Breaking News: Three Māori and Pasifika student leaders removed from board

Three Māori and Pasifika student leaders have been removed from their paid governance roles two weeks before the end of their term.  

The reps, Chiavanni Le’Mon, Shayne Sullivan, and Anushika Prasad, claim the decision was made via email, without advance notice, and without an opportunity to respond.  

The removal was a result of the recent election, as the reps had strong concerns about two newly voted in Māori leaders.  

Māori board members were ultimately outvoted by non-Māori board members on the issue, the removed reps claimed.  

Māori rep Chiavanni Le'Mon, said, “We were not given the chance to speak, to kōrero, or to uphold the tikanga that should guide our mahi.” 

Multiple reps claimed the removed reps were not included in the email which motioned for their removal. They lost access to their work emails and software like Microsoft Teams. 

Le'Mon said, “This experience has raised serious questions about the cultural safety of governance spaces designed to represent our communities.” 

Māori rep Shayne Sullivan said, “Being at the table as Māori, but having decisions made about us without our agreement, reflects a deeper issue around structural power and the limits of current systems.” 

The reps claimed the decision went against Te Tira Ahu Pae's constitution, however, general president Hennessey Wilson denied this.  

Wilson said, “The members in mention were opposed to the ratification of some election results, and in line with our commitment to democracy, they were removed 2 weeks early to ensure that the student mandate put forward by the more than 1,000 students who voted was upheld." 

Te Tira Ahu Pae's 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. 

“The Board holds no apology for choosing to ratify the election results of those who won.” 

“You will find that those that won their election will be on the 2025 executive, despite attempts by the outgoing board to overturn the vote of Māori students.” 

These issues come after similar incidents last year. In 2024, one of the Pasifika presidents was kicked off the board, and multiple Māori and Pasifika reps reported a toxic and divided culture.  

As the issues grew, Massey University decided not to enter a funding agreement with the association for 2025.  

However, the decision was reversed with the promise that a new student representation model would be built.  

The association is yet to change its representation model, with the hopes of doing so by the end of this year.  

Removed Pasifika rep Anushika Prasad said the reps had gone to the university with desperate pleas for intervention, however, it remained largely unresponsive. 

“That silence has allowed non-Māori to continue making decisions that affect Māori and Pasifika students — without us, and often against our guidance.”  

The university said it is regularly reviewing its relationship with Te Tira Ahu Pae after governance concerns were raised last year.

Tere McGonagle-Daly, deputy vice-chancellor, students and global engagement said, “This latest situation illustrates the university’s continued concerns about the governance of Te Tira Ahu Pae, and the model for student representation.” 

McGonagle-Daly said representatives from the Student Experience Team met with the three removed board members yesterday to hear their concerns and offer support. 

“We remain committed to fostering and supporting independent student representation and student voice and strongly encourage students to be engaged and involved with this process, so they can have their say on the future of Te Tira Ahu Pae, and how it operates.”