Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Students protest against voluntary membership bill

Updated at 9:01 pm on 26 September 2011

Auckland students were out in force on Monday to protest against legislation that would abolish compulsory student association membership.

The Voluntary Student Membership Bill is due to pass its third reading in Parliament on Wednesday.

The protest began at Auckland University and spread to the Central Police Station after a protester was arrested.

About 200 students occupied a floor of the business school in opposition the legislation, which protesters say will reduce funding for student services.

They also demanded the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon.

Police used boltcutters on a locked door to disperse the students and a man was arrested. His supporters then briefly staged a sitdown protest blocking traffic on Cook Street outside the police station.

Professor McCutcheon says students at Auckland University voted for voluntary membership 15 years ago. He says services provided there are virtually indistinguishable from those provided at other universities where membership has been compulsory.

Other protests have been held in Otago and Waikato.

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