Give VUW Students Their Campus Back Petition

18 Feb 2022

The Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) urgently call upon the Government, Police, Wellington City Council and the University to work together to relocate the protestors from Pipitea Campus grounds and free up critical bus routes, including the 22, before the start of Trimester 1 on Monday February 28, 2022.

A petition started by VUWSA on February 17, 2022 in support of this cause has garnered over 2500 signatures in twelve hours.

It is clear that students, staff and the Wellington community want control of our campus back. While VUWSA are firm advocates of the right to protest peacefully and believe in the importance of organising and speaking out - our students have a right to safely access their campus and education.

There is no place for the harassment and intimidation which have been directed at students, staff, and the public - this is not peaceful protesting. During a time of such COVID-19 crisis it is important that our university community can utilise our facilities and the bus routes in this city safely. We want to see action now. Not complacency.

The petition can be viewed and signed here.

VUWSA Statement on Freedom Convoy Protest

VUWSA STATEMENT ON FREEDOM CONVOY PROTEST

14 Feb 2022

VUWSA are firm advocates of the right to protest and believe in the importance of organizing and speaking out, but we stand against the Freedom Convoy and their occupation of Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington grounds.

We do not support their kaupapa and their way of protesting. Their actions have gone beyond peaceful protest. Since the arrival of the Convoy on February 8th, the Convoy has spilled from Parliament grounds across onto Bunny St, Molesworth St, the Lambton Bus Terminal and the Old Government Building lawns, forcing the closure of the university’s Pipitea campus for safety reasons, alongside the disruption of bus services to other campuses. There have also been notable incidences of harassment and vandalism towards those who live and work in the area.

There is no place for intimidation and harassment which puts the safety and wellbeing of the public, students and staff at risk. Our university community has a right to access campus - our place of work and study - safely. In uncertain times like these, we should be standing together to protect our community; not against.

We believe the situation could and should have been handled better by the University, Wellington City Council, and law enforcement. Out of safety and caution, students and staff are now being directed to stay home. It should not have reached the point where the protest has overflowed from Parliament grounds to directly impact campus premises, and the safety and wellbeing of our community has been put at risk. VUWSA calls for the University, Wellington City Council and law enforcement to take action against the dangerous and unwelcome gridlock of campus thoroughfare and occupation of university premises.