Draft:Te Tira Ahu Pae

• Comment: Primary sources (most of them from Massey University Library) fail WP:GNG, therefore we need secondary sources. ☮️Counter-Strike:Mention 269🕉️^{(😐 ● 🗨️ ● ✉️ ● 📔)} 13:44, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

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Te Tira Ahu Pae

Te Tira Ahu Pae logo
Motto	Hei Hapai Whakamana
Institution	Massey University
Established	1928
Website	tetiraahupae.ac.nz

Te Tira Ahu Pae is the official student association at Massey University. Te Tira Ahu Pae formed through the amalgamation of several students' associations, the first association being Massey University Students' Association (MUSA) established in 1928.

Te Tira Ahu Pae funds the student magazine Massive and the student radio station Radio Control.

Executive

Controversially, Te Tira Ahu Pae is the only students' association in New Zealand to hire any of its executive as opposed to electing them. Of the more than 30 executive positions, more than half are selected through a hiring process.

Current Executive

This is the Te Tira Ahu Pae Executive for 2025

Executive Position	2025 Office Holder	Selected via
General president	Chiavanni Le'Mon	Appointment
Manawhakahaere	Ripeka Paapu	Appointment
Pasifika Co-president	Mary Ieremia-Allan	Appointment
Pasifika Co-president	Caroline Ryan	Appointment
Manawatu Vice-president	Alex Macias	Appointment
Wellington Vice-president	Takunda Mabonga	Appointment
Albany Vice-president	Quynh Pham	Appointment
Distance Vice-president	Brooke Mehlhopt	Appointment
Manawatu General Representative	Aditi Kumar	Election
Wellington General Representative	Louisa Joines	Election
Albany General Representative	Nadithi Kalugampitiya	Election
Distance General Representative	Louise Berry	Election
Distance General Representative	Ayla Brook	Appointment
Distance General Representative	Georgia Naera	Election
Kaiwhakahaere o Manawatahi	Peyton Joe	Election
Kaiwhakahaere o Kokiri Ngatahi	Mata Geiringer	Election
Kaiwhakahaere o Te Waka Akonga	Mathew Rope	Election
Kaiwhakahaere o Pamamao	Keezia Broughton	Election
Manawatu Pasifika Representative	Telson Liuvaie	Election
Wellington Pasifika Representative	Akanesi Polaulu	Election
Albany Pasifika Representative	Sommer Mckillop	Election
Distance Pasifika Representative	Elva Opuu	Appointment
Manawatu Rainbow Representative	Jamey Hodder	Appointment
Wellington Rainbow Representative	Spiral Burt	Appointment
Albany Rainbow Representative	Lochlan Barrable	Appointment
Distance Rainbow Representative	Carlee Gregory	Appointment
Manawatu Disability Representative	Eleanor Southee	Appointment
Albany Disability Representative	Eloise Fleming	Appointment
Distance Disability Representative	Alhanis Jacobsen	Appointment
Distance Disability Representative	Rehutai Anderson	Appointment
International Student Rep	Yan Xuan	Election
Postgrad Student Rep	Kevin Francis	Election

President

Chiavanni Le'Mon is the President for 2025

Past Presidents of Massey University Students' Association – Te Tira Ahu Pae

• * 2025 — Chiavanni Le'Mon
  • 2025 — Micah Geiringer
  • 2024 — Hennessey Wilson
  • 2023 — Andrew Steele
  • 2022 — Jake Law
  • 2022 — M Beissel
  • 2020 — S Biberstein
  • 2019 — Michael Salmon
  • 2018 — Michael Salmon
  • 2017 — N Skipper
  • 2016 — N Skipper
  • 2015 — L Higgins
  • 2014 — L Higgins
  • 2013 — A Barker
  • 2012 — S Christodolou
  • 2011 — A Jones
  • 2011 — K Gearry
  • 2010 — C Pearce
  • 2009 — M.D Poucher
  • 2008 — M.D Poucher
  • 2008 — Ying-yue Zhao
  • 2007 — P Falloon
  • 2006 — P Falloon
  • 2005 — I Galloway
  • 2004 — Adam Maynard
  • 2003 — H Welton
  • 2002 — M Davies
  • 2001 — K Martin
  • 2000 — K Martin
  • 1999 — P Hobson
  • 1998 — P Hobson
  • 1997 — P Rooney
  • 1996 — N Coffey
  • 1995 — S Collett
  • 1994 — S Collett
  • 1993 — L Ducat
  • 1992 — C Short
  • 1991 — M Caroll
  • 1990 — N Morris
  • 1989 — B Cameron
  • 1988 — F McLaughlin
  • 1987 — A Bush
  • 1986 — D Rea
  • 1985 — D Rea
  • 1984 — P.B Johnston
  • 1983 — S.J Salmond
  • 1982 — M Parker
  • 1981 — T.T Manning
  • 1980 — J.M Stansfield
  • 1979 — F.M Jardine
  • 1978 — H.K MacEwan
  • 1977 — G.E Stinson
  • 1976 — D.K Stewart
  • 1975 — M.A Hickey
  • 1974 — B.K Gilchrist
  • 1973 — A.C Carrick
  • 1972 —D Lee
  • 1972 — A.C Carrick (acting)
  • 1972 — D.W Swan
  • 1971 — G.R Emms
  • 1970 — R.D Anderson
  • 1969 — R.D Anderson
  • 1968 — G.E.T Taylor
  • 1967 — I Warrington
  • 1966 — R O'Dwyer
  • 1965 — A Harrison
  • 1964 — A.T Rimmer
  • 1963 — G.L.B Cumberland
  • 1962 — John Tweedie
  • 1961 — B Davies
  • 1960 — K.L MacMillan
  • 1959 — C.M Palmer
  • 1958 — C.M Palmer
  • 1957 — A.M Bryany
  • 1956 — J.R.D Matthews
  • 1955 — E.A Rose
  • 1954 — R.E Munford
  • 1953 — H Lampen-Smith
  • 1952 — P.A.L Fraser
  • 1951 — D.C Isaacs
  • 1950 — P.J Roberts
  • 1949 — T.N Edey
  • 1948 — H.G Menzies
  • 1947 — R.F McElwain
  • 1946 — R.F McElwain
  • 1945 — A.I Grant
  • 1944 — A.L Rae
  • 1943 — K.J Mitchell
  • 1942 — K.J Mitchell
  • 1941 — D.E Good
  • 1940 — A.A Dunlop
  • 1939 — H.B Lawry
  • 1938 — A Stewart
  • 1937 — H.G Gilmer
  • 1936 — E.M Ojala
  • 1935 — H.G Gilmer
  • 1934 — W.M Hamilton
  • 1933 — W.M Hamilton
  • 1932 — M.M Cooper
  • 1931 — M.M Cooper
  • 1930 — Campbell McMeekan
  • 1929 — Campbell McMeekan
  • 1928 — W Neil

History

In 1927 the New Zealand parliament passed the Massey Agricultural College Act, naming the college after the late prime minister William 'Bill' Massey who had died two years prior. The college opened its doors to the first intake of students in 1928, when the Massey Agricultural College Students' Association was formed.

Early Days

One of the earliest presidents was Campbell McMeekan who was responsible for creating its constitution, known as 'McMeekan's Bible.' The Association's first constitution had only 3 members of the Executive, a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive was to also have delegates from the faculty associations established such as the dairying club.

In 1930 the official emblem of the Students' Association was chosen, a ram's head which was based on the model of an old egyptian fresco. Seen on the first edition of 'The Bleat' which was published in 1931. The Bleat evolved into the Chaff which was the Massey University Students' Association magazine until 2012 when it merged with other Massey student magazines to form Massive.

By 1934 the association had helped organise and develop several Massey clubs, including Football, Hockey, Tennis, Debating, Tramping and the controversial Kareti club which was dedicated to investigate the "velocity at which beer can flow over mucous membranes."

On 6 March 1935 the Massey Agricultural College swimming pool was opened. This pool was built by student labour and because of generous donations of money and materials, meant the pool cost the college nothing. Unfortunately in 1970 the pool was closed due to cracks and associated repair costs, and in 1984 it was filled in to provide room for a carpark to be built. The current Business studies carpark on the Manawatu campus sits atop where the pool was. One of the sides of the pool was saved and can still be seen in the carpark today.

In 1935 the Massey Agricultural College Students Association was formally recognised by the New Zealand University Students' Association, now called the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA).

In 1953 the association pressured the college into cancelling the first day of lectures, so they could have an official welcome for the new students from the principal and guided tours of the college grounds and buildings. This would become a week of semester with no lectures, known now as orientation-week.

Student Union Building

In 1943 an architect was commissioned to create plans for a student building at Massey. The Massey council was very much in favour of this but later shelved the plans. In 1955 the association president K. A. Rose resubmitted the memorandum and plans to Massey council to build the student building. This time the council gave their support to form a committee and begin developing plans for the building.

After Mr Rose left the association, his replacement got distracted and fundraising interest steeply declined. Then in the 1960s the students started selling bricks, it was not a great success but it garnered awareness and by 1963 they had enough money to start building, with a generous donation from the Palmerston North City Council.

The building began construction in 1966 and was completed in 1969, some 26 years after the original idea has been suggested. Though the building was later given to Massey University, the students' association remains as a tenant.

Political Involvement

In the 1950s a new vigour was bubbling within the student body. Since its inception nearly 25 years prior, the association had not formally taken a stance on political issues excluding education. However in the early 1950s a motion was passed in which the association declared a total anti-apartheid stance, marking the start of its involvement in the broader political dialogue.

In 1968 a protest organised by three Massey Masters students, saw 400 protestors march through Palmerston North in opposition to the secretive Omega signal station being built in the south island.

In the 1970s several protests occurred in opposition to the Vietnam war. Massey students were often among the crowds in these protests. Manawatu Evening standard ran an article on the anti-Vietnam War protest saying, "Two thousand people sat and stood in front of the Palmerston North Clock Tower last night and sang "We Shall Live in Peace" as the climax to probably the biggest protest march held in Palmerston North."

On 1 May 1981 about 5,000 Manawatu residents gathered on Broadway Avenue to show their disapproval of the Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand. Massey students were a minority, but all felt that stopping the tour was a worthwhile stance against South Africa's system of Apartheid.

One of the biggest local protests in Palmerston North occurred during the early 1990s, when the council decided to cut down the trees that used to stand alongside Fitzherbert avenue in order to widen the road to four lanes. This led to a large number of locals, including many students from Massey, occupying the trees in order to prevent the council from cutting them down. The council decided to call the police, had the protesters arrested and then removed the trees anyways.

Protest Against Fee Increases

In 1996 the MUSA Executive led a number of students in the Registry Building in protest of the University increasing fees by an average of 16%. The protestors remained in the registry for two days until the Vice Chancellor issued them a trespass notice and had the police escort them out. The students returned the next day to continue their protest, breaking in through an unguarded side door. The Vice Chancellor then entered into negotiations and after two hours the university agreed to several of the demands and the protestors left peacefully.

Two years later in 1998, the Registry Building was occupied for a second time. After increasing fees again by a large proportion, students once again marched into the registry building and occupied it. The occupation lasted over six days until the University Council sent in the police to serve notice and after a large meeting the protesters decided to leave in peace.

MUSA becomes Te Tira Ahu Pae

In 2001 the Massey University Students' Associations Federation (MUSAF) was born. It remained fairly dormant until 2020 when Massey requested that the services provided by each of these associations be centralised. The associations decided to merge alongside their service branches and in 2022 Te Tira Ahu Pae became the unified Students' Association at Massey University.

Defunding

In 2024 Massey University Students' Association – Te Tira Ahu Pae became the first students' association in New Zealand to be defunded by its university following the passing of Voluntary Student Membership into law in 2012.

Impacts of VSM

Before voluntary student membership (VSM), the multiple students' associations at Massey University were funded through a membership fee set by each association and given directly to the association to administer. After the advent of VSM the university began collecting a compulsory student services levy fee and distributed it to the associations. Each association had a funding agreement but the primary template used was a service levy agreement (SLA) to pay for the adminstration of student services such as advocacy, clubs, and events. Due to this financial relationship, the students associations were now reliant upon the university for funding, and as such did not seek to disparage the university for risk of losing said funding.

Membership and Elections

Te Tira Ahu Pae does not hold an official membership list, and in order to vote through constitutional change, one is needed. An attempt was made to establish a membership drive and vote through constitutional amendments to ensure all positions on the executive were to be elected.

However, significant backlash was received as the university made it clear they would not tolerate the creation of a membership list and would seek to review the funding agreement with Te Tira Ahu Pae. Despite the threat, Te Tira Ahu Pae continued with the membership drive in an attempt to introduce elections.

Defunding Announcement

On 21 October, Massey University announced it would no longer be funding Te Tira Ahu Pae. Te Tira Ahu Pae responded stating the move would "set an alarming precedent for the future of independent student unionism in New Zealand."

Official Information Act Release

On 21 November, an Official Information Act (OIA) request was responded to by the university. The OIA revealed the university had discussed defunding the association as far back as August 2024, and had been in discussions with the general manager of the association who had suggested the 60 day notice period be activated.

Within the OIA document, Massey University staff noted they had requested the elections for the 2025 executive be paused, and then subsequently advised the university council that the lack of elections were grounds for defunding.

Agreement to Continue Funding

On 17 December Massey University agreed to enter into a contract with Te Tira Ahu Pae to provide funding for 2025. Both parties agreed for the appointment of a Massey staff member as an interim general manager, and for a full review of the representation structure.