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. This decision also applies to the delivery of student support services, for which effective governance is a mandate. Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University remains committed to fostering and supporting independent and effective student representation and student voice.
Find out more about the Student Services Fee.
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.
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.