Shock resignations: Distance exec lose half of their exec members

Members resigned due to a “hostile working environment” and “diabolical” email from co-president

Massey’s Distance Executive (M@D) are left reeling after the recent resignation of three board members - totalling half of their exec - in response to an alleged hostile working environment and email sent by a Co-President. On April 8, M@D received resignations from their Māori Representative Taiawhio Wati, South Island and International Representative Aaron McLelland, and Lower North Island Representative/Treasurer Salla Garam.  

M@D Co-Presidents Jacalyn Clare and Jax Watt say that, “[they] chose to resign as they felt the current board's trajectory and style didn’t align with their values. It is unfortunate this has occurred.” However, Salla Garam told Massive that this reasoning “isn’t accurate”. Salla says, “speaking just for myself, there were no issues with the board's trajectory, the issues were with communication. M@D became a hostile working environment and I felt, though I was quite invested in the association, it was untenable to stay on.”   

Taiawhio Wati says that herself and other board members were “hoping to mediate and move forward” after lack of board consultation around serious issues. However, after a “diabolical email” sent by Jax, the board members resigned in protest.  

Massive has observed this email and will be covering ongoing allegations in our next issue.  

In regards to the email being “diabolical”, Jax says that this statement “overlooks that our approach to unsavoury things such as having to bring up disciplinary issues have been guided by those with more experience than us, such as NZUSA and Massey University”. She claims she was responding to the “perceived cruelty” on the board which called for “disciplinary action”.  

“Massey University has further supported our disciplinary approach, being aware of everything that has been transpiring as the General Manager added or forwarded them the email threads. As they noted, the person in charge of disciplinary action within the association or any place of work is supposed to be ‘scary’- that was Massey's words, not ours,” the co-presidents claim. “Disciplinary tones were taken by a M@D President for the first time in a long time and this has been perceived as what you have quoted as ‘hostile’ or ‘diabolical’.” They claim that disciplinary processes have not occurred within M@D for “years”.  

In resignation emails seen by Massive, one board member wrote, “I'm no longer willing to be part of an organisation where all communications from one of the co-presidents are aggressive, accusatory, sometimes condescending, and borderline insulting.” Another wrote, “People and relationships are far more important than any regulatory requirements and it's important to try and maintain those relationships while implementing regulation.”  

Jacalyn and Jax say that they “were very clear when we were voted in by the students that we would be concentrating on bringing the association back into compliance and in line with how contemporary student associations are governed.” The co-presidents say that they were forewarned by Massey and NZUSA that “large scale structural and cultural changes will always end up ruffling a few feathers”.  

They admit that, given the resignations, work has now “fallen back” to the co-presidents, with Jacalyn and Jax also taking on the Educational and Welfare portfolios after interest was failed to be generated in February. They’re now “focused on getting our board filled as quickly as possible”.  

But as to whether the roles can be filled quickly, that remains to be seen. Executives are bound by their constitutions as to what to do in these cases. Whilst after the resignation of their Sustainability and Welfare Officer, MAWSA could just call a quick by-election within weeks of university starting, M@D is constitutionally bound that, for an election to occur, nominations must be called for during an AGM. However, an AGM can’t occur any earlier than the start of Semester 2. Long story short, until the Executive can hold an election, they can “opt-in” people to replace members. “A section on the Stream site will list our open board positions. Students will be able to either email their expressions of interest to us or upload them directly to the Stream page itself,” the co-presidents say. When the Stream site launches in two weeks, the co-presidents will begin accepting expressions of interest from students. Board positions look likely to change from regional to portfolio based.   

This is far from the first drama the Distance Executive has experienced this year. In January, Kelly Hall resigned from her position as the Lower North Island Representative. Salla Garam also made the decision to step down from her position as Vice President, but continued her role as Treasurer. Salla was voted on to take on the position of Lower North Island Representative in order to retain her seat on the board. David McNab also declined the Upper North Island Representative position he was elected to in 2020, with fellow candidate Sean Cardiff taking on the position in his absence.   

 This is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information, please contact editor@massivemagazine.org.nz