Student protesters, accompanied by a police officer,
prepare to cross Moray Pl, Dunedin, during a post-Budget
protest march yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
A group of University of Otago students concerned about
student debt issues yesterday staged a brief protest outside
the office of National list MP Michael Woodhouse.
After listening to protest speakers outside the University
Union, the group of more than 40 chanting protesters left
about 12.20pm and marched along George St footpaths until
they reached Mr Woodhouse's office, south of the Exchange.
Organisers said members of the Young Labour and International
Socialists student clubs and the Education Action Group had
taken part in the protest.
Protest organiser and Young Labour president Ella Hardy said
students had been "left out in the cold" by the National-led
Government's Budget.
Finance Minister Bill English used the word "debt" many times
in his Thursday Budget speech but did not mention the
crippling burden of more than $10 billion of student debt, Ms
Hardy said.
There was also concern about possible further student tuition
fee rises, she said.
Police said protesters had been well behaved and the protest
was without incident.
- john.gibb@odt.co.nz
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