Massey Students’ Association in turmoil
Allegations of toxic culture. Manager suspended. Māori and Pasifika members pushed out – formal complaints. University ‘seriously concerned’
Massey Students' Association, also known as Te Tira Ahu Pae, is in turmoil as key staff have quit or been suspended, followed by accusations of toxic behaviour.
Since August:
Association general manager Wendy Carr has been suspended for unspecified ‘serious complaints’.
Pasifika co-president Wesley Peters has been kicked off the Te Tira Ahu Pae board.
Māori president Cameron Taylor has resigned.
Massey University says it has raised ‘serious concerns’ about the governance of the association and is in discussions with it.
Pasifika rep Anushika Prasad has made a formal complaint against the chair of the board, Hennessey Wilson.
Three board members have told Massive of a ‘divided culture’.
An outside HR third party has been brought in for an ‘ongoing investigation’.
General/Distance president and chair of the Te Tira Ahu Pae board, Hennessey Wilson. Photo / Te Tira Ahu Pae
Things blew up in August, with the resignation of Māori president Cameron Taylor. That was followed by the removal of Wesley Peters from the board, then the suspension of Wendy Carr.
Student representatives have raised serious concerns about the way the votes were taken, with meetings held after hours, and some Māori and Pasifika board members excluded.
The vote to remove Peters was taken when the Pasifika rep, Anushika Prasad, was on leave. The vote to suspend Carr was taken after hours, with only four of the eight board members present.
The association has given no reason for Carr’s suspension, which has surprised many who have worked with her and found her a competent and well-liked manager.
Pasifika students spoken to are furious about the suspension of Peters, saying they believe it is ‘discriminatory’ and ‘sounds like a dictatorship’.
Pasifika president Peters told Massive that the past few months he has been “constantly subjected to the appalling behaviour of Hennessey and the Board environment”.
Pasifika co-president for Te Tira Ahu Pae, Wesley Peters. Photo / Te Tira Ahu Pae
He said the lack of communication and the abruptness of his removal “leaves me in a position where it has made me feel and look incompetent”.
The constitution as well as the representation manual state that three equal presidents need to sit on the board — a tripartite structure consisting of a General/Distance, Māori, and Pasifika president.
Peters said he was removed from the board after putting forward a motion to pause an association membership drive.
The pause was recommended by Massey University and the majority of the board agreed, but general president Hennessey Wilson did not, Massive has been told.
Peters said he hadn’t seen manager Carr in a month, and discussions about her absence were vague.
Carr was approached for comment, but said “I’m not allowed to correspond with staff unfortunately.”
General Manager of Te Tira Ahu Pae, Wendy Carr. Photo / Women & Business
Wilson also declined to comment, saying, “I can't comment while we have an ongoing investigation.”
A formal complaint against Wilson by Manawatū Pasifika rep Anushika Prasad was shared with Massive.
Prasad alleged in the complaint that there had been instances where she felt “attacked”, “unsafe”, “silenced” and “vulnerable” in board meetings, leaving her considering resigning.
Anushika Prasad, Manawatū Pasifika representative for Te Tira Ahu Pae. Photo / Te Tira Ahu Pae
After struggling to cope and taking time off, Prasad returned to work to find Wesley Peters voted out before she could cast her vote.
The association's constitution states the board may remove any board member if their contributions to meetings and business are deemed inadequate, and this vote can take place with a minimum of four members present.
Prasad’s complaint also alleged that Wilson’s behavior was mistreatment towards Pasifika students, “as this was done without consulting our cohort and without any Pasifika vote”.
Prasad also complained that the behavior of some of the board members had resulted in the resignation of others. “It has also become evident that if you oppose/disagree with their direction then you will be removed from the board.”
She claimed the motion to suspend Wendy Carr happened with only four board members present, and Wilson passed the motion before herself and Māori rep Shayne Sullivan could vote.
“This is a serious misconduct of the board and the misuse of the chairs position as only 1 vote was in favor of the motion.
“Not to mention, this motion was sent out to the board after working hours too.”
On August 23rd, Massive obtained a statement from Auckland Māori rep, Shayne Sullivan who echoed Prasad’s concerns.
Sullivan said he felt that members were unable to put aside conflicts of interest and personal beliefs to govern properly.
Auckland Maori rep for Te Tira Ahu Pae, Shane Sullivan. Photo / Te Tira Ahu Pae
“It is evident that if you disagree with the direction reinforced by these allegations and have the personal and/or collective fortitude to endure this repeated abuse, you will be removed from the board.”
He spoke to the troubled relationship with the general manager Wendy Carr, saying her advice was often belittled by board members.
“The board's relationship with the general manager is not based on trust but on deception and abuse.”
He believed the board had “weaponised” confidentially and excluded Carr from decisions as well as the public by moving discussion to private meetings. He felt this was intentional, as it meant the board would not be held responsible for bias and conflicts of interest.
One particular agenda item regarding the general manager being unprofessional was moved to a private meeting, which Sullivan saw as “discrimination” against Carr who was not able to plead her case.
“The outcome of these board meetings was made on the basis of discrimination against those individuals who did not receive an opportunity to plead their case, and natural justice was not considered.”
He said Wesley Peters’ removal was voted on a motion of no confidence, with select board members present not including himself or Prasad.
“For representatives to be kept in the dark regarding these actions, it is evident that the consultation of the student body is not a priority in these proceedings.”
He requested that an independent review of the Te Tira Ahu Pae board be conducted by an external third party.
Massive sent the above complaints to Wilson and asked for a response. He has not responded to those allegations.
Wellington Pasifika rep, Mary Ieremia-Allan said the motion to suspend Wendy outside of hours was due to “serious complaints”.
Mary Ieremia-Allan, Wellington Pasifika rep for Te Tira Ahu Pae. Photo / Te Tira Ahu Pae
She felt people should be present for a vote like that, “rather than stopping someone's job”.
A Massey University spokesperson said the university had raised serious concerns about the governance of Te Tira Ahu Pae over the past few weeks
It said it had been engaging with both student representatives and the board on ways to help address the concerns that have been raised.
“We remain committed to fostering and supporting independent student representation and student voice and while we acknowledge the independence of Te Tira Ahu Pae, we are also mindful of our obligation to ensure funding for student voice and that student governed student services deliver key outcomes for the wider student body.”
“We are currently in discussion with the board and as students are the key stakeholder of the association, we will be updating them as our discussions’ progress. We are interested in hearing any thoughts or concerns students have regarding their representation.”
It asked students to email it at studentvoice@massey.ac.nz.
Student response
Pasifika students spoken to by Massive were unaware that their co-president had been kicked off the board. However, they felt passionate about the issue.
Student Neli Leota thought Wesley Peters board removal sounded “discriminatory”.
“Hearing that, that pisses me off.”
He said he wouldn’t want to work for Te Tira Ahu Pae as a Polynesian person.
“Hennessey sounds like a dick.”
He wasn’t surprised to hear about the situation unfolding, “It's normal, we’re brown people, that’s what happens to us.”
Akanesi Polaulu Moimoi said it all “sounds like a dictatorship”.
In regards to Wendy’s suspension, she wondered if a policy could be put through to stop one person being able to make the final decision despite the majority having a different vote.
Last year's Wellington Māori rep, TeTaumata Nelior, was surprised to know that Wendy Carr was suspended as she was his manager last year.
“Damn, I like Wendy she was good ... very chill very easy to work with.”
Pasfika student Ishmael Tauita said not having representation on the board feels “heart sinking”.
He saw Wilson’s actions as an abuse of power and discrimination.
“In this room there would be easily over a million dollars in debt. We should be treated as equal.
“It shouldn’t be down to the decision of one person.”
Another Pasifika student Sofia Misa said, “That’s totally unfair to not have anyone be a voice for us.”
She felt making decisions while excluding certain people will only benefit them, and won’t help Pasifika students.
“From what I’m hearing it’s making me wonder if that kind of discrimination or bullying that’s coming from people that are higher up is maybe slightly intentional to discourage Pasifika people and reps from speaking up.”
