A polytechnic student politician is the new president of the New Zealand Union of Student Associations, in what is an unprecedented appointment.
Auckland student Pete Hodkinson, who was a two-term president of the Unitec Student Association, was elected at a gathering of student executives in Wellington last week.
Mr Hodkinson's election is the first time a student association president from a New Zealand institute of technology and polytechnics (ITP) has been appointed to head the national student union body.
The former Unitec student graduated top of his diploma in sport education class, before he went on to lead the 23,000-strong student association at New Zealand's largest polytechnic in 2010 and 2011. He recently completed a certificate in company direction qualification with the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
