Massey University has made the difficult decision not to contract Te Tira Ahu Pae to deliver representation services for 2025. This decision also applies to the delivery of student support services, for which effective governance is a mandate.
The key factors that fed into the university’s decision to not enter into an agreement with Te Tira Ahu Pae at this time are:
- lack of information and transparency
- no concrete plans for the next steps on issues such as the constitutional challenges and changes to the student representation model.
These issues have been acknowledged by Te Tira Ahu Pae and discussions with the university have been held but no plans to address them were communicated to either the university or the wider student body.
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University remains committed to fostering and supporting independent and effective student representation and student voice.
Background
Each student at Massey University pays a Student Services Fee. These fees fund:
- student representation
- student support services of student advocacy, the magazine Massive, the radio station Radio Control, clubs and events.
These services are currently delivered by the students association Te Tira Ahu Pae in a contract arrangement with Massey University.
In the past few months of 2024, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University has been engaged with Te Tira Ahu Pae representatives regarding the university’s significant concerns about the governance of the students association, particularly around its board processes and actions. Massey University and Te Tira Ahu Pae have both agreed the representation model the association delivers is no longer adequately serving the student body.
As a result, the difficult decision was made by Massey University in October not to contract Te Tira Ahu Pae to deliver representation services for 2025.
The university chose to make and announce this decision at this time of the year following repeated requests from the management of Te Tira Ahu Pae to confirm funding for 2025.
We chose to send an announcement to all students, even though we understood students would be busy preparing for exams, as the university felt transparency in this regard was critical.
Developing a fit-for-purpose representation model
Over summer, Massey University will support interested students to develop potential representation models for the future. These may include a refinement of Te Tira Ahu Pae model, or be a new model entirely. Consultation with the full student body on these proposed options will start in Semester One 2025.
If you are a current student and would like to be involved in the development of new representation models, please email studentvoice@massey.ac.nz.
The university's engagement with Te Tira Ahu Pae
Massey University has engaged with Te Tira Ahu Pae Board members throughout 2024 to discuss concerns about:
- creating a membership list or undertaking constitutional changes
- the governance practices of the association
- the effectiveness of the the election process and representation model, budget required and capacity for onboarding new representatives
- lack of information, transparency and concrete plans for the next steps.
The university feels that transparency in this regard is critical and the details of our engagement and communication with Te Tira Ahu Pae are included below.
Discussing the implementation of a membership list
On 22 July, Massey sent a meeting request to Te Tira Ahu Pae Board members via their General Manager, asking to discuss a membership drive that had been commenced. The university was concerned how it would impact the involvement of the wider student body in key decisions. The request also included a request for the process to be paused until the meeting could take place.
On 30 July, Massey and Board members had a meeting to discuss the membership drive. At the meeting, the university was told that the process would continue. We sought advice regarding the proposed approach that could:
- help inform the Board
- focus any future actions on including the wider student body in association decision-making for example, Special General Meetings and constitutional changes.
We understand there were discussions held by the Board on this matter over the preceding month and on 22 August the Chair of the Board wrote to the university to say they had postponed the SGM and creation of the membership list and were seeking legal advice on the matter.
Concerns about the governance practices of the association
The university had been engaging with the representation manager regarding the reporting requirements of Te Tira Ahu Pae since May.
On 29 August, Massey wrote to all student representatives outlining its concerns and proposing an interim solution for working through these concerns: the establishment of a temporary emergency board.
A meeting was held with the Board on 10 September. The university followed up on actions from this meeting, including an offer to work together on developing an action plan, in emails on 11 September and 17 September. These emails went unanswered. On 24 September, the university received a letter, endorsed by half of the Board, which included some assurances that changes would be made but had little detail.
Concerns that Te Tira Ahu Pae should put elections on hold
On 23 September, the Chair of the Board and the university held a meeting following the resignation of the Representation Manager, who was also the Election Manager. In this meeting the university expressed concerns regarding:
- the effectiveness of the representation model
- budget required
- capacity for onboarding of new representatives
- the election process.
On 24 September, the Chair confirmed that the Board still wished to proceed and Massey wrote the following clarifying statement to the Chair, suggesting the statement was also shared with the Board.
'It is up to Te Tira Ahu Pae what it does regarding elections and if the concerns I raised have been considered (e.g. budget, appropriateness of rep model, safety of new reps, resources to onboard them etc) and the desire is to proceed then that is the associations prerogative.'
The email also suggested that the Board consider 'how confident they are that Te Tira Ahu Pae has addressed the concerns raised by the University [about governance of Te Tira Ahu Pae and about the loss of 2 of the 3 senior staff]' as addressing these concerns would be important when considering funding in 2025.
On 30 September, the Acting General Manager of Te Tira Ahu Pae wrote to the university with an update regarding the election progress. Following the resignation of the Representation Manager she was now also playing the role of Election Manager.
In this email she outlined concerns about future funding and about the conflict of interest that existed for many Board members when considering if elections should be held or not. She also explained that she had not yet completed the necessary steps to hold an election and requested a meeting.
On 1 October, the university, Student Presidents and the Election Manager held a meeting. At this meeting:
- the election manager raised concerns about the process
- Massey raised concerns regarding Te Tira Ahu Pae desire to elect new representatives when it had been agreed that the current structure was not working well.
On 4 October, the Chairperson of the Board shared that the outcome of a unanimous vote of the Board was to postpone elections and that they intended to set up a committee.
This decision was communicated to all students via social media.
It is our understanding that this matter is scheduled to be discussed further at a Board meeting on 7 November.
The Voluntary Student Membership Bill
The university was not responsible for the passing of the Voluntary Student Membership Bill which changed the funding approach for student associations.
This was a legislative change that many people in the sector were opposed to.
Current Te Tira Ahu Pae staff
Te Tira Ahu Pae holds the employment relationship with their staff and as such has specific responsibilities that the university is mindful to not interfere with. The university has repeatedly indicated to the management of Te Tira Ahu Pae a desire to collaborate regarding staffing of these services moving forward, we are awaiting feedback on this regard.
When the decision was communicated
Following repeated requests from the management of Te Tira Ahu Pae to confirm funding for 2025, Massey wrote to the Board and Student Presidents outlining its unwillingness to enter a funding arrangement with Te Tira Ahu Pae for 2025 at this time.
Massey requested that Te Tira Ahu Pae hold the details of the letter in confidence until after a meeting the following day so that the university and Te Tira Ahu Pae representatives could meet and discuss an appropriate shared communication plan, particularly for the employees of Te Tira Ahu Pae.
Unfortunately, the details of the letter were leaked onto social media. Therefore, the decision was taken to inform all students of the decision the following day – 2 days after giving notice to the Board.
The university has made repeated requests to meet with the board on 16 October, 25 October and again on 1 November.
Continuing the student-governed support services
The student support services currently provided by Te Tira Ahu Pae are critical to students’ experience and wellbeing and are valued by students, as results in the consultation on Student Services Fee spending showed. These services will continue to be provided by Te Tira Ahu Pae for the remainder of 2024.
In 2025, the university will provide student support services by alternative delivery methods as an interim measure.
If you have any questions, or would like to provide feedback, please email studentvoice@massey.ac.nz.
Student representation at Massey in the future
Massey University is making it a priority to help facilitate the development of a student representation model by current student representatives in consultation with the full student body.
What will happen to services currently delivered by Te Tira Ahu Pae
Services such as advocacy, Massive Magazine, Radio Control, clubs and events were delivered by Te Tira Ahu Pae under an annual contract for student-governed student services. They were overseen and governed by students via the board and constitution of Te Tira Ahu Pae.
Until a fit-for-purpose representation model is developed and implemented, there is no student governance in place to oversee the student support services.
The current agreement with Te Tira Ahu Pae remains in place until the end of 2024.
In 2025, services will remain available to students and will continue to be resourced to a similar level as in 2024. We are working with Te Tira Ahu Pae on the ways that continuity of the services can be maintained to minimise the impact of change to students and services staff.
We will be providing updates on this collaboration on a regular basis.
Ensuring advocacy services remain independent from the university
Massey University is working on a number of mitigations to help ensure services and staff in these areas can operate without impediment from the university. This includes the establishment of a Steering Group, predominantly made up of students, which can provide oversight to these services and that can highlight any concerns that may arise to the wider student body.
Funding and fees
Funding of services, including club grants, will continue in 2025 and will be at a similar level as 2024.
The Student Services Fee will not be reduced as services will continue.
How Te Tira Ahu Pae operates
Te Tira Ahu Pae is an incorporated society that is governed by a set of rules called a constitution. The constitution sets out the society’s purpose, what it does and how it operates. Board members run the incorporated society using the constitution for guidance. By adhering to the constitution and the Societies Act, Te Tira Ahu Pae is able to operate as a not-for-profit legal entity.