Open Letter on the Occupation and Closure of Pipitea Campus

22 February 2022.

To the Minister of Education, the Police Commissioner, the Mayor of Wellington, and the Vice Chancellor of Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Kia ora and Mabuhay Minister Chris Hipkins, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, Mayor Andy Foster, and Vice Chancellor Grant Guilford.

We, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) advocate for and represent the 22,000 students of Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington. We are responsible for standing up and speaking out for the rights of our students as they live and pursue their education. Since the arrival of the Freedom Convoy on February 8, they have spilled from Parliament Grounds across onto Bunny St, Molesworth St, the Lambton Interchange and Old Government Buildings.

Their occupation of Pipitea Campus has caused significant disruption and obstruction, making it impossible for students and staff to access campus and utilise campus facilities currently, and especially so when classes resume on February 28. While VUWSA are firm advocates of the right to protest peacefully and believe in the importance of organising and speaking out, our students have a right to safely access their campus and education. Thousands of students, paying thousands of dollars in fees, are now being forced to learn online, are unable to access critical academic, health, and community services, and have been subject to harassment, intimidation, and threats of harm.

In 5 days, our petition has received over 27,000 signatures and continues to grow. We believe more should have been done to avoid the occupation of Pipitea Campus and more needs to be done now to support our community and secure our campus again. We have a clear mandate.

We call on you to act and respond to our three asks below.

1. We urgently request a hui with you to discuss and develop a clear action plan to safely reopen Pipitea Campus. We invite you to lay out a plan of action with VUWSA, mana whenua, and other student leaders for peacefully relocating the Freedom Convoy protesters from their occupation of Bunny Street and Old Government Buildings. This plan should outline when and how Pipitea campus can safely reopen. We want a proactive effort, not a game of wait and see.

2. We ask for the creation of an accessible transport response network to Kelburn Campus to support and reconnect students impacted by the disruption of critical bus services. The journey from the Bus Interchange and the Wellington Railway Station to Kelburn Campus is currently unsafe and inaccessible, which will prevent many from attending classes that have been relocated. We want to see the provision of additional modes of accessible transport to Kelburn Campus - such as shuttles - made available to students until the occupation ends.

3. We urge the University to open pathways for course refunds or rebates and to increase the accessibility and availability of technological, resource, and financial support to impacted students. We ask for the withdrawal period to be extended further than two weeks and for students to be eligible to apply for a course refund or a rebate. We also call for an increase in support to recognise the inequities of online learning and the barriers students will now face as they navigate online classes and assignments.

A lack of preparation and proactive response has been to the detriment of our students. Many now face uncertainty and dissatisfaction as to the lack of consideration and support they have been offered as the 2022 academic year begins. We are asking for you to do right by us.

The privilege and power sit in your hands. We recognize the complexities and difficulties of the situation; however, inaction will further harm, disadvantage, and impair the lives of everyone in our community.

For the wellbeing and livelihood of our students, staff, and our city, please take this opportunity to act on our call and give us our campus back.

Maraming salamat | Mā te wā, Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association.