Aotearoa Student Press Association

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The Aotearoa Student Press Association is an association of eight student newspapers and magazines that are published by the student associations of universities and polytechnics in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The Aotearoa Student Press Association has an associate membership in the New Zealand House of Representatives press gallery.^[1]

Members of the Aotearoa Student Press Association are:

• Critic Te Ārohi, University of Otago
• Canta, University of Canterbury
• Craccum, University of Auckland
• Debate, Auckland University of Technology
• Massive, Massey University (Wellington, Albany and Manawatu campuses)
• Nexus, Waikato University
• Salient, Victoria University of Wellington

Magazines that are no longer part of the Aotearoa Student Press Association include:

• Ram, Lincoln University
• Crew, Universal College of Learning
• Decoy, Eastern Institute of Technology
• Gyro, Otago Polytechnic
• In Unison, Unitec
• Te Pararē, Te Mana Ākonga

The Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA) was established in November 1991 to support student journalism in New Zealand, following the disbandment of the New Zealand Student Arts Council (NZSAC). Recognising the need to continue the training, funding, and organisational support previously provided by NZSAC, ASPA was founded as a collective effort to ensure the survival and development of student media across the country. On 4 February 1994, ASPA formalised its operations by becoming an incorporated society, further solidifying its role as a key institution in student journalism.

ASPA’s first major initiative was the organisation of annual training conferences, beginning in 1992, to provide student editors and staff with practical skills in areas such as editorial management, advertising, and ethical journalism. These conferences aimed to ensure a consistent transfer of knowledge between successive generations of student journalists. That same year, ASPA launched ASPAration, an advertising service that connected student newspapers with advertisers, creating a sustainable revenue stream for publications with limited funding.

On 1 August 1992, ASPA members worked to establish a national employment contract for student journalists, aimed at protecting them from the transient nature of their roles. Around this time, the organisation also adopted a "Statement of Principles" to guide ethical reporting and reinforce editorial independence, a response to the precarious balance between maintaining freedom of the press and meeting the demands of funding bodies like student associations.

Despite these advancements, ASPA faced financial challenges from its inception. The loss of NZSAC’s funding forced ASPA to rely on contributions from individual student associations, whose priorities often conflicted with supporting collective initiatives. The introduction of user-pays systems in the 1990s further exacerbated these difficulties. To address these challenges, ASPA created collaborative networks among student newspapers, enabling resource sharing and joint training opportunities. In 1993, ASPA transitioned into a charitable trust, a move designed to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining its focus on training and advocacy for student media.

In 1993, ASPA introduced the ASPA Awards to recognise excellence in student journalism. The awards celebrated achievements in categories such as news reporting, feature writing, and reviews, and provided constructive feedback from professional judges. Over the years, the awards became a hallmark of ASPA’s efforts to uphold high standards in student journalism.

The association has held an annual awards ceremony since 2002, recognising the best in New Zealand's student media; past sponsors have included the New Zealand Listener and Fairfax Media Group. Prizes regularly include subscriptions and an internship with the sponsor. The awards are judged by a collection of New Zealand media experts and commentators - previous judges have included Chris Knox, Nicky Hager, Raybon Kan, and John Campbell.

Best Small Publication

2013 - Canta^[2]

2012 - Canta, Nexus (2nd)

2009 - Magneto, Gyro (2nd), InUnison (3rd)

2007 - Magneto, In Unison (2nd), Satellite (3rd)^[3]

2006 - Magneto, Satellite (2nd), In Unison (3rd)^[4]

2005 - Debate, Magneto (2nd), Satellite & In Unison (3rd equal)^[5]

• New Zealand House of Representatives: Press Gallery members