The importance of the student vote to the fortunes of political parties will be reinforced today when Prime Minister Helen Clark addresses a forum at the University of Otago.
Speaking at Labour's campaign launch in Auckland yesterday, Miss Clark said New Zealand had to keep investing in its people.
"This is critical to realising our goals for a knowledge-led economy and society."
She would address those issues in Dunedin today.
Skilled and educated people would drive the innovation needed for the economy to grow and develop, Miss Clark said.
Labour wanted New Zealand to be a smart economy, not a dumb economy.
National Party leader John Key and Miss Clark both made much of education and training at their campaign launches in Auckland.
Labour would increase the number of modern apprentices in training by 1000 a year so that by December 2011, there would be 17,000 people in modern apprenticeship training.
That would come at a cost of about $65 million.
Labour would also introduce a new retraining allowance on the same basis as a student allowance, but with no spousal income test for redundant workers who had been in the workforce at least five years.
Also, another retraining allowance would be introduced for those who had been in the workforce for 10 years and wished to upgrade their skills, or retrain in new areas.
Mr Key said National would encourage students to get rid of debt sooner by keeping interest-free student loans and offering a 10% bonus on early repayments.
"Young New Zealanders who are furthering their education, who are working hard and who are gaining the skills this country needs should know: we back them in that choice. We applaud their aspiration. We want them to contribute to this country."
National would make it easier for them to get rid of their debt and would make sure they could see a brighter future in New Zealand.
United Future leader Peter Dunne, a possible coalition partner for either Labour or National, wants a zero-fees policy for tertiary education in New Zealand.
That would substantially lower the costs of degrees.
