Larry Williams Drive

The Green Party is urging rent controls and more support after a survey found two thirds of university students regularly struggle to buy food and other necessities.The People's Inquiry into Student Wellbeing is a self-selecting survey of more than 4500 students, commissioned by the Green Party, the national student associations union (NZUSA) and the Māori (Te Mana Ākonga), Pacific (Tauira Pasifika) and disabled students (National Disabled Students' Association) associations.It found:On average, students living in a shared flat put 54 per cent of their income towards rent.About two thirds regularly did not have enough money to buy food, clothing, pay bills, get health care, or other basics. Disabled, Māori or Pasifika students were most likely to be in that position.58 per cent of students felt supported by their education provider's response to Covid-19.69 per cent reported poorer mental wellbeing during the pandemic and said it negatively impacted their studies.Two thirds reported being unable to pay for tr