Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE OUSA EXECUTIVE BULL-PEN ON MONDAY 30 MARCH 2026 AT 11.06AM
PRESENT
Daniel Leamy (Chair), Kamesha Jones, Troy Gibbons, Rihana Warsame, Hansini Wijekoon, Zoe Eckhoff, Fergus Parks, Sami Harrison, Jarna Flintoff, Flynn Nisbett (zoom), Adeleine Eli and Irfaan Ariffin
IN ATTENDANCE
Donna Jones (Association Secretary), Shiobhan Smith (Library support), Jacob Weston (Library support), Abbe Hyde (Library support), Stella Weston (Critic News Editor) and Olivier Jutel (Palo Alto – University staff)
APOLOGIES
Irfaan Ariffin
Moved from the Chair
151/26 THAT the above apology be accepted.
CARRIED U
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING
Moved from the Chair
152/26 THAT the minutes of the executive meeting held on 23 March 2026 be accepted as a true and correct record.
CARRIED U
INTEREST REGISTER
For noting.
SPEAKING RIGHTS
Moved from the Chair
153/26 THAT Donna Jones, Shiobhan Smith, Jacob Weston, Abbe Hyde, Stella Weston and Olivier Jutel be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED U
LIBRARY SUPPORT – GUESTS
Shiobhan, Abbe and Jacob were invited to address the meeting.
There was a suggestion they host the executive at the Hocken Library next time.
They want to build relationships and be a community hub as well as a library.
They were glad to share that two rooms have been developed in the Central Library for Māori and Pacific Island students. This has been a great success, and they are hopeful a separate space can be allocated in the Science Library in future.
The library is in consultation with Mana Whenua looking at new designs for the libraries.
There is also work on sensory spaces for neuro-divergent students and a working group on space utilisation and optimisation of space usage. `
Feedback being sought on general behaviour in the libraries, ie students wanting quiet, separate study spaces for groups and this can be monitored. It was noted there appears to be a real lack of space to study in the central library this year.
How they can monitor late returns being looked at. Equity of access of items, especially returns.
Jacob has been working with our Clubs and Societies to encourage groups to use the library for assignment study etc.
PALO ALTO – GUEST
As attached.
Moved from the Chair
154/26THAT the Chair be handed to Kamesha Jones as Daniel Leamy declares a conflict of interest being a member of the University Council at 11.38am.
CARRIED U
Olivier was invited to address the meeting.
Adeleine left at 11.41am and returned at 11.44am
Moved from the Chair
155/26 THAT the Chair be handed to Troy Gibbons at 11.50am as Kamesha Jones has an examination.
CARRIED U
Our group is disturbed by the partnership that has been announced as the anchor to a future Queenstown campus and a Masters in Digital Technology. Palo Alto Networks is the largest company on the Israeli stock market with direct ties to Israel's cyber warfare elite (unit 8200). The public statements of our new partner state that they are "creating a pipeline from the classroom to the front lines of global cybersecurity”. This language reflects these ties. Our group is seeking answers around ethical processes for this partnership, curriculum development and how this lines up with our new ethical procurement guidelines.
Nisbett/Jones
156/26 THAT the executive support Staff for Palestine in their actions protesting / and or presentation to university council over the Palo Alto Partnership
Leamy: Abstain
CARRIED
Nisbett/Jones
157/26 THAT the executive authorises a statement condemning the University of Otago and Palo Alto Partnership
Leamy: Abstain
CARRIED
Moved from the Chair
158/26 THAT Daniel Leamy assumed the Chair at 11.56am
CARRIED U
STUDENT NUMBERS FOR SEMESTER ONE
We are constitutionally required to report student numbers for each semester for quorum purposes at our meetings. These figures are to be used for this purpose only. Numbers as at 15 March 2026.
|
Campus Name |
Heads |
|
Auckland |
29 |
|
Christchurch |
1,213 |
|
Dunedin |
18,827 |
|
Invercargill |
76 |
|
Wellington |
894 |
|
Total Individuals |
20,894 |
GRANTS PANEL MINUTES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
As attached.
Moved from the Chair
159/26 THAT the Grants Panel meeting minutes of 24 March 2026 be received and the recommendations be approved.
CARRIED U
Sami out at 11.58am
AFFILIATED CLUBS COUNCIL
As attached.
Moved from the Chair
160/26 THAT the minutes of the Affiliated Clubs Council meeting held on 12 March 2026 be received.
CARRIED U
AFFILIATIONS
As attached.
Moved from the Chair
161/26 THAT the Medical Research Student Association MRSA club be affiliated to OUSA.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
162/26 THAT Otago Pickleball Club be affiliated to OUSA.
CARRIED U
Rihanna left at 12.00pm
Sami and Rihanna returned at 12.03pm
EXECUTIVE FIRST QUARTER REPORTS
Moved from the Chair
THAT Troy Gibbons assume the Chair at 12.03pm
CARRIED U
Daniel left at 12.04pm
Daniel returned at 12.06pm
Moved from the Chair
163/26 THAT Daniel Leamy’s first quarter report be accepted and he continue to be paid his honorarium.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
164/26 THAT Daniel Leamy resume the Chair at 12.06pm.
CARRIED U
Ella left at 12.06pm and returned at 12.07pm
Moved from the Chair
165/26 THAT Ella Sangster’s first quarter report be accepted and she continue to be paid her honorarium.
CARRIED U
Irfaan agreed for his report to be heard in his absence.
Moved from the Chair
166/26 THAT Irfaan Ariffin’s first quarter report be accepted and he continue to be paid his honorarium.
CARRIED U
Jarna left at 12.09pm
Troy left at 12.09pm and returned at 12.11pm
Moved from the Chair
167/26 THAT Troy Gibbons first quarter report be accepted and he continue to be paid his honorarium.
CARRIED U
Jarna returned at 12.12pm
Hansini left at 12.13pm and returned at 12.14pm
Moved from the Chair
168/26 THAT Hansini Wijekoon first quarter report be accepted and she continue to be paid her honorarium.
CARRIED U
Fergus left at 12.17pm and returned at 12.18pm
Moved from the Chair
169/26 THAT Fergus Parks first quarter report be accepted and he continue to be paid his honorarium.
CARRIED U
Rihanna left at 12.19pm and returned at 12.21pm
Moved from the Chair
170/26 THAT Rihanna Warsame first quarter report be accepted and she continue to be paid her honorarium.
CARRIED U
Zoe left at 12.25pm and returned at 12.26pm
Moved from the Chair
171/26 THAT Zoe Eckhoff’s first quarter report be accepted and she continue to be paid her honorarium with the addition of missing Te Riti clause and numbering fixed.
CARRIED U
Kamesha gave permission for her report to be heard in her absence.
Moved from the Chair
172/26 THAT Kamesha Jones’s first quarter report be accepted and she continue to be paid her honorarium.
CARRIED U
Adeleine left at 12.29pm and returned at 12.30pm
Moved from the Chair
173/26 THAT Adeleine Eli’s first quarter report be received and she be paid her honorarium.
CARRIED U
Flynn’s call was muted at 12.33pm and unmuted at 12.35pm
It was noted the formatting of Flynn’s report needs tidying up for next time.
Moved from the Chair
174/26 THAT Flynn Nisbett’s first quarter report be accepted and he continue to be paid his honorarium.
CARRIED U
Jarna and Sami left the meeting at 12.36pm and returned at 12.38pm
Moved from the Chair
175/26 THAT Sami Harrison and Jarna Flintoff’s first quarter combined report be received and they be paid their honorarium.
CARRIED U
EARTH DAY UPDATE
A mural is being painted on campus to celebrate Earth Day 2026. The theme of this year’s Earth Day is Our Power, Our Planet. – April 18 – April 22. Preparation well underway.
Earth Day stall at Market Day on 22nd April assistance and support requested.
FUNDING APPLICATION
Critic are seeking funding for redevelopment of the Critic Te Ārohi website through a grant application.
Moved from the Chair
176/26 THAT OUSA approves an application to the Pub Charity Trust to support the redevelopment of the Critic Te Ārohi website and authorises the completion of and submission of all associated application documents.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
177/26 THAT OUSA approves the signing of consent to be audited and declaration form by two authorised signatories for the purpose of this application to give the Department of Internal Affairs the right to inspect all records and is entitled to audit grant recipients’ records to determine that grant funds have been properly applied to the authorised signatories and affixes the Common Seal to this document.
CARRIED U
GENERAL BUSINESS
Congratulations to everyone for submitting their first quarter reports.
Te Whare Tāwharau hybrid workshops – Well attended and received. Let Ella know if further workshops could be held.
Easter break – The President will be away but contactable by cell phone most of the time. Most executive and staff and taking time off.
Executive/Te Rōpū Māori/UOPISA get together, Rihanna keen to host a pot luck dinner, Daniel will send out a ‘when to meet’.
Irfaan arrived at 12.45pm
Hansini left at 12.46pm
Meeting closed at 12.47pm
Signed: ___________________________________ Date: _________