Report Signals Positive Change For Victoria University
The recent Academic Audit report for Victoria University has sent yet another signal to the institution to review its
Council member composition. This particular paragraph of the report has been welcomed by Ngai Tauira, the Maori
Students’ Association at Victoria University.
The report asks the institution to consider the current student membership on Council. Legislation permits up to three
students representatives. At the moment there are two student representatives on Council which are filled by VUWSA
(Victoria University Students’ Association) representatives. However there is room for another student member. The
report recommends that this slot be filled by a member of Ngai Tauira.
“We welcome this recommendation and ask Victoria University to seriously consider this’, says Danica Waiti, spokesperson
for Ngai Tauira, “ We have lobbied continuously for years and years, we have gained the support of VUWSA, written
submissions, lobbied and yet we still get nowhere with the university. We now wonder what it will take to secure Maori
student representation on Council”.
Overall Victoria University is commended on its recent appointment of an Academic Vice-Chancellor (Maori) as
illustration of its renewed commitment to Maori students and staff.
“We agree that this position is significant in terms of addressing Maori needs within an essentially non-Maori
institution”, says Miss Waiti, “This appointment could be strategic for Maori if given the appropriate resources and
institution-wide support it needs, as the report suggests”.
The actual commitment of Victoria University to Maori students is questioned by Ngai Tauira. Several universities around
Aotearoa already have Maori student representation on Council.
“We are asking Victoria University to go one step further in their commitment to Maori by allocating a Maori student
representative seat on Council. The grounds of support have been laid, now the institution just needs to rubber stamp
their approval”, concludes Miss Waiti.
For further information contact:
Danica Waiti
021 440 279