Students are in hardship and need all the help they can get.

This from the President of the Tertiary Education Union, Sandra Grey, ahead of Labour's tertiary education announcement.

The party has previously pushed to give under-graduates three years of free study.

Ms Grey told Mike Hosking free education would mean young people who don't have financial support from their parents, can afford to get an education.

"We've got students missing out around the country because of the cost of education, that's not good for anyone."

"That's not good for the students, but it's also not good for business and it's not good for communities."

Jacinda Ardern is making the policy announcement later this morning.