They were protesting the government's decision to end the fees-free policy at the end of this year and let tertiary institutions raise their fees by up to six percent for the third year running.

Budget 2026 has locked in the removal of the policy that gave students their final year of tertiary education at no cost.

University students are protesting outside Parliament after Thurdsay’s Budget not only confirmed the end of fees free - but committed to increase tertiary fees from 2027.