Chippy’s Welcome

Words by Chris Hipkins (he/him)

Kia ora everyone and welcome to what I’m sure is going to be a fantastic Trimester at Victoria University of Wellington! It’s already been a busy start to the year. So as classes get underway for 2023, I wanted to briefly introduce myself and wish you all the best for your studies.

Some 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to be the president of VUWSA. I never would have imagined I’d be writing this now as the Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand. Much of my time at university was spent advocating for students, and it’s something I’ve continued into my working life and my job here in the Beehive.

Right now, I know things are particularly tough for many people. The cost of living is one of the biggest pressures students are facing. I want to ensure you can focus on your education without stressing about power bills or the price of groceries. Easing the cost pressures on New Zealanders is our Government’s number one priority and we’re doing what we can to help.

I know many of you will have jobs alongside your studies and some of you might be earning the minimum wage. To help ease the pressure, we’ve just announced an increase to the minimum wage in line with inflation, so you can expect a little more in your paycheck from April.

Getting to class and to work can be another big strain on finances, especially if you live off-campus. To make getting around more affordable, we’ve extended the fuel tax cut, road user charges discount, and half-price public transport until 30 June 2023. 

These measures are just a start, and I’m committed to continuing to support students and tackle those big issues like the cost of living. 

For me, there’s no doubt that my student years were some of my favourites. There’s nothing like that mixture of excitement, anticipation, and nerves that comes with the start of each university year—particularly so as a first time student.

As you get stuck into this year, I’d encourage you to take every opportunity that comes your way, work hard, and take the time to enjoy yourself. And, of course, enrol to vote in this year’s election! On our side, we’ll keep doing everything we can to make things a little easier.