To the Prime Minister, relevant Ministers, and all Members of Parliament, 
 
We, Te Rōpū Kahikatea Auckland University Students’ Association and the Auckland University of Technology Students’ Association, with the collective voices of 70,000+ students in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland call for a student relief package in light of the recent fuel price crisis.

 
As part of this student support package, we are calling for the following: 

1. Free public transport
2. Financial assistance in the form of:

• Extending the $50 fuel support package to students;
• Increasing the weekly living cost payments; and,
• Paying a stipend for students on unpaid placements. 

The cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by the fuel prices crisis, is impacting students disproportionately. We were disappointed that students were left out of the government’s fuel support package, and request that you reconsider. 

 
Free Public Transport 
Two states in Australia (Victoria and Tasmania) have already introduced free public transport for all its residents to combat the fuel crisis. This will encourage a shift from driving to using public transport to help ease pressures on fuel supply. More importantly, it will ease the cost-of-living pressures people are facing. 
It’s time that we joined our friends across the Tasman and provided free public transport for students.  
Providing free public transport for students, even temporary, will not only ease cost-of-living pressures but also build a long-term shift in mobility. The recent win from students’ associations in Tāmaki Makaurau with the increase in the tertiary concession has seen a significant rise in ridership. We can go even further and cement this trend.

 
Financial Assistance 
Last week, students’ associations from across the motu signed and sent an open letter calling for the government to include tertiary ākonga in all cost-of living relief packages. Later that day, we were left out of the $50 fuel support package, and we have not heard anything since about how the government will provide targeted relief for students. With many of us reliant on using private transport modes to access study and placements, the costs of accessing education are becoming too much. 

To add fuel to the fire, our StudyLink weekly living cost payments were already too little for many to survive Tāmaki Makaurau. Under the new fuel crisis, those $320 - $380 are stretched more than ever, and many students are choosing not to come to campus at all. 

Calls from students on unpaid placements to receive pay have never been louder. If the government believes that they are providing our society value, they should be receiving fair compensation. And we don’t see any reason why they aren’t. 

Our students call $50 of weekly relief, upping our weekly living cost payments, and finally paying students on their unpaid placements. 

 
We look forward to your response and are open to meeting with you to discuss this further. 
 
Ngā mihi nui, 
The students of Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland and the Auckland University of Technology.