An excellent decision

The Herald reports:

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the fees-free university scheme, which covers the final year of tertiary education study for students, will be scrapped in the upcoming Budget. 

Peters was asked by Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan whether the scheme, introduced under Dame Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Government, was “wasteful spending” and whether the coalition would cut it. 

“I’ll give you a Budget leak right here, right now, the answer is yes,” he said. 

“We are going to reshape and repurpose it for the trades and all sorts of industries where we do need it and where we can get a far better payback for our money and pay far less money doing it.”

Exceptionally pleased to see the fees free policy go. It was a hugely expensive wasteful policy from Chris Hipkins that subsidised students from wealthy families and did nothing to increase participation from lower income families.

Less pleased to see Winston (presumably) unilaterally reveal Budget decisions. He would not tolerate that if he was Treasurer.