Where's the Work Campaign Launch

On Monday 7 July, Te Aka Tauira – Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) has launched its newest campaign, Where’s the Work?, a call to action addressing the lack of accessible, meaningful employment opportunities for students and recent graduates in Aotearoa. 

Te Aka Tauira – VUWSA represents the interests of all tauira at Victoria University of Wellington. Our mahi centres on the kaupapa “By Students, For Students”, encompassing a wide range of work within our university and wider community — from welfare and advocacy to academic representation and national campaigns that uplift and empower tauira. Where’s the Work? is an extension of this kaupapa, aiming to ensure every student has the chance to thrive during their studies and beyond. 

In recent years, students have faced skyrocketing living costs, stagnant wages, and increasingly limited part-time job options. At the same time, more graduates are packing their bags and heading overseas to Australia, the UK, and beyond — not because they want to, but because they feel they have no choice. 

The Where’s the Work? campaign highlights the growing urgency for increased local job availability and accessibility. While there may be work out there, it is often unsuitable or out of reach for students managing demanding study schedules and financial pressures. Students need flexible, fairly paid employment that complements — not competes with — their education. These roles are crucial to sustaining themselves while pursuing their degrees. 

However, accessibility is just as important as availability. Too many students find themselves locked out of jobs because of inflexible hours, a lack of supports, or requirements that don’t accommodate their lived realities. VUWSA is advocating for local employers to adopt inclusive hiring practices and offer roles that acknowledge the balancing act students perform every day. 

The campaign also aims to champion the mutual value of stronger partnerships between local businesses and students. Students bring fresh ideas, innovation, and energy to the workforce. In turn, they gain practical skills, income, and a sense of belonging in the communities they live and study in. By fostering a reciprocal relationship between students and employers, we’re not just supporting individuals — we’re enriching our city’s social and economic fabric. 

“We often talk about the student debt crisis or the cost of living — but it’s all connected to employment,” says VUWSA President Liban Ali. “We’re not just asking for more jobs. We’re asking for better opportunities — jobs that allow students to stay, grow, and contribute to Aotearoa; because right now, too many are leaving after graduation, not out of choice, but out of necessity.” 

VUWSA believes that if Aotearoa is serious about retaining its talent and revitalizing its communities, then we must invest in our young people — not only with education, but with real pathways to employment. Where’s the Work? is a campaign grounded in the belief that when students succeed, we all benefit. 

This is a call for employers, policymakers, and universities to step up — to support tauira in tangible ways, to value their contribution, and to build a future where they don’t just survive here but thrive here. 

We plan to launch this campaign with unmissable banners on the Terrace Tunnel and Parliament Lawn, dropping from 7:30am, Monday 7 July, 2025.  

Support the Where’s the Work campaign by signing our petition on ActionStation: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/where-s-the-work