New data suggests Labour’s fees-free university scheme failed to reach the students it was meant to help.

Of the 26-thousand students who went straight from Year 13 into study in its final year, just 1.3 percent came from the most disadvantaged schools - around 230 students.

The policy aimed to lift participation by 12 percent by removing cost barriers to higher education.

It has since been scrapped by the current Government, with support now limited to the final year of study.

VUWSA Vice President Aiddan Donoghue tells Ryan how the scheme has been for students. 

New data suggests Labour’s fees-free university scheme failed to reach the students it was meant to help.
Of the 26-thousand students who went straight from Year 13 into study in its final year, just 1.3 percent came from the most disadvantaged schools - around 230 students.
The policy aimed to lift participation by 12 percent by removing cost barriers to higher education.
It has since been scrapped by the current Government, with support now limited to the final year of study.
VUWSA Vice President Aiddan Donoghue tells Ryan how the scheme has been for students.&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Aidan Donoghue: VUWSA Vice President on Labour’s fees-free university scheme

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ab3f12ad-0180-42f6-8ba9-b3e0011dc0b1/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 29th of January 2025, new numbers show Labour's "fees free" wasn't all that it was supposed to be, VUWSA Vice President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan what it did for students. 

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts on a housing sentiment survey from Cotality. 

Demand for ambulance's was the highest on record last year according to stats from St John, New Zealand Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why demand has increased. 

Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on Donald Trump’s latest threat to Iran and layoffs at Amazon. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 29th of January 2025, new numbers show Labour's "fees free" wasn't all that it was supposed to be, VUWSA Vice President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan what it did for students.&nbsp;
ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts on a housing sentiment survey from Cotality.&nbsp;
Demand for ambulance's was the highest on record last year according to stats from St John, New Zealand Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why demand has increased.&nbsp;
Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on Donald Trump’s latest threat to Iran and layoffs at Amazon.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 29 January 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b104d5a4-efbb-4f60-a9b0-b3e0011a973b/transcript

Reading this story this morning about fees free - you've got to wonder how the policy got through the boffins in wellington. 

It has, by all accounts, failed to achieve it's objective. 

Did we see floods of people charging into lecture halls and studying at university?

No.

Did we see loads of poorer students benefit? 

No.

What did it cost us, again? $2.6 billion. $350-million last year alone. 

That's one and half brand new Dunedin hospitals. 

This is what it got us. 

No increase in participation.

230 students from poor schools were helped. That's 1.3%.

A whopping 70% of the kids who had their university fees paid for (up to $12,000 each) were from above-average socio-economic schools.

They were the wealthier kids. 

Did they need it? No. 

I've always backed the interest-free student loan idea. You can borrow, not stress about interest, and work hard to pay it down once you finish. 

But clearly fees free was too much of a free lunch. Not enough discipline or focus. 

Now the problem is Winston and national have kept this policy alive. They've just changed it to the final year of study.

The idea is this will encourage students to finish their studies. 

Problem? It's not doing that either. No evidence.

So, you've got to ask, with such a high price tag, is the whole thing worth having at all? 

Reading this story this morning about fees free - you've got to wonder how the policy got through the boffins in wellington.&nbsp;
It has, by all accounts, failed to achieve it's objective.&nbsp;
Did we see floods of people charging into lecture halls and studying at university?
No.
Did we see loads of poorer students benefit?&nbsp;
No.
What did it cost us, again? $2.6 billion. $350-million last year alone.&nbsp;
That's one and half brand new Dunedin hospitals.&nbsp;
This is what it got us.&nbsp;
No increase in participation.
230 students from poor schools were helped. That's 1.3%.
A whopping 70% of the kids who had their university fees paid for (up to $12,000 each) were from above-average socio-economic schools.
They were the wealthier kids.&nbsp;
Did they need it? No.&nbsp;
I've always backed the interest-free student loan idea. You can borrow, not stress about interest, and work hard to pay it down once you finish.&nbsp;
But clearly fees free was too much of a free lunch. Not enough discipline or focus.&nbsp;
Now the problem is Winston and national have kept this policy alive. They've just changed it to the final year of study.
The idea is this will encourage students to finish their studies.&nbsp;
Problem? It's not doing that either. No evidence.
So, you've got to ask, with such a high price tag, is the whole thing worth having at all?&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: What was the point in fees free?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/80e6511b-dec0-40d6-94b6-b3e0011ca6ea/transcript

India and the European Union have announced what's been named 'the mother of all trade deals'.  

The landmark agreement will allow the free trade of goods across the 27 EU states and India, which make up nearly 25% of global trade across a market of two billion people. 

It comes as both sides contend with economic pressure from Donald Trump's tariffs.  

Europe correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge just about everything from tea, to cars, to chemicals will see tariffs cut and trade made easier. 

He says it's been dubbed the biggest and most historic trade deal ever, being talked about for more than 20 years.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

India and the European Union have announced what's been named 'the mother of all trade deals'. &nbsp;
The landmark agreement will allow the free trade of goods across the 27 EU states and India, which make up nearly 25% of global trade across a market of two billion people.&nbsp;
It comes as both sides contend with economic pressure from Donald Trump's tariffs. &nbsp;
Europe correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge just about everything from tea, to cars, to chemicals will see tariffs cut and trade made easier.&nbsp;
He says it's been dubbed the biggest and most historic trade deal ever, being talked about for more than 20 years. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Mike Pearse: Europe Correspondent on the historic trade deal between India and the European Union

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a0cc413a-c453-47f6-b588-b3df0165f04b/transcript

Aidan Donoghue: VUWSA Vice President on Labour’s fees-free university scheme

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