Craccum is approaching its 100th year, but it is being asked to serve a growing student audience with less funding, fewer paid staff, and fewer print issues.

In 2024, Craccum received $144,713 in funding. In 2026, that funding is only $114,456 - a decrease of $30,257, or approximately 21%, in just two years. This year’s funding is also around $2,000 lower than in 2025, despite operating and production costs continuing to rise.

Student demand has significantly increased in 2026

Craccum’s print issues are being picked up faster than ever. In 2026, more than 90% of printed magazines of every current issue have been collected, with almost every magazine stand across campus cleared within approximately a week of each release. Historically, Craccum produced between 20 and 25 issues each year, with magazines released roughly every two weeks. In 2025, this dropped to only nine print issues, with a similarly limited number being produced in 2026. This decline in print issues has happened while student engagement with Craccum has grown significantly in 2026.

In 2026 alone:

• Craccum gained more than 3,500 social media followers in Semester 1 2026
• Over 90% of printed magazines were picked up for every issue.
• Craccum has become more integrated with the University of Auckland departments
• Craccum expanded its events, competitions and campus engagement.
• Online Craccum Games were introduced for students, and a more appealing website
• Craccum continued producing journalism across print, social media and its website.

Student journalism has changed. Craccum is no longer only a printed magazine - it is becoming a wider part of student life at the University of Auckland. However, the number of paid staff has decreased over the years. Staff are also not paid during university breaks, even when they are required to work on upcoming magazines. Producing regular print issues while running a website, social media platforms, events and other engagement initiatives requires enough people and resources to do the work properly.

What we are calling for:

We are asking Auckland University Students' Association and the University of Auckland to provide Craccum with a budget of $150,000 for 2027.

AUSA receives funding from the University of Auckland through its Services Agreement. AUSA’s Student Executive, elected by students, then approves how the Association’s budget is allocated across its different services, including Craccum.

This funding would allow Craccum to:

• Return to producing issues approximately every two weeks.
• Maintain its events, marketing, competitions and campus engagement.
• Employ enough paid staff to produce its magazine, website and social media content.
• Pay staff fairly for the work required during university breaks.
• Meet rising printing, production and operating costs.
• Continue providing independent and accessible student journalism.

In 2027, Craccum will celebrate 100 years of student journalism. Its centenary should be an opportunity to invest in its future - not expect it to enter its second century with fewer resources. Otago University Students Association budgeted $338,212 for Critic Te Ārohi (University of Otago’s student magazine) almost three times as much. Even Craccum’s requested $150,000 budget would remain less than half of Critic’s current budget. Sign and share this petition to help Craccum enter its second century stronger, with more issues, more opportunities and an even greater platform for University of Auckland students.

One hundred years of student voices deserve a future. Fund Craccum fairly in 2027.