Students are calling on the Government to extend winter energy support, warning many ākonga are being left out during a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The Auckland University of Technology Students’ Association (AUTSA) says tertiary students are struggling to stay warm as temperatures drop, and is urging officials to make the Winter Energy Payment available to all students.
Currently, the payment – designed to help cover heating costs between May and October — is only available to people receiving certain benefits or pensions, leaving most students ineligible.
Student leaders say that gap is forcing many into tough choices, with some having to decide between paying power bills or covering essentials like food and rent.
The call comes as rising living costs continue to hit young people hard, with evidence showing many students are already living on tight budgets and in cold, damp housing conditions.
AUTSA says extending the payment would provide immediate relief and help ensure students can live and study in safe, healthy environments through winter.
There is growing momentum behind the push, with other student groups and advocates also backing changes to include tertiary students in the scheme.
For Radio Waatea, the message is clear – as winter sets in, students say they should not be left behind when it comes to basic support to stay warm.
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