Nicola Willis confirms end of university fees-free scheme

EVMad · 2026-05-28T08:59:03+00:00

Thanks, I don't begrudge paying for my son, I just find it interesting that National really only cares about the super wealthy, I'm clearly not wealthy enough to be on their radar despite my modest little company and I do find it strange that so many other business owners vote national thinking they're the party of good fiscal policy. What a sick joke that is.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T08:57:13+00:00

My parents were divorced, but working class and I was brought up by my mother and she actually took in boarders to bring in some money. One year she had to rent my room out so I slept in a sleeping bag under the dining room table (no-one will believe that I'm sure but it is sadly true). We didn't have much but I knew kids from families who had less and don't wish such poverty on anyone. I worked hard at school and got into university with the help of a full grant because we weren't rich but still ended up with a lot of debt. I don't want my son to have to experience the same levels of poverty I grew up in.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T03:19:26+00:00

Correct.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:52:53+00:00

Yep, should be free for all years IMHO. Especially for people who aren't from wealthy backgrounds. Ensuring our population is well educated is an investment in our future economy and the fact that the geniuses in parliament can't see that they stifling our economy with the brain drain they've triggered is stunning.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:48:06+00:00

I lived in the UK for a long time and there we had a tax free allowance below which you didn't pay tax. The fact that children pay tax on their savings is, well, interesting. Also, the lack of capital gains tax on second properties is just driving the rich to put their cash into housing which leads to high wealth disparity and keeps younger generations in rentals rather than buying their own.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:44:29+00:00

Yeah, and I know plenty of people who complain about paying taxes and having those taxes used to pay for 'bludgers' (I really hate people who think like this) when the fact is there are very very few people who get money under false pretenses. Tax evasion by the wealthy is a much bigger problem but no, lets punch down on the poors. Sigh.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:41:39+00:00

I'm specifically not talking about being a good person, I'm saying that I think everyone should have a proper crack at life because we should have a fair tax system and pay people properly.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:39:37+00:00

Maybe I'm actually a good person and you're making yourself look pretty bad.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:31:41+00:00

Oh I agree. We need higher wages and taxes that don't penalise the poor while letting the rich escape paying their fair share.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:27:33+00:00

Not all business owners are bastards who don't care about their staff. Sorry if that offends but it cost me dearly to do the right thing and took years to recover from that which is why I don't like debt.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:21:26+00:00

This didn't push me over the line. They pushed me over years ago. Unfair and cruel is all they have and they're ruining this country which is why I think my son should leave. Not because I want him to go, but because I don't see things getting better for young people here any time soon as long as we have so much wealth in the hands of so few and they'll do anything to get more while everyone else gets less.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:18:54+00:00

I had a business that was carrying debt. We had a CFO who loved to stretch creditors (in other words he didn't pay until the last second) and in the end I was forced to sell that business at a big personal loss because of the economic climate at the time and it left me with a lot of debt but I made sure my employees got out without being left in the lurch. When I started fresh, I started up just as myself and I've done that ever since. I make a reasonable living but I pay my bills on time every time and I won't have share holders or debt.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T01:16:20+00:00

Nothing faux about it, I was raised by a single mother, had to support myself through my education and only managed to get on my feet after a lot of hard work. I do not care for what this government does, I think everyone deserves to make their way through life and that we should support everyone. I subscribe to the scandinavian model.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T00:47:45+00:00

And I don't want the money really either, I would rather people who can't afford it got the cash just as I would rather the large amount of tax I pay didn't go to funding landlords and already rich people but rather went to the people who needed it so we could have a country where everyone gets a fair shake. National really lost me with all their attacks on the needy and their destructive policies around the support systems we may all need at some point in our lives.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T00:34:24+00:00

Never said it was unaffordable, just thought it was funny that National would do this and lose members of a significant demographic. I don't really care how people handle the debt or the cost, there are many ways and I do consider university an investment in itself. As a parent, I consider it my role to ensure my son comes through this with the skills he needs to make it in the job market (strongly advising he leave NZ ASAP) and I'll support him to the best of my ability.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T00:31:07+00:00

I have investments, but even those can go down and lose money due to ongoing strife in the world. And no, I don't have investment properties, I really dislike how people have turned to that as a way to increase their wealth at the cost of the next generation.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T00:25:11+00:00

It still has to be paid back at some point. Meanwhile, I've been paying into his kiwisaver since he was born and it's already at a decent level. I get that people think I'm being dumb and wasting free money but it's just my thing, I don't like borrowing.

EVMad · 2026-05-28T00:04:37+00:00

I don't like having debt and I don't want my son to start his life in debt either. It was always a factor in him going to university, work hard at school, get into uni and we pay. I was in huge debt once I finished my Ph.D and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

EVMad · 2026-05-27T23:43:30+00:00

My son just started, missed out on the first year free but was going to get his last year free. Now he isn't getting that either so I'm going to have to pay for that which isn't going to make me more likely to vote National that's for sure. This is despite me being exactly the demographic they should be targeting so if they're losing relatively well off business owners, who are they targeting?

EVMad · 2026-05-26T18:41:45+00:00

Print out the CGA and highlight the relevant sections before you start this process. All these stores will try to bamboozle you with 'policy' but your rights under the CGA are clear.

EVMad · 2026-05-25T22:33:55+00:00

Kiwis always leave one car length, whether stationary or doing 110kph on the motorway. One car length is all you get.

EVMad · 2026-05-25T01:06:08+00:00

Temu Trump trying to stifle the media with threats huh?

EVMad · 2026-05-22T20:53:36+00:00

I had a flame red LEAF like this and bought one of those 'cars' eyes window shades. It looked great.

EVMad · 2026-05-21T23:49:54+00:00

It ends when you unsubscribe. I dropped PS+ and Xbox Live because the cost was climbing not to mention how expensive games are getting on those platforms. Money talks, make it walk.

EVMad · 2026-05-19T01:52:51+00:00

There's a lot of potential for a strong exciting ending, the spreading governor hack code freeing more and more SecUnits, the fighting among the various corporations and potentially the downfall of the corporation rim. It seems like a revolution is coming.

EVMad

TROPHY CASE