VUWSA Election Candidate Interviews: Welfare Vice-President
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?
I would prioritise food as food insecurity is one of the big issues among students, considering food is an essential need to survive and thrive. When you have better access to affordable food, you end up with better health, and you do better at your studies.
How would you make sure your welfare initiatives reach students who need them most?
Create a dedicated VUW app where we can have quicker access to information about the welfare and academic support services VUW provides. The app will also have a VUWSA section to show our initiatives and updates throughout the year.
Beyond information campaigns, what practical change would you push for to improve student welfare?
Partner with local supermarkets to create a consistent student discount for your groceries just like the gold card discount for 65+. Currently only a couple of supermarkets provide student discounts, and many people didn’t know about them either. That would be implemented alongside the cooking classes to create low cost, nutritious meals.
Candidate: Pyper Adams
Which student hardship support would you prioritise expanding first, and why?
I would prioritise transportation subsidies through pushing for the return of our intercampus trips across ALL zones, and the snapper grants that we saw from VUWSA in 2025. I support and will push for free transport for all students, however that is a long term goal, and restoring our lost transport initiatives will provide tangible and immediate day to day relief for students while we push for a bigger change.
How would you deliver a dedicated women’s space by the end of 2027?
I have been working alongside the current WVP in my year at VUWSA to begin the work towards obtaining a women’s space. We have already done most of the consultation with students to see what is needed in a space, and have successfully proven the need for one to the university. The groundwork has been laid; in 2027 my focus is on obtaining the space and putting the plan into action!
How would you ensure welfare advocacy reaches students most affected by financial hardship?
VUWSA needs to do more hands-on consultation and engagement directly with students rather than relying primarily on social media to let students know the services we offer! Instead of only running tea times when we want students to fill out a survey, I would expand the focus of waffles and tea times to inform students of our service, and strengthen our relationship with the student finance team to engage directly with students experiencing financial hardship
Candidate: Sasha Boyce
What is the biggest barrier students face when trying to access welfare support, and how would you address it?
From my time at university and my struggles I have meet students who are embarrassed to ask for help, embarrassed to admit that the "best years of their lives" are filled with struggle. I think its important to show that we are all here in this boat and we need to reset the expectations of university, and working environments to support students rather than trying to get them to "work harder" or "push through" because
How would you improve access to services like student finance, health, and counselling?
More advertising for these and a clearer process for student same day counselling because filling out a form followed by a phone call is a lot of pressure to put on an already struggling student. As someone who has helped lots of my friends and classmates get student finance and counselling appts I have seen how useful and how necessary they can be. These should be accessible for all and there should be clearer understanding
What would you do to make campus safer and more supportive for women and LGBTQIA+ students?
As a women I can relate to being in stressful and uncomfortable situations, I agree and will push for a women's dedicated space, but I also push and help people find a group and that leads the important in clubs and the support from UNIQ, women in STEM and the minorities clubs, the positive influence have on these students is unmatched.
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