the War on Drugs—a campaign built on a simple idea: that harsh punishment could eliminate drug use. It didn’t. But the way it framed drug use as something to criminalise continues to influence much of Western drug policy, including Aotearoa’s. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 frames drug use primarily as a criminal issue, rather than a health one. The consequences are severe. Suppl

Abbi Maidment An anti-woke US influencer brought to New Zealand got a small but appreciative university crowd in Wellington last week. Peter Boghossian was one of two “anti-woke” international speakers hosted at Te Herenga Waka’s Pipita Campus on Friday, 20 March. Brought to Aotearoa by the Free Speech Union New Zealand and hosted at the university by Generation Screwed (a subsidy of the taxpayers' union), Boghossian and Marian L. Tupy spoke to a group of around 30 people, i

Part three of a three-part opinion series exploring affordable food options on campus at Te Herenga Waka. Ah, Kelburn. Te Herenga Waka's largest, busiest, and—depending on who you ask— most culinarily blessed campus. I’ll admit a certain bias: I’ve never had classes anywhere else. Still, it remains my campus, softened further by the fact that everyone I spoke to here was markedly kinder than the architecture students I encountered last week. Kelburn boasts the widest spr

An office move for the Vice-Chancellor and the rest of Te Hiwa cost the university $411,000—despite an initial budget of just $267,000. The Vice-Chancellor and the rest of The Hiwa (Victoria University’s senior leadership team) have relocated to a refurbished space in the Robert Stout building, documents released under the Official Information Act (OIA) reveal. Why? To give each Te Hiwa member their own office. The move, the university says, would improve productivity, priv

STAKES IS HIGH: STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS IN THE MOANA Something is always happening in our sea of islands. In the Solomon Islands, for example, March 16 saw the shock resignation of 10 MPs in an apparent government takeover by the People First Party (PFP) against Prime Minister Manele’s OUR Party. This comes after Manele survived multiple votes of no confidence in Parliament, and as the Solomon Islands remain split on their relationships with places like China and Australia. Op

Te Herenga Waka’s hardship fund has seen a sizeable increase in applications for financial aid over the past year, reflecting mounting pressure on students as living costs climb. In February alone, forty-eight students applied for asisstance —double the twenty-four who sought support in the same month last year. Kirsty McClure, the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Students, attributes the uptick to rising living expenses. “Student demand for financial support continues to g

For neurodivergent students, Vic’s first-week madness is not just admin, but a barrier for learning. Molly Laurence Courses are hard enough. But the first few weeks back at university are even worse. New classes, new classrooms, resource layouts, tutorial sign-ups, platforms, schedules, announcements. For most people, I imagine it’s overwhelming. For neurodivergent students, it can be something else entirely. As a second-year law student with dyscalculia and ADHD, for me, t

On a windy Wellington afternoon, the after-work crowd spills out onto Lambton Quay—suits, sneakers, tote bags, the hum of buses and the harbour wind. Somewhere in the middle of it all, a saxophone begins to play. And moving slowly through the rush of commuters… is a tree. For nearly five years, Wellingtonians have encountered this character—known simply as Tree—busking across the CBD and waterfront. But recently, the performer behind the costume has found himself addressing a

Part two of a three-part opinion series exploring affordable food options on campus at Te Herenga Waka This week, I continued my search for affordable eats, heading into the world of stressed-out architecture students perpetually behind on an assignment. That's right, dear readers — I hit the streets. The street of Vivian, that is. The goal: to see what fuels Te Aro Campus and, more importantly, whether it’s actually affordable. Te Aro is unique in one key way: it’s the only

IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE PACIFIC The United States has been making their presence known in the Pacific as of recent. Billionaire Jared Novelley has just been announced as the new American ambassador to New Zealand, and he has already made clear the goals to further deepen New Zealand and the USA’s defence ties and open us up for some more good ol’ fashioned resource extraction. The USA's Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has also been doing the rounds in the Pacifi

Dan Moskovitz Over the past five years, bird flu has ravaged bird and mammal alike across the globe. Over 180 million poultry birds have died, as well as untold numbers of wildlife. Human infections, while rare, have a fatality rate over 50%. Mainland Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific remain the only flu-free regions. But with the Australian-owned subantarctic Heard Island now reporting the virus — an island which many of Aotearoa’s migratory birds visit — it’s a questi

When your humble author awoke on Friday, 13 March with tonsils the size of Luxon’s bald head constricting her inflamed airway, some more superstitious readers might blame the unlucky date. I was certain, however, that a call to Student Health might provide some relief from the raw, burning pain I was experiencing with every breath and swallow. How sorely mistaken I was. Calling just before 10 a.m., I was quickly informed by the receptionist that urgent same-day GP appointmen

Part one of a three-part opinion series exploring affordable food options on campus at Te Herenga Waka Pipitea—the quiet campus where law students lock in. But after their third “break” walk around campus, somewhere between readings on tort law and Donoghue v Stevenson , where do they stop to grab a snack? And more importantly, where is the most affordable? Admittedly, upon arrival there was very little on offer. There was, of course, the ever-looming presence on campus—The

One of Mayor Andrew Little’s key election promises was to cap weekly public transport fares. Problem is, that’s not something he has the power to do. Little’s policy was to make all Metlink trips free after your eighth trip. So, if you take public transport to and from work every day, your Friday morning trip (trip nine) and any others are free. However, Little only has jurisdiction over Wellington City Council. Public transport falls under the Greater Wellington Regional Co

Gemma Bennion Weirdly, this story begins with fibre. No, not that fibre. I’m not a health TikToker selling magic beans. I’m talking fibre in the form of cables and high-speed internet: the unseen chords running underground, looping through neighbourhoods and connecting Wellington suburbs. We begin with fibre, because a major provider of these cables is a company called Chorus. Last week, Chorus placed an ad at Kelburn Campus that made me stop dead in my tracks. You might h

Otis Whinney THE STATE OF THE (PACIFIC) NATION For many Kiwis, there is nothing more exciting than the annual 'State of the Nation' addresses delivered by our political parties to lay out their agenda. By many Kiwis, I actually mean none at all. But it does not change the fact that they did recently happen—and as we are in an election year, it could be somewhat important to see what these politicians have to say. It may, however, be more pertinent to examine the actual state

In the first three months of the year, VUWSA and Te Herenga Waka’s co-run community pantry has seen an increase of 400% in the rate of pick-ups since 2024, raising concerns that their budget might be exhausted well before October. The pantry, which is funded partially through VUWSA and partially by allocation of the student-contributed Student Hardship Fee, offers a free emergency food parcel service to students who are struggling with financial hardship. The service can be

For the first time, the VUWSA Postgraduate Officer position will be elected, and announced, at VUWSA’s upcoming AGM on Thursday 19 March. The role was created alongside the Postgraduate Voice Coordinator which commenced at the start of 2026. This extension, of both an elected member on the VUWSA exec and the Postgraduate Voice Coordinator who is a contracted staff member at VUWSA, come at a time when the consensus (at least at VUWSA) is that postgraduate voice is more import