UniQ excluded from MUSAF merger discussion

LGBTQIA+ groups at Massey were not invited to MUSAF’s discussions about a potential organizational merge and restructure. 

MUSAF has stated it aims to better represent a variety of student groups with its restructure proposal, one of which was LGBTQIA+ students. 

A hui discussing the proposal was held between Massey’s four general student associations, three Māori student associations and two Pasifika student associations in Palmerston North on July 31. 

A UniQ Palmerston North spokesperson said that the UniQ groups were not invited to this or any other discussions. “Massey Albany Pasifika Students’ Association noticed this and reached out to us through Albany UniQ and asked us if we wanted to be involved in the meeting. We said, ‘yes we’d like to be there’,” they said.  

They said MAPSA tried to get the information about the meeting for them but got no response from MUSAF before the meeting took place. “Our UniQ email has been passed on to MUSAF so they can reach out to contact us to discuss things if they’d like to, but we’ve heard nothing from them yet.” 

Massey Albany UniQ told Massive that they were only recently affiliated and they understand that it would have been out of the ordinary for MUSAF to engage with them prior to affiliation. 

“We’re grateful that MAPSA took the time and initiative to reach out to us and to give space for our voice about how we’d like to be represented,” they said. 

They were disappointed that their attendance at the hui was not facilitated, but are hopeful that MUSAF will work to include them in future discussions. 

MAWSA President Tessa Guest said that while they haven’t formally been involved in discussions yet, MUSAF aim to have them soon. She said while they would have preferred the presence of rainbow representatives at the Palmerston North hui, but a short timeframe made that impossible. 

“Our priority in getting this structure right was our obligations to Te Tiriti, and that meant involving our Māori association representatives (as well as recognising Pasifika people’s unique place in our country and involving them),” Tessa said. 

She said they also wanted to ensure all UniQ voices were represented rather than just one at the last minute. “We appreciate the connections and work of MUPSA to include rainbow voice, and we regret that they weren’t able to be included at the time.” 

She said MUSAF will prioritise conversations with the rainbow community to understand how they would like their voice included in the future.