politic s
New Zealand
General Election
Ⅴ
who are the most studentfriendly parties?
state. We take out loans to live, we don’t get paid for what we spend the majority of our time doing, and our entire futures are contingent on whether we’ll be able to gain employment to pay off our debts.
B
ehold, Critic’s election analysis! Taking a panel of experts from the University’s staff and beyond, Critic was able to graph the extent to which each party is best for students in different areas.
In this way, Critic defines “best” for each category
in terms of security, and in terms of increasing our potential. Our panel of experts have had input on the blurbs that accompany each category, but it’s important to note that the student voice has been an integral part of this process. Should our aim have been to pick out the parties that are best for corporations, business owners or doctors the results would likely be very different. But that wasn’t the aim and thus those weren’t the results. Building policy platforms for a party is about balancing the needs of an entire spectrum of demographics. Some are vulnerable and require a wide variety of support mechanisms; others thrive without the restrictions of government regulation. The difficult task of a party is to ascertain which members they intend to appeal to the most. Parties on the left appeal to those who require support, while those on the right appeal to those who aim to get ahead. As it happens, students sit in the “need support” basket, and Critic’s analysis reflects this. As we grow, our needs will evolve and they’ll evolve at difference speeds. What is important is that this growth and opportunity begins at the same place for every student. A good student support system
Before you continue reading, know that we acknowledge that this analysis
ensures that right here, and right now, our growth is not stunted.
has a single focus, and this focus – students – is unique. Although it’s not often thought or expressed in this way, we students are some of the
Ultimately, this election is up to you, and whether or not you see “best for
poorest, most dependent members of society, be it on our parents or the
students” as “best for country” is your choice. We just hope you choose.
20 | Issue 23 Critic