Student reps kicked off board request $225,000 in compensation

Three Māori and Pasifika reps who were kicked off the board last month are requesting $225,000 dollars, or $75,000 each, in compensation for reputation damage, cultural damage, and failure to uphold the association constitution.  

The reps were removed after differing opinions created divisions amongst board members — particularly over the ratification of a Māori distance rep who studies internally part time.  

The personal grievance was shared with Massive anonymously.

The letter was sent to the association by former Māori distance rep Chiavanni Le’Mon on behalf of herself and the other removed reps.  

It stated the reps faced cultural harm, “including displacement and exclusion from a space designed to support our communities.”  

The letter stated the compensation reflects their loss of income — 20 hours a week at living wage. 

The rep’s contracts were scheduled to end two weeks after being removed from the board.  

The grievance was sent on April 8th and requested a response within 10 days. However, Le’Mon said no formal reply had been received from Te Tira Ahu Pae.  

She told Massive the personal grievance had been handed to their lawyer and is part of an active legal case.  

“This is no longer a student dispute — this is a governance and legal matter.”  

“We've got so much evidence ... got such a great foundation that supports our grievance.” 

Le'Mon believed reps had weaponised the constitution to their advantage, and changes needed to be made.  

The constitution states that a board member may be removed by a resolution and vote at any board meeting so long as four members are present. In this extreme case, four members were present for the removals.  

“The constitution needs to be amended to ensure that we have safeguards in place to ensure that these things don't continually happen.” 

Due to deep rooted issues with Massey's student representation structure, the association plans to build a new representation model by September.  

When the structure changes, Le’Mon hoped to see safeguards established to ensure Tino rangatiratanga and the principles of Te Tiriti are upheld.  

Le’Mon said the reps were not formally told they had been kicked off the board and lost their jobs, with the most formal confirmation being an article by Massive.  

“It just all happened so quickly.” 

A statement from Te Tira Ahu Pae said, “The leaking of confidential legal matters is disappointing and against confidentiality rules Reps are required to follow”.  

They said the leak undermined Te Tira Ahu Pae’s ability to resolve the matter in good faith. 

They were unable to comment on ongoing legal disputes.