Otago student union leaders take deeper pay cuts after hours fall short

The Otago University Students’ Association executive accepted the deepest pay cuts of 2026 in its third-quarter review, with two members facing reductions of 25% and 30% respectively. The board determined these penalties after scrutinizing weekly hour reports submitted by each officer. While the percentage drops are higher than those seen in the previous year, the total number of executives penalized this term is lower.

President Daniel Leamy defended the decisions as a matter of financial accountability. “These pay reductions reflect the Executive's commitment to collective accountability,” Leamy said. He noted that the group is paid with student money and that pay decisions are made seriously and fairly. The executive distinguished this quarter’s action from the previous year’s reductions, which the group has described as a write-off.

Fergus Parks, the postgraduate representative, received the steepest penalty of 30%. His average weekly hours dropped to 5.32, well below the required 10. In the first quarter, Parks averaged more than the required hours, but his time fell to 7.96 hours in the second quarter. He is not returning for a second term but supported a proposal to transform his role into an Academic Officer to better address departmental concerns.

Rihana Warsame, the welfare and equity representative, received a 25% cut. Her average hours fell to 10.7 from a required 20. Warsame attributed the shortfall to a period spent away from Dunedin, which disrupted her ability to use digital tools to maintain productivity. She also noted that her proposal for diversity workshops in residence halls had stalled due to a lack of institutional commitment.

Other executives met their hour targets. Daniel Leamy, the president, averaged 40.54 hours against a 40-hour requirement. Kamesha Jones, the administrative vice president, worked 19.95 hours against a 20-hour target, a figure that rises to 27 hours if the mid-year break is excluded. Jones, who was re-elected for 2027, stated that most of her annual goals had been sidetracked but expressed satisfaction with her work on the Education Action Group.

Flynn Nisbett, the political representative, exceeded his 10-hour requirement, averaging 9.14 hours for the quarter but 11.96 hours for the year. He organized the OUSA leaders debate, which attracted 300 students, and coordinated with four other student associations on advocacy for free fees. Troy Gibbons, the finance and strategy officer, also exceeded his 20-hour target, averaging 21.77 hours while preparing the budget for the annual general meeting.

The executive cited sickness, family issues, and general duties when determining final pay. The board emphasized that members must work their required hours where practicable. The next review will cover the final quarter of the year, with the executive aiming to boost student engagement for the general election.