Joint Pānui on the Te Herenga Waka Vaccine Mandate Review

To Acting Vice Chancellor Jennifer Windsor, COVID-19 Incident Controller Leon Bakker, and Director Student Experience and Wellbeing Kirsty McClure.  

Mabuhay and tēnā koutou Acting Vice Chancellor Jennifer Windsor, COVID-19 Incident Controller Leon Bakker, and Director Student Experience and Wellbeing Kirsty McClure.   

We, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) and Ngāi Tauira – Victoria University Māori Students’ Association write to you today to express our position that we do not support the University’s proposal to discontinue the COVID-19 vaccine mandate from Monday April 4. 

There are significant lapses in the risk assessment and there has not been proper due diligence given for the university community to engage with the survey and effectively provide feedback on a decision which will critically impact the health and wellbeing of our tauira. Two days of consultation with the wider University body is not acceptable nor appropriate. 

Despite the Government’s announcement, we should not rush to remove our University’s vaccine mandate and undo the efforts to keep our community, particularly our most vulnerable tauira, safe.  

It is concerning the risk assessment presented ignores and does not outline the risk and impact the discontinuation of the mandate will have on three critical areas: 

• Vulnerable communities, particularly Māori and immunocompromised tauira. 

• The likelihood and implications of long COVID within our community. 

• The delivery of learning and teaching, particularly the impact on teaching staff and the continuation of dual delivery. 

We are further concerned that the risk assessment significantly relies on and refers to policy, rather than the advice of experts - namely epidemiologists. The University must address these concerns in a revised risk assessment and extend the survey timeline.  

Currently, Māori make up 19% of COVID-19 deaths, despite making up on 16% of the population. The fact that the risk report fails to consider the impact rolling back the mandates could have on Māori is a massive oversight, particularly when it is the same people who often have the most issues when it comes to studying remotely, which is the current suggestion for those wary of entering non-mandated spaces. Engaging properly with Māori health experts will be crucial to effectively assess the risks and proper support mechanisms for when the mandates are rolled back.  

As such, more time needs to be given and more work needs to be done before we can begin rolling back protection measures which are critical right now. We recognize the impact the vaccine mandate has made on tauira who could not access crucial resources to engage with their education and believe there must be greater efforts and consideration by the University to support them and their participation.   

VUWSA and Ngāi Tauira recommend that the University maintains the vaccine mandate, at the very least, until the end of the Trimester One mid-trimester break and encourage the review on removing the mandate to be revisited at such point, with a revised risk assessment which includes the missed considerations, a longer submission period, and advice from experts (epidemiologists). 

While this statement reflects view of the VUWSA Executive and the Ngāi Tauira komiti, we acknowledge other student representative groups do have concerns on the continuation of the mandate and encourage the University to consider their points in coming to a decision that it is in the best interests of all tauira at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. 

Maraming Salamat | Mā te wā 

The Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association 

Ngāi Tauira – Victoria University Māori Students’ Association 

Statement on Pipitea Campus Reopening

Today our Pipitea Campus reopens for students, staff, and the public.

For the first time since the arrival and occupation of the Freedom Convoy, thousands in our university community will be able to access the campus, facilities, and resources which they have been barred from.

While the events that unfolded on our campus premises do not represent or reflect our values and our community, the collective efforts to support students, staff, and the public do.

We are forever thankful for everyone who played a part in helping us get our campus back.

To the over 30,000 individuals who signed our petition and supported our calls, thank you.

To those in the university who helped us provide transportation, academic, and other necessary support to students, thank you.

And to authorities who worked tirelessly, peacefully, and carefully to make our campus a safe space for our community again, thank you.

Today, we reflect, celebrate, and welcome our community back to campus.

Open Letter to the Acting Vice-Chancellor on Trimester One Course Fees

9 March 2022 

To the Acting Vice Chancellor of Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. 

Mabuhay Acting Vice Chancellor Jennifer Windsor, 

We, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association and The Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Assembly write to you today on behalf of the 22,000 students in our university community. Together, we call for financial recourse for Trimester One course fees. 

The closure of Pipitea Campus and the unprecedented outbreak of Omicron within our community and around the country has caused disruption to learning and teaching on a scale we have never seen before.  

Since the beginning of the Trimester, thousands of students have had to manage the unfortunate reality of doing classes either online, in isolation, or in makeshift study spaces. Because of this move, we have seen the exacerbation of equity and accessibility issues. It is unfortunate and disheartening to see our students being barred from their education.  

We have been told of situations where household conditions and environments are incompatible with studying and devices or internet connections are not suitable for downloading readings, completing assignments, and watching hours of lectures. It furthers the disproportionate difficulties experienced by marginalised communities, where accessibility issues out of their control inhibit their ability to engage. 

With the need for student support at a critical high, there is greater importance and urgency for the University to not just do what is pragmatic but what is right for students. If students are unable to access the campus, the facilities, the resources, and the education for which they are currently paying top dollar, we believe they deserve and have a right to get their money back. Students are paying full price for an academic experience which they are not getting in full.  

Given the position of privilege and power, we call on you with urgency as our Acting Vice Chancellor to do what is right for students, use your discretion, and agree to our ask below: 

We ask the University to provide all students a six-week refund or rebate for Trimester One courses. 

The impact of a refund or rebate, though seemingly small to the University, will create a massive difference for our tauira. We believe the university is in a position where it can accommodate a return in course fees. An empathetic and compassionate approach to student struggles during this unprecedented time is how Te Herenga Waka will stand out as a world-leading capital city university. We believe our ask is in the best interests of students and the University and recognises the difficulties students are currently facing with their finances, academics, welfare, and engagement. 

This is not just about money but the quality of education and the welfare and wellbeing of students. Please listen to our call and do it right by us. 

Maraming salamat | Mā te wā,  

The Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association and the Te Herenga Waka Students’ Assembly. 

Open Letter on the Occupation and Closure of Pipitea Campus

22 February 2022.

To the Minister of Education, the Police Commissioner, the Mayor of Wellington, and the Vice Chancellor of Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Kia ora and Mabuhay Minister Chris Hipkins, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, Mayor Andy Foster, and Vice Chancellor Grant Guilford.

We, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) advocate for and represent the 22,000 students of Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington. We are responsible for standing up and speaking out for the rights of our students as they live and pursue their education. Since the arrival of the Freedom Convoy on February 8, they have spilled from Parliament Grounds across onto Bunny St, Molesworth St, the Lambton Interchange and Old Government Buildings.

Their occupation of Pipitea Campus has caused significant disruption and obstruction, making it impossible for students and staff to access campus and utilise campus facilities currently, and especially so when classes resume on February 28. 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. Thousands of students, paying thousands of dollars in fees, are now being forced to learn online, are unable to access critical academic, health, and community services, and have been subject to harassment, intimidation, and threats of harm.

In 5 days, our petition has received over 27,000 signatures and continues to grow. We believe more should have been done to avoid the occupation of Pipitea Campus and more needs to be done now to support our community and secure our campus again. We have a clear mandate.

We call on you to act and respond to our three asks below.

1. We urgently request a hui with you to discuss and develop a clear action plan to safely reopen Pipitea Campus. We invite you to lay out a plan of action with VUWSA, mana whenua, and other student leaders for peacefully relocating the Freedom Convoy protesters from their occupation of Bunny Street and Old Government Buildings. This plan should outline when and how Pipitea campus can safely reopen. We want a proactive effort, not a game of wait and see.

2. We ask for the creation of an accessible transport response network to Kelburn Campus to support and reconnect students impacted by the disruption of critical bus services. The journey from the Bus Interchange and the Wellington Railway Station to Kelburn Campus is currently unsafe and inaccessible, which will prevent many from attending classes that have been relocated. We want to see the provision of additional modes of accessible transport to Kelburn Campus - such as shuttles - made available to students until the occupation ends.

3. We urge the University to open pathways for course refunds or rebates and to increase the accessibility and availability of technological, resource, and financial support to impacted students. We ask for the withdrawal period to be extended further than two weeks and for students to be eligible to apply for a course refund or a rebate. We also call for an increase in support to recognise the inequities of online learning and the barriers students will now face as they navigate online classes and assignments.

A lack of preparation and proactive response has been to the detriment of our students. Many now face uncertainty and dissatisfaction as to the lack of consideration and support they have been offered as the 2022 academic year begins. We are asking for you to do right by us.

The privilege and power sit in your hands. We recognize the complexities and difficulties of the situation; however, inaction will further harm, disadvantage, and impair the lives of everyone in our community.

For the wellbeing and livelihood of our students, staff, and our city, please take this opportunity to act on our call and give us our campus back.

Maraming salamat | Mā te wā, Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association.

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.