Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE EXECUTIVE BULL-PEN, CUMBERLAND STREET, DUNEDIN ON 16 MARCH 2026 AT 11:01AM
PRESENT
Daniel Leamy (Chair), Troy Gibbons, Hansini Wijekoon, Ella Sangster, Fergus Parks, Irfaan Ariffin, Zoe Eckhoff, Sami Harrison, Jarna Flintoff, Rihanna Warsame and Kamesha Jones
IN ATTENDANCE
Debbie Downs (Chief Executive Officer), Donna Jones (Association Secretary), Stella Weston, (Critic News Editor), Gordon Roy (Association Director of Planning and Development), Kenchozi (Eva) Mumford, Elle Wood (Thursdays in Black Co- Directors).
APOLOGIES
Adeleine Eli
Kamesha Jones for lateness
Moved from the Chair
128/26 THAT the above apologies be accepted.
CARRIED U
INTEREST REGISTER
For noting
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING
Moved from the Chair
129/26 THAT the minutes of the executive meeting held on 9th March 2026 be accepted as a true and correct record.
CARRIED U
Kamesha arrived at 11.03am
SPEAKING RIGHTS
Moved from the Chair
130/26 THAT Debbie Downs, Donna Jones, Stella Weston, Gordon Roy, Kenchozi Mumford and Elle Wood be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED U
Order of agenda business was altered to accommodate guests attending.
EXECUTIVE QUICK ROUND UP
A busy comprehensive round up from all.
CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT
Gordon Roy (Acting Director of Campus Master Plan) was invited to address the meeting. He said the environment has changed and it is not fit for purpose currently. He wants to communicate with the wider student body about the Campus Master Plan and would appreciate advice and assistance from OUSA to do this, perhaps with a survey and ways to engage. Gordon hoped Marketing and Comms could be approached along with all our clubs and societies. Daniel is encouraging the executive to get involved. Information tables will be set up around campus hoping the executive will sit on them with other staff. Locations and dates to be confirmed, Gordon will advise.
Te Rōpū Māori mentioned they have been working on this quite extensively and asked about mana whenua’s involvement. Gordon said there was a meeting on 15 March with mana whenua and he is happy to have a hui with Te Rōpū Māori about facilities etc for Māori students. Student success program priority group had a meeting last year and there is work going on behind the scenes.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING – THURSDAYS IN BLACK
Elle addressed the meeting expressing the hope that all staff and executive will make it mandatory to wear black on Thursdays. Could OUSA and TiB partner up to start a poster promotion campaign to raise awareness and provide education and about the issues of sexual violence and harm?
Te Rōpū Māori keen to be involved in this campaign.
A hybrid session to be set up. Dr Melanie Beres, academic director of Te Whare Tāwharau will be contacted.
Gibbons/Sangster
131/26 THAT the common seal be affixed to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) and Thursdays in Black (TiB).
CARRIED U
AFFILIATIONS
Otago Professional Programmes Spaces Association – OPPSA it was decided not to affiliate this group as similar to other groups already affiliated and will suggest they work together with those groups. Mention was made about their burning couch logo!
Ella will inform Caroline.
Jarna out at 11.49am
Moved from the Chair
132/26 THAT the Otago Women’s Collective be affiliated to OUSA.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
133/26 THAT the Wellness Club be affiliated to OUSA.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
134/26 THAT the Iranian Society be affiliated to OUSA.
CARRIED U
GENERAL ELECTIONS – CAMPAIGN IDEAS
Venue for candidate forum/debates confirmed.
Ideas for questions and activities been put out there for comment. Ideas are
- Rental WOF
- Repeal of Voluntary Student Membership (VSM)
- Expansion of Fees Free Tertiary Education
- Paid Placements
Te Rōpū Māori has put forward two candidates for the forum/debate.
There will be further updates after our first Political Action Committee (PAC) meeting. Can we please ensure all policies and ideas are brought to executive meetings or PAC.
Jarna returned at 11.54am
CAPPING CHARITY
Each year the executive has an opportunity to choose a charity to donate our funds from lost property sales and small donations. The aim is to keep the charity local.
Suggestions were Prostate & Breast Cancer 50/50 and OCASA.
Moved from the Chair
135/26 THAT Otepoti Communities Against Sexual Abuse (OCASA) be the OUSA Capping Charity for 2026.
CARRIED U
EARTH DAYS EVENTS
Ella was approached by the Students for Environmental Action, Sustainability Office and other groups are teaming up to do something for Earth Days events and would like to invite the executive to participate. Ella will follow up.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Moved from the Chair
136/26 THAT the OUSA Executive congratulate the Critic Co-Designers Stella Coulton and Ash McFarlane on their recent graduation.
CARRIED U
GRANT APPLICATION AND AUDIT
Moved from the Chair
137/26 THAT OUSA approves an application to the New Zealand Community Trust for funding up to $15,000 to support the redevelopment of the Critic Te Ārohi website and authorises the completion of and submission of all assocated application documents
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
138/26 THAT OUSA approves the signing of consent to be audited and declaration form by two authorised signatories for the purpose of this application to give the Department of Internal Affairs the right to inspect all NZCT records and is entitled to audit grant recipients’records to determine that grant funds have been propertly applied to the authorised signatories.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
139/26 THAT the OUSA Executive approves the removal of James Grubb and Geoff Simons as contacts from the organisation’s NZCT registration.
CARRIED U
GENERAL BUSINESS
Flatting Festival – this coming Thursday at 11am. All welcome.
Ella was gauging if the executive would attend a Te Whare Tāwharau’s HYBRID workshop.
Meeting closed at 12.07pm
Signed: ___________________________________ Date: _________