last night I was treated to dinner by a friend totally random and they didn't even know I was doing this challenge so many thanks for the chicken and vegetables.

Toast and porridge for breakfast, cost me $3.50 from work cafe and drank cold water. Lunch was home-made egg fried rice yum, yum and had a dinner meeting so will have to factor in $10.

Early morning start at the gym and then a day full of meetings only able to key this blog in at 10pm and then will have to read tommorrows papers. But this week Parekura launched i-papakupu and Te Taurawhiri launched google.maaori.com a creation of an ex-Waikato Uni student Potaua - well done on that one!

Just going back over Pete Hodgsons statement last thursday where he said:

"...he wanted to restate that Labour's position on student allowances was to move progressively over a period of time towards a universal student allowance but not go directly to one.

He said earlier this year he asked officials to cost a universal student allowance as he knew students would ask for this in the lead up to the Budget.

"This is the situation, that Labour's oft stated policy remains one of moving progressively towards a universal student allowance rather than directly to one."

He said that of all the students who would receive an allowance, should it be made universal, 57% are already receiving an allowance".

In addition to this  

Budget 2008 signalled further investment in tertiary students with a student support package valued at $130.8 million in operating funding and $24.4 million in capital funding over four years.

Initiatives include: 

·a 10 percent increase in the parental income threshold for a full student allowance from 1 January 2009 (benefiting 12,000 students a year) 

·lowering the age limit for student allowances parental income testing to age 24, and lifting the maximum rate of student allowances for those aged 24 to the level for students aged 25 years and above (benefiting more than 5,000 students a year)

·indexing the student loan living cost component to inflation from 1 April 2009, following a one-off increase from $150 per week to $155 per week on 1 January 2009 

·a 50 per cent expansion of the Bonded Merit Scholarship Scheme to 1500 scholarships per year (benefiting 500 high-achieving undergraduate students each year)

Not to mention the changes we have delivered in abolishing interest on all student loans to stop debts escalating, controlling the rate of tuition fees increases through the fee maxima, earlier increases in the parental income threshold for allowances so that approximately 57% now receive a non-repayable allowance.

If ever there were a reason to do the live like a student challenge it would be to better understand the everyday hardships students go through to pursue higher education, gain a qualification and contribute to making a difference in our communities.

I understand that more can be done...but I am sure that many of the changes we have worked towards continue to help make a difference.

That all from me tonight.

Pomarie