The Green Party has criticised the government's decision to scrap the fees-free tertiary education scheme. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed the scheme will be ditched in the upcoming Budget, following comments made by NZ First Leader Winston Peters on Newstalk ZB. "Ongoing coalition negotiations have led to good budget policy decisions that further the immediate and long-term interests of New Zealanders," she said. Willis also confirmed students completing their tertiary studies this year would remain eligible for fees-free, but many of those students completing three-year-courses or longer had already had their first year free. At the end of 2024, the government modified the system, offering students their last year free, rather than the first, as it was when Labour first introduced the policy. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson told RNZ the government should be investing more in the future of young people, not less.…