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Students protest outside Auckland police station 2,3,4 - Source: ONE News -
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The New Zealand Union of Students' Association has expressed disappointment at the passing of the voluntary student membership bill.
Around 100 students rallied outside Parliament ahead of the bill's final reading last night, following protests around the country this week.
MPs voted 63 to 58 in favour of the bill with National, Act and United Future supporting it.
From January 1 next year students will be free to choose whether or not they join a university association.
But the NZUSA says there might not be any associations to choose from, with many likely to collapse under the new system.
NZUSA Co-President David Do says there will be serious implications for associations, with the major concern funding for students.
The Council of Trade Unions' youth wing Stand Up is also concerned about the consequences of the new legislation.
Spokesman James Sleep says associations will no longer be able to deliver important welfare, academic and advocacy services which have been at the heart of university life for years.
Sleep says it will be a while before students realise the full impact of the new law.
Protests
A large protest in Auckland on Monday saw hundreds of students barricade themselves in the top floor of the Owen Glenn building for several hours.
The group unfurled banners and chanted slogans before police were called to break up the protest. One student was arrested for trespass.
The protesters then moved to the Auckland Central police station on Cook Street and continued demonstrating, surrounding police cars and unfurling banners over the cars' windscreens. Some sat in the middle of the road.
They yelled at police to "let go" of the arrested student.
"This is an amazing turn-out and really demonstrates that student unity still exists," student spokesperson Guy Cohen said.
More than 20 students at Waikato University held signs and stood in silence as part of nationwide action protesting the third reading.
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