Victoria University of Wellington has backtracked on its controversial decision to charge students rent for their unoccupied rooms.
The announcement that students in halls of residence would be charged for rooms they were unable to return to at alert level 3 led to widespread outrage and threats of a rent strike.
On Friday Salient, the student newspaper for Victoria University, reported the university will no longer charge for unoccupied rooms.
The university will reassess its charges on May 11, when the Government is expected to announce a change in its COVID-19 alert level.
Green MP Chloe Swarbrick pushed hard for the university to retract it's fees, saying it was "patently unfair".
She says Friday's decision to u-turn on rent demonstrates the "huge" power students have and their success proves they "aren't willing to take crap anymore".
"This demonstrates the huge collective power in the student voice to push for political change," said Swarbrick.
She says Greens will continue to support students by advocating for them and investigating injustices.
Victoria University has been contacted for comment.
