Police say a student protest outside their central Auckland HQ has ended with one arrest.
A group of students were sitting outside the station on Cook Street this evening after police earlier broke up a protest at the University of Auckland business school.
Hundreds of students barricaded themselves in the top floor of the Owen Glenn building this afternoon in response to Government plans to make student union membership voluntary.
The students unfurled banners and chanted slogans from the balcony at the top of the open plan building. Items were also dropped down to the foyer.
Police were called in this evening to break it up and say they made one arrest for trespassing.
The protest moved outside however, as students surrounded the
police cars and unfurled banners over the cars' windscreens.
The students then continued their protest up towards the central
police station on Cook St, where they sat in the middle of the road
and continued their chanting.
"This is an amazing turn-out and really demonstrates that student unity still exists," student spokesperson Guy Cohen said earlier in the day.
"This is a rebirth of the sort of action that has traditionally been the domain of the university, as the critical conscience of society. This will send a strong message to the Vice Chancellor that we are the university and we will defend it."
Students are hopeful the Government will have a change of heart and decide against backing the controversial law change, driven by the Act Party.
National has pledged to support it, despite 98% of submissions being against the change.
Students' Association president David Do is disappointed National has not fulfilled its promise to listen.
Bill will 'cut services'
People opposed to the bill believe it will cut student services, and lower the quality of the tertiary education experience.
Do said students around the country will be rallying against education cuts in the lead up to the third reading of ACT's Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.
He said students are growing increasingly frustrated and appalled that the Government is ignoring their voices on these issues.
However the pressures on Parliament have temporarily achieved what lobbying has not - the legislation has been pushed off the agenda by more urgent matters and it is not clear if it will even resurface before the election.
Mana party leader Hone Harawira said the students have his support in their struggle to retain their union's power.
"Many Maori students in particular benefit hugely from the student union which provides them with needed assistance in making transition between school and university," he said.
A supporter of the rally, Jai Bentley-Payne, said: "The democratic process in this university and in other universities around the country is under sustained attack."
There are concerns surrounding wages for union board members and whether next year's wages would eat into the union's capital.
Despite this, Waikato University students voted last week to pay
the 2012 Waikato Students' Union board members at least $49,000 in
wages, the Waikato Times reported.
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