Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE OUSA BULL-PEN AND VIA ZOOM ON 15 JULY 2025 AT 9.05AM
PRESENT
Liam White (Chair), Daniel Leamy, Stella Lynch, Josh Stewart, Ngātiki Taylor (zoom), Ibuki Nishida, Callum Hadlow, and Amy Martin
IN ATTENDANCE
Debbie Downs (Chief Executive Officer), Donna Jones (Minute Secretary), Nina Brown (Critic Editor) and Griffyn Blockley (News Editor)
CO-OPT MEMBERS ONTO THE STANDING COMMITTEE
Moved from the Chair
sc316/25 THAT Ibuki Nishida, Callum Hadlow, Josh Stewart and Ngātiki Taylor be co-opted onto the Standing Committee for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED U
APOLOGIES
Amy Martin and Amy Whyman
Moved from the Chair
sc317/25 THAT the above apologies be accepted.
CARRIED U
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING
Moved from the Chair
sc318/25 THAT the minutes of the previous standing committee of the executive held on 5 July 2025 be accepted as a true and accurate record.
CARRIED U
SPEAKING RIGHTS
Moved from the Chair
sc319/25 THAT Debbie Downs, Donna Jones, Nina Brown and Griffyn Blockley be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED U
OUSA UPDATE
- Re-Ori kicked off yesterday
- Clubs Day in the Link area today
- Radio One large paper ma`che mountain display in the main foyer
- Media Manager starts next Monday
- Jason S and Mukesh K are on extended annual leave
TE RŌPŪ MĀORI UPDATE
Re-Ori prep’ underway, three buses going around our lovely city.
Te Whakarewanga Kōpae – 24 July at Auahi Ora, release of the Te Rōpū Māori EP.
There is a meeting later today so an update will be brought to the next executive meeting.
MARKETING/MEDIA UPDATE
No media over the break.
RE-AFFILIATION – ZONTA
Moved from the Chair
sc320/25 THAT the Zonta Club be re-affiliated to OUSA.
CARRIED U
BLUES AND GOLDS PANEL APPOINTMENTS
As attached.
Moved from the Chair
sc321/25 THAT Caroline Hallgarth, Olivia Townsend, Liam White, Deborah Huang, Porourangi Templeton-Reedy/Ngātiki Taylor, Seluvaia Ratoul, Terence Dennis, Kate Schrader, Liane Topham-Kindley, Angela Button, Georgia McKenzie and Assampta Nayituriki be appointed to the Blues and Golds Panel for 2025.
CARRIED U
OUSA STUDENT CHARTER 2025
As emailed.
No.5 Advocate for the creation of a North Dunedin Ward in Local Government. Ensure coordinated, planning between Students, University, DCC and Community groups.
There was discussion about resurrecting the Tertiary Student North Dunedin Planning Group 2021.
No.9 Secure a direct student airport bus service. There needs to be consideration given to our airport shuttle service we support. The International Office have been promoting this idea. The DCC have been approached.
Moved from the Chair
sc322/25 THAT the OUSA Student Charter 2025 be accepted and endorsed.
CARRIED U
OUSA LOCAL BODY ELECTION ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN PROPOSAL 2025
As attached.
The executive is keen to educate and promote the local body elections and especially encourage students to be enrolled to vote. There is work in progress to resurrect the former Valid Voter Booklet. OUSA will put a call out to all candidates to supply their information for the booklet. Let’s aim to have this done before Politics Week.
There are two voting booths being arranged at the University, one in St Davids Lecture Theatre building and one in the Link. BBQs to urge students to enrol forums as well be held, perhaps these could be held in the Te Rōpū Māori whare as discussed. The Secretary will contact the Electoral Office about promotion and working with them to encourage students to enrol and vote.
Amy M arrived at 9.44am
REFERENDUM REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
There was a delay in discussing the Returning Officers’ recommendations.
It was discussed that the Referenda policy is based on the Elections policy and clauses 2.5.1 and 2.5.2. recommended in the report don’t fit properly with Referenda.
Moved from the Chair
sc323/25 THAT the Returning Officers’ Referendum recommendations be accepted with a review of the Referenda Procedure Policy.
CARRIED U
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES – PURPOSE
As attached a draft of different purposes for the OUSA Constitution.
It was agreed the purpose below can now be considered at the next Constitutional Review Committee and then follow the process for the Executive to present it to the student body with the other changes being put forward.
Purpose:
To represent and advocate for the interests, rights, and welfare of students at the University of Otago, and to provide a range of services, support mechanisms, and developmental opportunities that provide the ultimate student experience, academic success, personal wellbeing, and participation in university life.
Amy will continue with her hard work on this and present a plan for PolCom and CRC.
DIGITAL ENABLING FRAMEWORK
Moved from the Chair
sc324/25 THAT the meeting move into confidential committee for reasons of commercial sensitivity at 9.55am.
CARRIED U
Callum left at 9.59am
Moved from the Chair
sc325/25 THAT the meeting move of out confidential committee at 10.06am.
CARRIED U
As attached. It has been said that there has been more business transformation in the past 20 years compared to the 200 years before this combined.
To stay relevant, to stay engaged, to stay efficient and to ensure staff are given the best tools to succeed not only here but in the future employment we need to ensure that we have a structured plan – a Digital Strategy.
OUSA has long been an adaptable and innovative organisation, we now need to bring that culture to our approach to the Digital world through the building of a Digital Strategy.
Staff, Executive and OUSA Board members will be asked for their feedback, then the final document will be presented to the executive.
GENERAL BUSINESS
President on leave – Liam advised the meeting he is having his wisdom teeth extracted on Friday and Amy Martin will be Acting President in his absence.
Institute of Religious Studies Club affiliation – there was a query on how this affiliation was progressing. An update when Deborah returns.
Critic column – who would like to write the executive column this issue? See Nina please.
Next Executive meeting – 22 July 2025 at 10.15am
OUT OF STANDING COMMITTEE
Moved from the Chair
sc326/25 THAT the powers of the Standing Committee be delegated back to the Executive forthwith.
Meeting closed 10.11am
Signed: __________________________________ Date: _________