Here you can find certain resources for your local institutions (where you study), such as your local students’ association, disability support services, and advocacy services.
See something missing, or is a link no longer working? Let us know using our General enquiries form and we’ll fix it!
Table of contents
Students’ associations
All universities and several Te Pūkenga institutions have students’ associations, which are there to represent and bring your voice as a learner to the table. Additonally, national students’ associations work similarly to the National Disabled Students’ Association, helping to represent learners across the motu and standing up for their learners’ rights.
National students’ associations
General students’ associations
- Auckland University of Technology Students’ Association (AUTSA)
- Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA)
- Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA)
- Student Association Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology Inc (SANITI)
- Te Aka Tauira – Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA)
- Te Rōpū Ākoka o Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki – Lincoln University Students’ Association (LUSA)
- Te Rōpū Kahikatea – Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA)
- Te Tira Ahu Pae (Massey University students’ association)
- University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA)
- Waikato Students’ Union (WSU)
Māori students’ associations
- Mana Ake – Ki Tauranga Moana (Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato)
- Mātātupu (Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka | Unitec Institute of Technology)
- Ngā Tauira Māori (Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland)
- Ngāi Tauira (Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington)
- Te Akatoki (Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury)
- Te Awhioraki (Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki | Lincoln University)
- Te Rōpū Māori (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago)
- Te Waiora (Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato)
- Tītahi Ki Tua (Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau | Auckland University of Technology)
Disabled students’ associations (DSAs)
You can find your local disabled students’ associations on our Members’ page
Disability support services (DSS)
Institutions (the place where you learn) typically have disability support services staff who can help guide and support you through your learning journey. Different institutions have different requirements, such as whether or not you need a diagnosis to register. We recommend checking out your institution’s website, where you can find useful information about registering and using their services.
Table with more information about what each institute can provide coming soon!
- Whitireia and WelTec — email: LSS@WAndW.ac.nz
- Ara Institute of Canterbury (Ara) — email: Disability@Ara.ac.nz
- Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau — email: Disability.Office@AUT.ac.nz
- Careerforce Te Toi Pūkenga
- Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) Te Aho a Māui — email: DisabilityHB@EIT.ac.nz
- Lincoln University (LU) | Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki — email: Inclusive@Lincoln.ac.nz
- Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) | Te Whare Takiura o Manukau — email: Disability@Manukau.ac.nz
- Massey University (MU) | Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa — email: Disability@Massey.ac.nz
- Media Design School (MDS)
- Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) | Te Whare Wānanga o Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui — email: Equity.Support@NMIT.ac.nz
- Open Polytechnic | Kuratini Tuwhera — email: DisabilityandAccessServices@OpenPolytechnic.ac.nz
- Otago Polytechnic | Te Kura Matatini ki Ōtāgo — email: Accessibility@OP.ac.nz
- Primary ITO — email: Info@PrimaryITO.ac.nz
- Service IQ – Service industry training — email: Intel@ServiceIQ.org.nz
- Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) | Te Whare Wānanga o Murihiku — email: Learning.Assistance@SIT.ac.nz
- Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) – West Coast NZ
- Te Wānanga o Aotearoa — email: Info@TWoA.ac.nz
- Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology — email: Accessibility@ToiOhomai.ac.nz
- Unitec Institute of Technology (Unitec) | Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka — email: DisabilityServices@Unitec.ac.nz
- University of Auckland (UoA) | Waipapa Taumata Rau — email: Disability@Auckland.ac.nz
- University of Canterbury (UC) | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha — email: SAS@Canterbury.ac.nz
- University of Otago (UO) | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka — email: Disabilities@Otago.ac.nz
- University of Waikato (WU) | Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato — email: AccessibilityServices@Waikato.ac.nz
- Universal College of Learning (UCOL) — email: DisabilitySupport-PN@UCOL.ac.nz (Palmerston North), DisabilitySupport-Wg@UCOL.ac.nz (Whanganui), DisabilitySupport-Wai@UCOL.ac.nz (Wairarapa)
- Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) | Te Herenga Waka — email: Disability@VUW.ac.nz
- Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) — email: Accessibility@Wintec.ac.nz
- Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) Te Kura Matatini o Taranaki — email: Accessibility@WITT.ac.nz
Advocacy services
Your local students’ associations often provide advocacy indepdendently from your institution, and may have other supports available. The below links to advocacy and supports pages for institutions where independent advocacy is available.
- Advocacy from Auckland University of Technology Students’ Association (AUTSA)
- Advocacy from Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association (OPSA)
- Support from Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA)
- Advocacy from the Student Association Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology Inc (SANITI)
- Support from Te Aka Tauira – Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA)
- Advocacy from Te Rōpū Ākoka o Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki – Lincoln University Students’ Association (LUSA)
- Advocacy from Te Rōpū Kahikatea – Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA)
- Advocacy from Te Tira Ahu Pae (Massey University students’ association)
- Support from University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA)
- Support from Waikato Students’ Union (WSU)