Tertiary students are hoping a promised government package will help students struggling to pay for essentials like food and power because of the lockdown. Students' associations say weekly student allowance and loan payments are not enough to cover rent for many students and the casual or part-time work they depend on for other expenses has stopped. Tuisila said the part-time work she relied on to top up the student allowance for her and her six-year-old daughter had stopped. Education Minister Chris Hipkins has said he plans to make an announcement this week on a package to assist students. It included a student allowance for all domestic tertiary students, a hardship fund, eligibility for the government's winter energy payments, and more mental health support for students.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 13, 2020 21:11 UTC