I'm currently studying at Massey University in Wellington. When I first started, our cohort was ineligible for First Year Fees Free due to the policy changes implemented during the National government's shift in power. Now, as I prepare to finish my second year and progress into my third in 2027, they're planning to eliminate what little support was left for us. By withdrawing the fees-free initiative, National is not just hampering our education but is also signaling a broader negligence towards future generations' capabilities.

Education should be a priority, not a privilege. By cutting these fees, they're inadvertently pushing more young New Zealanders overseas, thereby draining our country of its future leaders and contributors. 

New Zealand risks becoming a ghost town. A place where talented minds seek opportunities elsewhere because they feel undervalued and unsupported at home.

Lets support our young minds who will become our future doctors, teachers, engineers, and leaders. Reverting the decision to cut Fees Free will show that New Zealand values and invests in its youth and educational future.