Could politics be back in Palmy? One club aims to do so

As Palmy’s political culture has dwindled over the past decade, a new formed Civic’s club hopes to encourage democracy again.  

Jayden Alcock, club member and Linguistics student said, “Ultimately, this club is about finding one’s politics while actually doing something tangible with that passion.”  

Alcock said the club is all about “removing stigma from politics within the university context”. He said the club wants to challenge the notion that universities must be apolitical, neutral, and unbiased spaces.  

With the local election schedule for September, the club would like to organise candidate debates with the city council.  

A main focus for the club will be the referendum to keep the Te Pūao Maōri ward located within Te Papaioea, which will also be part of the local election. 

Alcock was interested to be involved in the club having participated in other political activities on campus last year.  

In 2024, several protests took place on campus against Massey’s neutrality on Israel’s war on Gaza. Massive revealed in June that the Massey University Foundation invested $7,105 in Israeli Government Bonds. Student’s called numerous times to the university to divest.  

Furthermore, Manawatū students protested against job and course cuts by chalking the campus for Open Day in August.  

At the rainy club's day on Feburary 26th, representatives from major political parties, National, Labour, and Greens, were making their presence known, alongside the Civics table. 

It was taken as a large indication that politics will make its presence felt this year.