Access to tertiary education for Pacific Islanders will be adversely affected by any attempts to restrict access to student loans, Labour Associate Education spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni said.
"The Pacific Island community in New Zealand are over-represented in many statistics including poverty and youth unemployment and access to affordable tertiary education is vital if we are to turn this around.
“Labour made access to tertiary education for all New Zealanders a priority," Carmel Sepuloni said.
“Under Labour we doubled the proportion of Pacific Island people achieving Bachelor level degrees - this must be allowed to continue. Pacific people are imperative to the future of this country and their potential must be drawn on and supported - any changes to the accessibility to student loans risk taking Pacific Island communities backwards and subsequently this country.
"As a young tertiary educated Pacific Island woman, I want other Pacific people to be able to access the advantages that a tertiary education brings. Carmel Sepuloni is the first Tongan MP to enter Parliament for the Labour Party.
"I know just how valuable a tertiary education is and I am horrified at any attempts to remove the ability of young people to access universities and polytechnics by making it harder to get student loans.
"Unemployment rates for young people are now at record levels in this country and the Salvation Army recently described this as a ticking time-bomb.
“Access to tertiary education is one way in which this country can upskill its young people and create new futures for them," Carmel Sepuloni said.
Source: Labour Party, Carmel Sepuloni
