The Freedom of Association Bill, which was first put before Parliament by Act New Zealand MP Heather Roy about two years ago has faced stalling tactics by the Labour Party in a bid to delay a third reading and vote until after the election.
The Bill seeks to make university student association membership voluntary - a move opponents say will have significant financial implications and undermine student services, facilities, and campus environments.
The Bill was initially due back in Parliament today, but its second and third readings will not now be debated until next month.
Otago University Students' Association president Logan Edgar, who earlier locked himself in a cage for 42 hours in protest against voluntary student membership, plans to take part in a "creaming John Key" protest at the Otago University Union building today.
Dressed up as the Prime Minister, he will be confined in mock medieval "stocks" so students can throw cream pies at him in protest against the planned legislation.
The two-hour protest will begin at 11.30am.
Mr Edgar urged the Government to consider a different form of law change, under which students could opt out of student membership more easily, rather than requiring student associations to sign up student members individually.
Modern students associations were "crucial to provide the fundamental support services for students, adequate representation, and to manage and protect the assets that students for over 120 years have worked and invested in," he said.
Universities could not provide the services delivered at present by students associations at the low cost provided by the associations, he said.
New Zealand Union of Students Associations co-president David Do, of Wellington, said students associations throughout the country were going ahead with the planned day of protest activities, including a "Universal Day of Fun" at the Victoria University of Wellington campus.
