What Is Going On?
Clubs and societies are one of the most important parts of student life at Victoria University of Wellington. They help students make friends, build confidence, develop leadership skills, find community, and feel that the University is more than lectures, tutorials, deadlines, and admin systems.
Instead of properly funding and staffing the existing clubs system, VUWSA has pushed for club administration to be transferred from University Recreation to the students’ association.
Keep Clubs Independent
Student clubs should be run by their members. They should be democratic, independent, and accountable to the students who participate in them.
Keep Clubs Independent is the Save Our Clubs campaign opposing the proposed transfer of club administration from University Recreation to VUWSA. We believe the University should fix the problems in the current system by properly funding and staffing it, not by moving responsibility elsewhere.
THE PROBLEM
Why We Are Campaigning
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A transfer does not solve the real issue
Moving club administration from the University to VUWSA would not magically create the staffing, funding, systems, or expertise clubs need. If the problem is lack of resourcing, the solution is more resourcing. Shifting responsibility to a different organisation risks creating disruption without addressing the underlying capacity problem. -
The proposal lacks a clear public case
The full current proposal has not been publicly released. Clubs have not been given a clear process, timeline, or evidence base showing how a transfer would improve outcomes. Before any major change is considered, clubs deserve proper consultation, transparent financial information, and clear evidence that the change would make the clubs system better. -
Student community is part of the University’s core mission
Clubs are not an optional extra. They are part of student wellbeing, retention, engagement, belonging, leadership, and campus life. Happy students make for a stronger university. If the University wants a thriving student community, it needs to invest in the clubs that help create it.
Evidence, documents and campaign updates
- Students Launch Campaign to Stop Transfer of Club Administration to VUWSA (24 March 2026)
- Investigation Confirms Save Our Clubs Concerns (27 April 2026)
- VUWSA’s 2018 Clubs Proposal
- Joint Student Union Board: Review of Club Support and Structure – November 2016
- Joint Student Union: Review of Club Support and Structure – April 2012
- All documents
Take action
Add your voice. Sign the petition to tell the University and VUWSA to keep student clubs independent and to stop any transfer until clubs have been properly consulted.