C/o Manukau Institute of Technology
Private Bag 94006, Manukau
Auckland 2241
0800 86 22 84
info@tepūkenga.ac.nz
tepūkenga.ac.nz
17 November 2025
Eloise Fleming
By email: [FYI request #32646 email]
Tēnā koe Eloise
Request under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 23 October 2025, requesting information from Nelson Marlborough
Institute of Technology ǀ New Zealand Institute of Skil s and Technology (NMIT). Within your email
you advise that you are conducting research into “
Student Services Fees at different tertiary education
providers, and how providers gather learner voice in determining fee allocations”. You have requested
the following information regarding Student Services Fees (SSF) - also known as Compulsory Student
Services Fees (CSSF):
1. The means in which learners or their representative groups are consulted about Student
Services Fees, such as annual surveys, forums, student positions on SSF committees, and
consultation on changes to significant SSF-related decisions.
2. A copy of the questions asked in any annual or regular surveys related to Student Services
Fees (such as a PDF print out of survey questions).
3. How students are informed of the outcomes of such surveys and consultations, and
whether survey responses are made publicly available or provided to students via other
means.
4. A breakdown of the most recent budget allocations for SSF categories, such as the
amount allocated to students’ associations, health centres, sports, and pastoral care
services. If this is unavailable, the most recent proportions of allocations to SSF
categories.
This letter provides a formal decision on your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
The decision
Your questions and NMIT response are set out below.
1. The means in which learners or their representative groups are consulted about Student
Services Fees, such as annual surveys, forums, student positions on SSF committees, and
consultation on changes to significant SSF-related decisions.
Ākonga (student) consultation is an important element in setting the al ocation and the structure of
the SSF at NMIT. It is carried out through surveys, consultation sessions, as well as connection
opportunities with NMIT Student Executive and Programme Representatives and through the
Student Association for NMIT (SANITI). More information can be found online at:
• https://www.nmit.ac.nz/study/finance-your-study/student-service-fee
• https://support.nmit.ac.nz/kb/articles/how-much-is-the-compulsory-student-services-fee
Prior to 2025 the NMIT leadership team consulted directly with the Student Executive and SANITI
about the SSF. More information about both the Student Executive and SANITI can be found online
at: https://saniti.co.nz/about-us/.
Based on feedback provided in 2024 we have now moved to a current ākonga wide survey approach.
The current 2025 survey was designed alongside the Student Executive, who were consulted prior to
its distribution. This survey has gone out to al ākonga via email and SMS. The information is also
publicly available through our ākonga website: https://students.nmit.ac.nz/home/student-services-
fee-2026. The survey is accessible to current ākonga with an NMIT ākonga email account.
Once feedback is received this wil be anonymized, col ated and provided to NMIT senior leadership
for final decisions on structure and al ocation for 2026.
2. A copy of the questions asked in any annual or regular surveys related to Student Services
Fees (such as a PDF print out of survey questions).
The questions asked are similar year to year involving the setting of the cost, use of the fee, service
provision and accessibility. Please find attached a copy of the most recent 2025 survey questions at
Appendix One, titled
Have your say ǀ Student Services Fee.
3. How students are informed of the outcomes of such surveys and consultations, and
whether survey responses are made publicly available or provided to students via other
means.
Prior to 2025 decisions on SSF fee allocation and structure were shared with our ākonga via the
Student Executive and SANITI. In 2025 both decision and survey results wil be shared directly with
all current ākonga via email, they wil be published on the ākonga website, as well as shared with
SANITI and the Student Executive.
4. A breakdown of the most recent budget allocations for SSF categories, such as the
amount allocated to students’ associations, health centres, sports, and pastoral care
services. If this is unavailable, the most recent proportions of allocations to SSF
categories.
With reference to section 18(d) of the OIA, a summarised breakdown of SSF funding allocation
between 2018-2024 can be found within the ākonga website link above
(https://students.nmit.ac.nz/home/student-services-fee-2026).
A slightly more detailed breakdown of spend for calendar year 2023 is also publicly available and can
be found through the weblink provided above (https://support.nmit.ac.nz/kb/articles/how-much-is-
the-compulsory-student-services-fee).
2
If you are interested, a breakdown of the historic SSF spend for years 2020 and 2021, including levies,
expenses, surplus and deficit, can also be found online within previous NMIT annual reports.
You have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the OIA if you are
not happy with this response. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by cal ing 0800 802 602.
We may publish our OIA responses, and the information contained in our reply to you on our website.
Before publishing we will remove any personal or identifiable information.
Ngā mihi
Gus Gilmore
Tumuaki | Chief Executive
3
Appendix One
Have your say | Student Services Fee
Your name:
Your email:
1.The current SSF for NMIT is $260.76 per equivalent full-time learner. Other New Zealand polytechs charge
between $260 and $731. This money is only to be spent on the categories outlined in the email. What do you
think is a fair yearly amount for this fee? (Please circle)
$260 - $300
$300 - $350
$350 - $400
Other
1982
ACT
2. Please rank which types of services are most important to you. Click on an option to move its ranking
(1=most important, 8=least important - Print number clearly next to choice):
Advocacy and learner voice (help when you need support or representation)
Financial hardship help (food and petrol vouchers, financial support to see a doctor)
Health and counselling services: doctor, services of a nurse, alcohol and drug counselling
Career and employment advice: CV workshops, job hunting tips, connection to industry partners and
opportunities
Clubs, societies, and cultural activities: celebration of cultural events from across the spectrum of the
learner population
INFORMATION
Childcare or parenting support
International learner activities
RELEASED UNDER THE
Sport and recreation opportunities: sports competitions, clubs and societies of learners choice,
financial support to enter local sports competitions
3. Are there other types of support you’d like NMIT to consider? (Optional)
OFFICIAL
Have your say | Student Services Fee
4. Who do you think should deliver these services? (please circle)
NMIT staff and support teams: Learner success and Te Puna Manaaki
The Student Executive or other student-led providers
Community led providers (not for profit organisations already established in the community)
A mixture
Unsure / I don’t want
5. When choosing who delivers these services, what matters most to you? (1=Most Important,
5:=Least important, please print number clearly next to your choice)
Quality of service
1982
Cultural understanding
Accessibility: easy to reach, across all campuses
Independence
Specialist knowledge
ACT
6. How would you prefer to be involved in these decisions? (please circle
Student representatives on decision groups
Regular surveys with results shared publicly
Hui or focus groups each year
I don’t want/need to be involved
Other
INFORMATION
RELEASED UNDER THE
7. Would you like to receive updates about how this money is used?
Yes
No
8.. What’s one thing NMIT could do better to support your wellbeing and success?
OFFICIAL
