New student president steps up against Massey’s lack of transparency

General president Jake Law has made the decision to terminate his contract with Te Tira Ahu Pae due to his “belief that the general cohort was ready to step up and support their students”. 

Stepping up to the plate is new general/distance president Andrew Steele, his first priority was to build better communication with Massey to represent students better.  

“We wanna see way more transparency,” Steele said, “If they know something, the students need to know.” 

He felt frustrated with Massey’s communication throughout the job and course cuts.  

“How are people supposed to make an informed decision when they don’t have all the information?” 

Steele is an ex-military professional with a decade's worth of experience in leadership and teamwork, studying a Bachelor of Arts degree Majoring in Psychology in Wellington. 

He has worked on Humanitarian campaigns globally and has been deployed in active combat. 

Last week, Steele and Pasifika president Aniva Feau and Manawhakahaere Māori president Ramairoa Tawera went on a trip to each Massey campus to meet students and find ways to improve the association.  

Steele also wanted to speak to Massey reps from each campus about how they can improve communication.  

He said Law left him with big shoes to fill, “We suffered a loss when Jake left … Sometimes people make decisions to move on”. 

This year the student association merged across all campuses to create one, Te Tira Ahu Pae. Steele said the new student association structure would mean more continuity, “We’re all gonna be on the same page”.  

Previous general/distance president Jake Law said, “Due to other commitments and my belief that the general cohort was ready to step up and support their students, I have made the difficult decision to terminate my contract with Te Tira Ahu Pae.”  

Law became general president of the combined student association, Te Tira Ahu Pae, after being Albany Student Association (ASA) president last year.  

He said this was to ensure continuity and support to incoming student reps, as well as provide unity and support to the co-presidents.  

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far in 2023 as a new organisation that represents all Massey students.” 

He wished all students a successful semester 2 and sent encouragement to the general reps who are “working tirelessly to support their student communities”.