Tags

Feeds / Salient News Feed

This feed is published by Salient.

This feed is read by this Whakaoko subscription

Added on 12 Jul 2006. Last read just now.

To subscribe to this feed, enter the following location into your feed reader.

This feed currently contains the following newsitems (total count 735):

    • VUW Halls Hiking Fees By 50–80% Next Year
      •   Victoria University halls of residence are set to increase fees dramatically going into 2020, with some going up by as much as $4000 a year. Current annual fees for catered halls in 2019 sit around $14,000. However, fees for catered halls are slated to be approximately $17,000 for 2020. On these numbers, this is an increase from approximately $390 per week, up to $470 per week.  Initially, these increased fees were not published on the VUW webpage, with the new costs only stated at the end of online applications for accommodation. This was updated after inquiries from ^Salient.  The new rates range from $12, 512–$18,978 for catered accommodation (most fees sit between $6,300 and $18,900), and $7,327–$13,135 for self-catered.   Rainsforth Dix, Director of Student and Campus Living, stated that over a three-year period, the university has absorbed costs to prevent an increase in fees.  “The 2020 increase is the result of costs continuing to rise in many aspects of running our halls,” Dix said.  This includes “large” increases in insurance and maintenance costs, rents and rates, and annual costs for core utilities and catering services. Pay rates for residential advisors have also increased. Dix explained, “This equates to a base rate increase of 7 percent on 2019, with additional increases for halls that are closer to campus and provide a particular advantage to students living there.” The base rate is what is required to run the halls to break even. The increase from $12,500 to $18,900 for catered halls in 2020 is roughly a 51% increase on $12,500 in 2019. For self-catered halls, it’s around an 80% increase. VUW says “100% of any surplus [profit] is recycled and reinvested within the accommodation to ensure that we keep it up to scratch.” The fee increase of $3000–$4000 for residents will not be without its impact.  One prospective resident brought the issue to ^Salient’s attention, saying that, “I thought $14,000 was expensive enough… Now that it’s $17,000, it completely changes my planning.”  “The up in prices makes me really question whether I go to Victoria.”  This prospective resident initially emailed Victoria University to ask whether they had made a mistake in their online publication; the student had applied before the new fees had been published on the webpage.   It was not until the prospective resident had reached the end of the online application process that they were notified of the new fees. Despite this, and after being sent screenshots of the mismatched pricing on the page, Dix said to ^Salient, “this year we made the decision to show the new rates on the website as part of the application process due to the fact that we have introduced different prices for different halls.” She added that the $100 application fee had been dropped for 2020 applicants.  Current residents are expressing concern at the increasing fees.  “Raising the prices even further cements the inherently elitist nature of university as a whole,” said a current Weir resident.  “University needs to be as inclusive as possible for everyone. This can’t just come through things like scholarships and student support,” they continued. With StudyLink’s inflation-pegged student loan for Living Losts reaching a weekly maximum of $235.84 in 2019, the shortfall can be anywhere between $39.00 per week (an outlier in the stats) to $170.16.  The median fee for most halls holds at $392 per week, which means that the median shortfall sits at $156.16 per week after student loan Living Costs. Those who receive a Student Allowance and an Accommodation Benefit may be more financially advantageous, but 2019 residents who receive this benefit have found that even then, there is a difference to cover.      “[Hall fees and student funding] are so centered around the idea that parents are able to pay for their child’s hall costs, which obviously isn’t always the case,” said another hall resident. “Student loans don’t come close to covering hall costs, and even with summer savings and scholarships, it’s difficult to cover.” There is no indication that the Hardship Fund, nor scholarships, will necessarily increase in value following the fee increase. VUW responded, “All students are charged a Student Assistance Levy that contributes to the Hardship Fund. The size of the fund is determined each year by the enrolment numbers for that year.. ^Salient was unable to reach VUWSA for comment in time for print. VUW does not expect a reduction in interest from prospective hall residents.

    • The Eyes Have It: Local Teen Vandalises Councillor’s Billboards to Reignite Romance
      •   This election cycle, local councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman has found many of his billboards across the Eastern Ward vandalised in an especially disturbing way.    “I found a few hoardings with eyes carved out, it’s really weird. You know, it’s normal to have a few with the odd swastika or graffitti but someone put  real effort in this year; it looks a bit munted, to be honest.”   Salient did a bit of digging, and it turns out there’s more to this story than the councillor’s lack of vision.   Police have apprehended a young man who admitted the crime to his mother. She came to the police in a desperate attempt to stop her son.   “He’s become obsessed with the councillor. I found a shrine in his wardrobe to Chris Calvi-Freeman whom he affectionately calls ‘Daddy’ in private.”    “He says he met the councillor a few months ago and began a relationship with him. I was hoping it was just a normal teenage crush, but it didn’t pass.”    Salient talked with the young man, who asked not to be named but said that Chris would know the vandalism was a gift from him.    “I just couldn’t help but fall in love with him. His eyes are mesmerising. We haven’t spoken in person since we first met, but if you listen closely, you can see all his speeches are coded love letters.”    “It was a whirlwind of romance.”   “But then, tragedy struck. In a recent debate I saw him wink at someone else. I was heartbroken.”    “After a while, I decided that I would do my best to get him back. I thought this would be the best way to get his attention.”   Police have offered to drop the charge if the young man goes to counselling. He’s currently on the Student Health waiting list but doubts it will help.    “I’m in love and this is how I’m expressing that. It’s my art and I think Chris gets that.”   When z6Salient confronted the councillor he denied the affair, saying “what”.  

    • More People Who Want To Be Your Mayor, Nice
      •   Wellington general elections are here, and, Salient has taken the time to get to know the candidates so you don’t have to! This week, we talk to candidates Don “Newton” McDonald, Diane Calvert, Jenny Condie, Andy Foster, and Norbert Hausberg.   Our interview with Justin Lester and Conor Hill can be found in last week’s issue. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach candidates Ajay Rathod and Andrew Graham Cox in time for publication.   What are your areas of focus?   McDonald: “Growth is bad. All resources are limited. So my immediate plan, if I’m elected, is to sharply halve world population, cars, kilometres, flights, and runways.”    Hausberg: “Well, the platform I’m standing on is Wellington carbon-neutral by 2022. Because we have to do much more, much faster to get anything done. The way the council is moving at the moment, we’ll still be discussing things by 2050, and then it’ll be certainly too late.”   Calvert: “I’ve been really active in advocating for the city about the bus situation. Also for me. it’s about building connected communities. So it’s not all about the CBD. It’s about making our suburban communities strong, not forgotten about. And we need more housing.”    Condie: “My biggest priority is climate action. I’ve got two little boys who are six and three. And so by 2100, they will be 88 and 85. And the UN talks about there being up to a metre of sea level rise by 2100. And it’s easy to think that it’s science fiction, but when I think about it in the context of my children, it’s when they will be grandparents. So it suddenly feels more concrete and emotional and immediate.      Foster: “One is a more livable city, a city where people are housed. We’ve got a bit of a housing deficit at the moment, about 3800 homes. The second part of that is that we actually actively get involved in the development of housing. So I’m a fan of having what we call an urban development agency—that would allow us to buy land; plan for how that land would be developed.”   Would you work to improve Justin Lester’s Rental Flat WOFs?   McDonald: “There’s been a saying for five or seven years—‘warm dry houses’. So I say, how warm? Now, we’re in the library here at Newtown. It’s very warm here. You’ve got a shirt on; I’ve got my jacket. Wellington has a moderate climate. So warm and dry—how dry?”   Hausberg: “My idea was this: you run the property where you’re prepared to live in, full stop. So landlords have to do more. And I live in an area with some seriously shonky, slum landlording going on and I’m always amazed that people even rent these things. But let’s look at the price, too, because the rental properties are just out of this world.”   Calvert: “Well, some of these ideas are great, but we only had about two, three people register—so something wasn’t working. There’s a big, big fanfare but is it actually making a difference?”   Condie: “I think the biggest thing around a warrant of fitness has to be inspection enforcement. It’s all well and good to write a warrant of fitness, but if you can’t actually inspect and enforce them on the properties, then it doesn’t really do much good.”   Foster: “Every house should be a healthy house, and to put people into houses which are cold, damp, poorly ventilated, have mould—that’s just not on. The standard has to rise. That does come with some cost, but fundamentally, people have the right to live in a home that’s healthy.    What’s your advice for VUW students running for Wellington Regional Council?   McDonald: “Have your say. They’re going to squeeze [all the candidates] in and I skipped some meetings because I wasn’t gonna get a fair opportunity. So I skipped some meetings. Yeah definitely, go for it.”   Hausberg: “If you have some multimillionaire at hand or some movie magnate—very handy, very handy. Because in the end, it all costs money.”   Condie: “I’ve been so impressed with them in debates and on the campaign trail. Tamatha Paul has rolled out a massive volunteer network of door-knocking. They are running really good campaigns. I don’t think they need me to tell them what to do.”   Foster: “I think the first thing is knowing why you’re standing, what it is you want to achieve. Try to make sure that those the messages you’ve got are coherent and that it all fits together.”

    • Eye On the Exec
      • Your favourite news column Eye on the Exec took a break for a bit, but please don’t worry—we’re back, and our eye has been kept firmly upon the VUWSA Executive. The two latest meetings took place on July 18 and August 1. We’ve prepared a summary of all the best bits to spare you the rigmarole of attending a meeting yourself (which you can actually do). Proposed Change of Location for Candidates Forum During the July meeting, the executive discussed changing the location of the candidates forum from the Hub to the Hunter Lounge. The forum is a chance for candidates running for the 2020 executive to state their case for election. Insiders indicated the location change reflects everyone’s love of a cold, flavourless Castle Point jug, especially with a side of “vote-for-me-I’m-a-law-student” speeches. Nominations for elections open on Aug 12 and closes on Aug 26. Stress-Free Study Week/ Re-set Week The August meeting included a ‘review’ of Re-set Week, and student favourite ‘Stress-Free Study Week’. Re-set Week, formerly known as Re-OWeek, was a chance for VUW students “to re-set and re-focus for the trimester ahead”, rather than just a sequel to O-Week. The week of student events was labelled as a positive change by the VUWSA executive. Based on this year’s success, Re-set Week could soon become a regular fixture on the university’s annual calendar. June saw the return of ‘Stress-Free Study Week’. The week is meant to provide “all that you need to keep calm in the lead up to your exams and big assessment hand-ins”. However, the executive agreed it could have been better and the week lacked one key component: Puppies!! Victoria Business School Name Change The Victoria Business School has changed its name to the Wellington School of Business and Government. The exec discussed the anger around lack of consultation about the school’s name change, following the contentious re-brand of the wider university. With this many name changes, it seems like the university is either going through a rebellious teenage phase, or a mid-life crisis. Given the amount of money being thrown around, it’s probably the latter. Let’s all just be glad that Salient isn’t the student magazine for the University of Wellington. Submissions for #itooamvic The #itooamvic campaign launched this year is still accepting submissions to be a part of the video series. At the August meeting, the executive discussed the latest submission to be apart of #itooamvic. The video series aims to highlight the diversity of the university community and also to give a voice to minority groups on campus. Rhianna Morar Resigns VUWSA Welfare Vice President (WVP) Rhianna Morar has resigned from her role. Rhianna first started at VUWSA in March of 2018. During her time as WVP, Rihanna worked to address the needs of RAs in the university’s halls of residence, as well as promoting campaigns like ‘Thursdays in Black’. ‘‘The Wait is Over Campaign’, which aimed to improve mental health support for students, was perhaps the biggest campaign Rhianna led during her time as part of VUWSA. Rhianna is now moving on to begin research on the Treaty of Waitangi jurisprudence at the Faculty of Law. She wishes all the best for the remaining VUWSA staff and encourages them to “continue to be bold and question everything!”

    • Ihumātao, its Whakapapa, and why it isn’t Mana Whenua v Outsiders
      • 800 years ago, tāngata whenua of Ngāti Mahuta, Te Ahiwaru, Waikato-Tainui, Te Ākitai and Te Waiohua started settling at Ihumatāo. The fertile land is considered to be one of the first to hold a thriving gardening and cultivation scene in Aotearoa. The land holds numerous wāhi tapu, including a number of lava cave entrances which hold urupā (burial grounds). In 1863, the government passed the New Zealand Settlements Act, and confiscated land at Ihumātao to punish support for the Kīngitanga movement. In 1869, the land was sold to private Pākehā land owners, the Wallace family. In 1985, Ihumātao mana whenua through the Te Waiohua iwi collective, lodged the Wai 8 Tribunal claim. It discussed the confiscation of Ihumātao land. At the time, the tribunal was prevented from ruling on claims occurring before 1975. In multiple settlements from the 1990s, The tribunal found that although the Settlements Act was itself valid, every confiscation under it by the government breached the law—by both failing to provide evidence there was rebellion within the areas, and by unnecessarily confiscating uninhabitable areas of land. In 2010, the same Te Waiohua collective established Te Ākitai o Waiohua Iwi Authority, and was granted government mandate to settle Wai 8 so far as it relates to them. This was to allow potential for other mandates as there is overlapping whakapapa from multiple Tāmaki hapū. For this reason, Wai 8 has never been fully settled. No iwi or hapū has the exclusive ‘mandate’ to negotiate over Ihumātao lands. In 2007, the Manukau City Council intended Ihumātao be added to the Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve. This attempt was thwarted in 2012 when the Wallace family, still private owners of the land, sought to have the land re-designated so that housing might be built on it. The case went to the Environment Court. Multiple Ihumātao mana whenua, including The Makaurau Marae Committee and Te Kawerau a Maki, opposed the change but lost the case. The Wallace family offered to sell to Manukau, but the council could not pay the price they wanted. In 2014, the Auckland City Council rezoned the land as appropriate for a Special Housing Area (SHA) because of its proximity to the Auckland CBD. This makes building houses on the land cheaper, and reduces many legal obligations, ‘fast-tracking’ it for development. In 2015, Pania Newtown—along with her whānau—established SOUL (Save Our Unique Landscape), opposing the rezoning of the land. Pania and her cousins all whakapapa to the land through multiple mana whenua ties: Ngāti Mahuta, Te Ahiwaru, Waikato-Tainui, Te Ākitai and Te Waiohua. Through the campaign, many councillors have announced regret for the decision, believing they were ill-informed in making it. However, an established SHA can only be changed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development; currently that minister is Megan Woods. In 2016, the land was sold to Fletcher Residential for a rumoured $19 million, on the condition they would develop it under the SHA scheme. As a 56% overseas-owned company, and because the land has wāhi tapu, the company by law had to prove to the Overseas Investment Office that it would bring benefits to New Zealand above and beyond that of any local firm, in order to allow them to build under the scheme. They argued their capacity to build a lot of homes quickly and cheaply, which was appealing given the Auckland housing crisis. Fletcher also began negotiations with the board of Te Kawerau a Maki, one of the many Tāmaki hapū with whakapapa to Ihumātao. Fletcher’s had no obligation to negotiate with any iwi group, but sought out Te Kawerau a Maki as a means to boost their claim. The five trustees of Te Kawerau a Maki, without the support of Makaurau Marae Committee nor other mana whenua (in particular Te Waiohua), negotiated a series of houses to be put aside for their hapū, as well as a ‘buffer’ of free land around the site. While the deal would mitigate the effects of development on the land at Ihumātao, SOUL and the Makaurau Marae Committee, who are also mana whenua and kaitiaki of Ihumātao, have stated that the deal fails to represent the consent and approval of all mana whenua. In February 2019, Fletcher announced that for a good offer, they would be open to selling. In July 2019, the NZ Police began evicting mana whenua off what the law says is Fletcher’s “property”. This was when the issue began to gain the profile it has now. 2019: A Summary Land was confiscated illegally by the Crown in 1863 and sold to Pākehā settlers, who owned it for 150 years. They chose not to sell to the council to maintain for the public good because the price offered was too small. Instead, they sold to Fletcher—who, last year, lost $660 million—and has an interest to build hundreds of cheap and condensed houses on the outskirts of Tāmaki for profit. Auckland has a housing shortage and wants land to build on, so the council and government approved the build. The city has 39 golf courses, 14 of which are Auckland Council-owned. Meanwhile,only 4% of Auckland’s population are registered golfers. Te Kawerau a Maki, five representatives who were offered a place at the negotiating table with Fletcher, took the opportunity to try to make the best of a bad situation. They have ended up being incorrectly referred to as the exclusive mana whenua. Powers to intervene? The government says they can’t step in over ‘iwi mandates’ but one does not exist. They say “Treaty settlements are full and final” but one never happened. They recently agreed to spend $113 million on the America’s Cup. They have an interest to protect open land in the fight against climate change. They stole the land illegally per the Treaty and its own law, and thus it was sold illegally. They allowed a failing company to cut legal corners and blindly gave it permission to build on it. They have a Public Works Act with which they can buy back the land. That’s the one they use to cut off corners of high school classrooms for highway roads.

    • Telling People with EDs to “Just Eat”: Never worked, never will, and now we have more proof.
      • CW: Eating Disorders (AN) Last month saw the publication of the very first genetic study on anorexia nervosa. The study, by Nature Genetics, outlined what some of the possible contributing factors to the eating disorder may be. Nearly 17,000 individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa contributed their DNA to the study, 500 of whom were from New Zealand. Over 50,000 genomes were used as control samples (for comparison). The results showed genetic correlations with other psychiatric and metabolic disorders, meaning that certain genes and chemical reactions can significantly predispose someone to the development of anorexia. These factors are independent of BMI, thus suggesting that a low body weight should not be the only characteristic used to identify those with anorexia nervosa. The outcome of the study hopes to “further encourage a reconceptualization of anorexia nervosa as a metabo-psychiatric disorder”. The study concludes that the “critical direction for future research” is to stop thinking of anorexia nervosa solely as a psychiatric illness, but one that has many facets; including the genetics of the individual. Salient spoke to Hannah Hawkins Elder (PhD in Clinical Psychology, focusing on theoretical explanations for eating disorders). She pointed out that the publication—while very important—is also implying “very clearly that psychology, and metabolics or biology, is very separate”. In the case of a medical condition, she says, “You go to a doctor and they fix it, somebody else is doing the work. Whereas in psychology, a client has to play quite a big agential role in their treatment.” By re-classifying anorexia as more of a medical rather than psychological condition, “People are being cast as spectators of their own life, their own internal emotional life… That [those with disorders] don’t have a say in it.” Eating disorders, Hawkins Elder concluded, are “such complicated disorders… It is very tempting for people to try and find a simpler way to understand them […] but the problem is when you do that you’re losing knowledge, depth and detail, which limits our ability to actually help [those with eating disorders] effectively.” If you, or someone you love, is engaging in disordered behaviours surrounding food and/or exercise, you can visit www.ed.org.nz/ or Mauri Ora services to find out more.

    • Salient Writers Get to Nerd Out at Festival for the Future
      • Festival for the Future, as the name implies, looks forward into how our communities and country could tackle some of the biggest challenges facing us today. The key concerns? Just the usual: climate change, inclusion, the economy, and wellbeing. Over 1200 attendees came from all around New Zealand and the world to hear about the unique path Aotearoa is on, and the urgencies that we, specifically, face. Keynote sessions, panels, workshops and stalls combined to inspire—and, at times, induce information overload. Andrew Barnes, creator of the four-day week, was a keynote speaker. His initiative covers all the key areas, looking to create revolutionary solutions to jolt us out of the 9–5, five-days-a-week grind. He told Salient he is “passionate about helping the amazing young people […] and how we can create a sustainable and stable workplace for them”. Other keynote speakers included Finance Minister Grant Robertson, Mayor Justin Lester, and All Black TJ Perenara. Workshops involved an exploration into Te Ao Māori, and how to mobilise people for the upcoming local body elections (remember to enrol to vote by Aug 16). Climate activist Sophie Handford, panel speaker and winner of the Impact Award for Climate (also sponsored by the festival), emphasised that hearing from the speakers and connecting with other delegates was “hope-bringing and empowering”. Unfortunately, the festival was less than accessible, especially for those who are likely to spend the most time in the future, and those most vulnerable to it. Tickets sat at around $250, though many of these were given away for free to young leaders, such as Youth Council members. However, this placed an emphasis on those who already had access to these avenues to be given a ticket—ultimately excluding many marginalised communities. Nevertheless, it was an inspiring two days, and a reminder of the continuing and constant work required in creating change. As neatly summed up by Grant Robertson: “The future never comes, it’s always tomorrow.”

    • Multiculturalism: Rabeea Inayahtullah is Running for Council
      • Rabeea Inayatullah: Porirua City Council Northern Ward There’s no doubt Rabeea is passionate about her home city. Throughout her interview with us, she consistently brought up the importance of Porirua and its people, and how they created the person she is today. From her parents and grandparents, to her schoolmates, to her Islamic faith. Her passion was supported by clear values and priorities, of which compassion, active representation and engagement, and multiculturalism were the most prominent. Unfortunately, Rabeea was light on specific policy details in a number of areas we asked about. But this isn’t entirely her own fault, as we interviewed her earliest, well before any sort of formal campaign launch. So if you think she sounds a bit light, check out her campaign page in the box at the end of the article. In the meantime, have a gander at her thoughts below. Representation: Youth, Māori, and Multiculturalism It was apparent that representation and engagement with marginalised groups in the city is a key part of Rabeea’s platform. She made it a feature of her one-minute pitch, saying youth representation is “critically low” in the city, with 40% of the population younger than 25 but with no such councillors. Her enthusiasm for representation also extends to multicultural representation, promoting herself as both a voice for Asians and immigrants in the city, which she considers is lacking at the moment. This is backed up by her experience as a Porirua Multicultural Council representative. Her time spent on the PMC, and as a member of the Paremata Residents Association, impressed upon her the importance of city council representation in community groups. She recalled Mayor Mike Tana’s role as a council rep on the PMC as one of the most effective methods for issues to be relayed to council and then resolved. Having councillors at the residents association’s meetings had similar effects. Not only would Rabeea be committed to this kind of council representation, she’s also keen to maintain and even expand it. She already has ties to the PMC, but she called specifically for a council representative on the Ngāti Toa executive. Her hope would be to build the existing relationship, as well as facilitate discussions between the iwi and the council. Rabeea’s calls for developing these “key partnerships” came up as a key part of a lot of her policies, especially with mental health, climate change, and community-building. Mental Health Rabeea thinks Porirua City Council (PCC) is “doing a pretty good job” with mental health in the city, especially following the establishment of the youth mental health pilot. However, she thinks there’s definitely more to be done, “I’m not necessarily happy [with the status quo…] there’s areas for improvement.” One area brought up in the interview was around loneliness and isolation within communities. A key solution for Rabeea was encouraging community events like markets, food truck enterprises, and other small local initiatives. “Local events help a lot in the smaller suburbs, because you’re recognising your neighbour,” she said. A central part of this is the council’s facilitation of these events and “reaching out” to communities in general. When asked about possible apprehension for council events from Porirua residents, Rabeea was clear on the responsibilities of councilors—“actually reaching out. Because if you want to be on council and you want to prove yourself to people, you just have to go there… I don’t think there’s any way to work around that.” On mental health more generally, she is enthusiastic about the possibilities of collaborative work from councillors; “If council works together and we’re genuine and want to make a change, we actually have leaders that care about the city and its people, then having those people on council come together […] I think we can achieve a lot.” Housing and Living Costs Rabeea was more than clear on her key policy to improve the lives of those less well-off in the city—before Peter could finish his question on living costs, she had answered, “living wage, definitely.” Porirua City Council has already announced its intention to make itself a living wage council by—and this is important—Rabeea’s birthday next year. And again, while Rabeea sees this as a good start, she wants to make sure it’s rolled out as far as possible. She wants to make sure all those working for council, including contractors and other indirect employees, are paid a living wage. However, she’s not averse to pushing the campaign beyond just council. The first step, to Rabeea, is straightforward but she believes effective; “actually using our voices makes a huge difference. Really pushing and urging council to address these things.” She cited the work of two Aotea College students who campaigned, successfully, for the PCC to declare a climate emergency to illustrate. On housing, specifically, Rabeea was also happy with the start the council has made on its two new housing developments. However, she expressed concern about the existing infrastructure, about whether it could handle the development itself and the increased number of houses at the end. After a Paremata Residents Association meeting, she doesn’t think this is being addressed enough and would push for it on council. Climate Change Like most people who aren’t boomers, Rabeea is keenly aware of the threat of climate change. “Our generation is going to be dealing with the reality of climate change and our kids are as well,” she said. And while she acknowledges she hasn’t “delved too deep” into a number of the policies available, she thinks the current strategy is a “good first step”. That current direction, which has a focus on consultation, fits naturally with her broader platforms. She also sees the role of central government as essential to climate action. She believed the central government was doing a decent job on the issue, and wants councils to make sure they’re following up on it. “If they can do it at a national level, then we should do it at a local level.” The Campaign Rabeea is not running on a party ticket, instead she’s running a “low-cost” campaign with the support of a network of friends and family. Although not her favourite past time, she says she’s “pretty good at budgeting”, so she should be able to pull it off. She also acknowledged the work of the Take Back the City campaign, all the young people supporting her, support from her old schools—and, of course, her four sisters, who “don’t have a choice”. To The Haters Rabeea’s plan if she doesn’t win was also expected, “holding them accountable, [and] working with them”. She plans to continue her work on the PMC and residents association, as well as her mentoring at the Islamic Centre. But, like her competition Josh Trlin, she says “if one of us gets on, that’s a win for all of us.”

    • Brown Body Elections
      • There is a common myth that you can just “engage” with young people and get them to engage in local body politics. But who is the local government trying to engage? I know it’s not me, or people like me. How am I supposed to see an orange stick man and be inspired to go and participate in democracy, when he’s as irrelevant as Boom Bullet?   Just putting it out there, the local government is not good at engaging young people in politics, let alone young Pasifika people. Local government pretending to engage with young Pasifika people is like the youngest sibling needing to go to the toilet when it’s time to do the dishes after to’ona’i. But I’m going to point out why we all need to engage:    RATES!! – If not relevant to us, it is to our parents, who have homes in the council area. Rates are basically more bills that run the city you live in. If rates are low, that’s more money your parents get back to buy new clothes for ‘Lotu tamaiti’ or ‘Fakame’ (White Sunday). If not, then it’s toasties for dinner and some of us know that struggle. We will all be ratepayers one day, but for now, let’s make it easier for our parents by committing to councillors who will commit to looking after our parents’ bread and butter. REPRESENTATION – Fa’anana Efeso Collins, Izzy Ford, Marie Laufiso, Josephine Bartley, and ‘Ana Coffey. These are influential Pasifika people from all over Aotearoa that are representing our interests. Wouldn’t it be nice if you saw people that looked, sounded, and acted like you making decisions on your behalf which reflect your values and upbringing? We need to support and vote in more Pasifika people, because very soon, this country is going to get more brown and there needs to be more visibility of Pasifika people who respond to Pasifika issues. FUTURE – Young Pasifika people need to think about their future. Or if not their own, thinking about the little siblings we think of as our own children, or our nieces and nephews that will grow up in the cities we vote in. Our councillors decide on our parks, our events, and the long-term plan for the city. We need to get involved with the planning processes and structures to actually make change in our cities. We need to prioritise plans that focus on our young Pasifika people thriving, and on the environmental challenges our cities face. For example, let’s focus on cleaning up dirty harbours and looking after cities where under 24s make up 40% of the population. Let’s not focus on new private developments and gentrification of Pasifika-dense communities.   The future is brown and will only get browner. To the young Pasifika people, we have so much at stake in our cities and communities. We already volunteer and physically serve our families, churches, and communities. Now it is time to bring that energy to local body elections. We can do this by voting for people who will advance our agenda and the things Pasifika people need. It needs to happen NOW.  

    • Mauna Kea
      • For years, kanaka maoli (Indigenous people of Hawai’i) have been protecting the sacred mountain Mauna Kea from desecration by Western science and the University of Hawaii. The University of Hawai’i seeks to build ‘the world’s largest’ Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on top of this sacred space. This has been legally contested in court. It was announced on July 15 that the road to the mauna would be closed to allow for construction to begin. Hundreds of peaceful protectors were drawn to the site, where the mauna is revered and considered kapu.    Western media may lead you to believe the group on the mauna are protestors. The group on the mauna are not protestors. They are peaceful protectors. The land is innately connected to the Indigenous people of Hawai’i. Hawaiian history depicts Mauna Kea as a gateway to the heavens.    The telescope is proposed to be built into the mountain and poses a threat to the water aquifer that exists directly under the mountain, as it may contaminate the aquifer with poisonous chemicals used in construction.    It begs the question, why must the development of Western science come at the expense of indigenous land? Hawai’i is illegally occupied. It rightfully belongs to the kanaka maoli.    For this reason, we must stand with Mauna Kea and Kanaka Maoli through the following actions:    Sign the online petition that demands immediate halt to the TMT telescope Make a donation to Mauna Kea Legal Defense Fund or the Mauna Kea Education and Awareness Fund Use your platform on social media and in your communities to amplify the voices of our Aloha aina who are at the frontlines of Mauna Kea. Help a buddy out if they thought the Mauna Kea symbol you were holding up was the illuminati sign. Not everyone is aware of what is happening in Mauna Kea, so encourage them to inform themselves. #EDUCATEtoLIBERATE  Visit Pacific Studies Lecturer/Activist/Author Emalani Case’s blog He Wahi Pa’akai: A Package of Salt for 30 ways to stand for Mauna Kea when you cannot physically stand on Mauna Kea (one way for every metre of the TMT). 

    • That’s Us Then Exhibition
      • That’s Us Then took place on July 12 at the Adam Art Gallery here on campus. The night was an exploration of responses to Edith Amituanai’s Double Take (curated by Ane Tonga), from students and young adults from across the Wellington region.    Building off the idea that Edith is reflecting “us” in our everyday realities, a huge part of the discussion and planning of the event was to determine what the term ‘response’ meant, and what responding looked like within the context of creating within someone else’s space. Does response evoke reciprocity? How do we remain true to ourselves yet respectful of others’ truths? Who are the tangata whenua of this operating space? Do we have a right to claim family ties with our Ranui Aukilagi counterparts, if we ourselves reside in Wellington? As each group and artist responded individually, we believe a unified response was also achieved. That’s Us Then was a statement that emphasises the saying of—“this is us” in the photographs, and therefore we want to see more of us in similar spaces.  

    • Akamai
      • Akamai is an opportunity for PASI 101 students to express their findings from Pacific Studies and their own personal Pacific heritage learnings in ever-growing creative outlets. From dances, speeches, spoken word, art and song—the scope is unlimited; a vessel for students to take the reins of their own self-development within Pacific Studies. In doing so, they are able to explore their personal implications from the course and with that they can take what they have learned and apply it to the type of person they want to be. At the end of Trimester 1, there is an AKAMAI XIX evening where all the work is showcased through performance and display. People can come to encourage their peers, loved ones, and classmates, and listen to what influenced their culture and identity findings in the course, whether it be personal or subjective. Being of Pacific descent, I chose to express how Pacific Studies gave me refuge to appreciate my cultural identity and the importance of recognition and representation. Therefore I chose to do an art piece, a series of portraits I drew of Pacific people in my life that have also contributed to these emotional and strong feelings. Akamai is an attractive learning style, as students can show their strengths within their education and show independence of authority as well as initiative.

    • Youth Parliament 2019 paves way for young leaders
      • Youth Parliament, held from July 15–17 of July, creates a mock parliament to introduce rangatahi to New Zealand’s system of government.    “[It’s] about providing an opportunity for young New Zealanders to deepen their understanding of politics and the democratic process… inspiring our next generation of politicians and political journalists,” declared Minister for Youth Peeni Henare in his press release on the event.    Youth Parliament, held from July 15–17 of July, creates a mock parliament to introduce rangatahi to New Zealand’s system of government.    “[It’s] about providing an opportunity for young New Zealanders to deepen their understanding of politics and the democratic process… inspiring our next generation of politicians and political journalists,” declared Minister for Youth Peeni Henare in his press release on the event.    Youth Parliament attempts to bridge the gap between politically aware and active rangatahi, and what Henare labelled the “hallowed halls”.    120 Youth MPs were selected by an individual MP to work with them. They came into the Beehive to create connections, debate ideas, and take selfies with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor-General.    Youth Parliament has real political impact. Reports by Select Committee on issues such as access to justice and free trade agreements are presented to Parliament’s Select Committee, which allows the voices of rangatahi to be heard, and ultimately influence policy.    The biggest focus over the three days reflected the biggest challenge of our generation. Climate change mahi was evident in the Climate Emergency Declaration, as well as debate on the mock Sustainable Energy Bill. It is hoped that these symbolic acts will serve as precedent for Parliament.    Luke Wijohn, the Youth MP who announced the climate emergency motion, stated, “We are clearly living in a climate emergency, but no one seems to want to actually acknowledge that.”    Molly Doyle, James Shaw’s Youth MP emphasised, “We all know climate change is killing, taking, and destroying what is important to us.”    This motion was developed into an open letter that was tabled in Parliament by Chlöe Swarbrick on July 23.   The Youth MPs were told by Henare to “inspire one another about what is possible for the future of Aotearoa”.    While most understood that some issues required participation from all sides of the political spectrum, others seemed to revel in partisan and argumentative debate.    Wijohn said that the event was “incredibly eye-opening to all the good and bad inner workings of our system”.    “It has only solidified my opinion that the only way we can solve the issues we face is if the youth have a say in their future through having younger people in those positions of power”.    The Youth MPs also heard from National Party Leader Simon Bridges, who reminded them that “leaders are made, not born”.    Youth Parliament celebrated the leaders of today, and the leaders of tomorrow.     120 Youth MPs were selected by an individual MP to work with them. They came into the Beehive to create connections, debate ideas, and take selfies with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor-General.    Youth Parliament has real political impact. Reports by Select Committee on issues such as access to justice and free trade agreements are presented to Parliament’s Select Committee, which allows the voices of rangatahi to be heard, and ultimately influence policy.    The biggest focus over the three days reflected the biggest challenge of our generation. Climate change mahi was evident in the Climate Emergency Declaration, as well as debate on the mock Sustainable Energy Bill. It is hoped that these symbolic acts will serve as precedent for Parliament.    Luke Wijohn, the Youth MP who announced the climate emergency motion, stated, “We are clearly living in a climate emergency, but no one seems to want to actually acknowledge that.”    Molly Doyle, James Shaw’s Youth MP emphasised, “We all know climate change is killing, taking, and destroying what is important to us.”    This motion was developed into an open letter that was tabled in Parliament by Chlöe Swarbrick on July 23.   The Youth MPs were told by Henare to “inspire one another about what is possible for the future of Aotearoa”.    While most understood that some issues required participation from all sides of the political spectrum, others seemed to revel in partisan and argumentative debate.    Wijohn said that the event was “incredibly eye-opening to all the good and bad inner workings of our system”.    “It has only solidified my opinion that the only way we can solve the issues we face is if the youth have a say in their future through having younger people in those positions of power”.    The Youth MPs also heard from National Party Leader Simon Bridges, who reminded them that “leaders are made, not born”.    Youth Parliament celebrated the leaders of today, and the leaders of tomorrow.   

    • Pasifika Queer in Review
      • Samoa Censors Elton John Biopic Earlier this year, Apia’s Apollo Cinemas was prohibited from screening the Elton John biopic Rocketman. The film was dubbed “inappropriate for public viewing” by Samoa’s principal censor.    While the decision caused outrage across the globe, President of the Samoan Fa’afafine Association, lawyer Alex Su’a, was less surprised.    In an interview with Sapeer Mayron, Su’a says, “We have been subjected to a lot of labelling, victimising, discrimination, and we’re a lot more resilient now.”    “Ban the movie? We’re like, OK, ban the movie, we’ll go and download it free off the internet. That’s how resilient we are,” says Su’a.   He concluded that while the censorship indicates a setback in their work, it does allow for a spotlight to be shone on the systemic queerphobia in Samoa, and the work of the country’s Rainbow advocates.    Cook Islands Follow Suit In the footsteps of Samoa came the Kuki Airani (Cook Islands) decision to ban films with “homosexual content”.    Chief censor Dennis Tangirere, supported the ban on “religious grounds” as well as those arguments applied in Samoa.   The list of films banned on these grounds included Rocketman, which premiered there in June, and screened openly in Empire Cinema for a week before it was censored.    Tangirere said that the manager of the cinema, Pa Napa, was simply “late on the [censorship] list.” However, there is speculation the delay was to test the waters of public opinion.    A local Rainbow/Akava’ine association spokesperson encouraged people to watch the film despite the censorship.    Shaneel Lal: Queer, Fijian, and Killing It On a more positive note, 19-year-old Fijian-born Youth MP Shaneel Lal was interviewed as part of the Open Government Partnership held in Canada recently.    Lal uses the #BreakTheRoles campaign on Instagram to promote diversity in leadership roles and challenge traditional social roles. Lal spoke to the Partnership about elements of his overlapping identities, as well as the change he wants to bring in the future.    “As a coloured person, a member of the rainbow community, and a migrant, these three things work very much together and also against each other.”    Lal is on the Ministry of Education’s Ministerial Youth Advisory Board, and has a particular passion for the decolonisation of education.    “Me being openly who I am [is] a way of saying that, actually, you  can have this background. You can be yourself, you can accept yourself, and you can actually get into many places,” said Lal.   

    • The National Queer in Review
      • Largely characterised by protest, but generally seen as progressing important queer issues, the year 2018/2019 for the Rainbow community in New Zealand has been a big and busy one.  Here are a few key stories from the year to keep you up to date.   Conversion Therapy Petition In September 2018, Young Labour, Young Greens and InsideOUT presented a petition to Parliament to ban conversion therapy. Combined, the petition received over 20,000 signatures and saw impassioned statements from Teri O’Neill and Max Tweedie at its presentation.  Their sentiment was clear: we’re here; we’re queer, and you know there’s no changing it.    Brian Tamaki Apology Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki apologised for previous statements regarding the Rainbow community. Amongst (now-confirmed) speculation about his family establishing a new political party for the 2020 election, Tamaki reversed statements condemning homosexuality, requesting the queer community move beyond the ‘misunderstanding’.   Police in Auckland Pride In early 2019, there was controversy around demands that police officers not attend the Auckland Pride parade in uniform. Proponents of this change reasoned that uniformed police could make attendees feel unsafe during their celebration of diversity and inclusivity.   Ultimately, despite large-scale loss of corporate sponsorship, Auckland’s rainbow community pulled together a lower-key street march.   Ardern First PM at Pride Parade In Auckland 2018, Jacinda Ardern became the first Prime Minister to attend a Pride Parade. Her inclusion has been treated as a signal towards a change in direction for government relations with the queer community.    Similarly, Parliament celebrated the re-opening of its refurbished Select Committee “Rainbow Room” with prominent community leaders from across New Zealand. The new decor celebrates Parliament’s history of queer representatives and its commitment to further inclusivity.

    • Māori Queer in Review
      • A year can feel like a short time in the world of the Indigenous Queer, and 2019 was no excpetion. The stories included here outline the presence achieved by queer Māori in both the Rainbow community and Māoritanga, and suggest another busy year for them.    Queen Takes Bishop: Georgina Beyer Weighs In On Brian Tamaki.  Brian Tamaki, the notoriously anti-LGBT Destiny Church leader, has been attempting to reconcile relations with the Rainbow community in a surprising apology at his church’s AGM.   In 2016,Tamaki blamed earthquakes on “gays, sinners and murderers” and marched against civil unions.   While some of the Rainbow community saw the apology as a positive step in reconciliation, others interpreted the move as one to garner political respectability. In the latter camp was Georgina Beyer, whakawahine Māori and ex-MP.    In an interview published by Taroi Black, Beyer said, “Yes, he has apologised I guess grudgingly one could accept that but I take it tacitly.”    However, she continued, “There is obviously going to be a political link. There seems to be inner strict able length by Brian and Hannah or much that’s got to do with Destiny Church. There’s a deep amount of suspicions I believe.”   Ngapo Wehi Co-Authorisation of ‘Gay Haka’ Revealed—30 Years Later ^I Have Loved Me a Man, a biography of takatāpui legend, Mika, appeared on shelves late last year. The book, in amongst detailing the struggles and triumphs Mika faced being Māori and Queer, provided astonishing insights into many of his formidable works.     One insight was the revelation that one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated haka composers, Ngapo Wehi, co-authored Mika’s controversial haka ‘“ēnei Tōku Ure”.   In an interview with ^Te Ao^, Mika discusses that the haka, which is performed in heels, aimed to bring awareness of the AIDS crisis amongst Māori men.    Wehi’s son, Tapeta, says his father was very supportive of Mika and always endorsed haka that were relevant and forward-thinking.    Dr Kerekere Accepts Award, But Questions Event  Aoteaora’s first-ever LGBTI awards took place in November last year. Despite its premise as an awards night to honour queer leadership, the event quickly came under fire, being accused as a corporate cash-in.   Issues at the forefront of the criticism included the event’s guests being comprised primarily of corporate bodies, and awards such as ‘Organisation of the Year” being given to the NZ Police.    Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, who received the event’s ‘Takatāpui Hero’ award, was also one to critique the event.    Speaking to ^Te Karere^, Elizabeth spoke of the gratitude she felt to receive the award, which was based on online voting—in particular, that people were “acknowledging the work”.    However, she recognised the criticism of the event as legitimate, adding, “Yes [transparency] is an issue, lack of community engagement and […] what went into [being shortlisted].” She also said the event should have been more inclusive of tangata whenua.

    • Largest-ever teachers’ strike scheduled for Wednesday
      • Both the primary and secondary teachers’ unions have voted for a joint strike on May 29, which will take place this Wednesday.   Earlier in the month, almost 50,000 members of both NZEI Te Riu Roa, which represents primary school teachers, and the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA), representing secondary school teachers, voted “overwhelmingly” for the strike, according to a joint statement released by both unions.   The teachers unions have been in negotiations with the Ministry of Education since early last year, which have stalled in recent months over failure to agree on details in their contract, such as pay, class size, and the availability of learning support staff.   “The offers we have received from the government have not addressed the issues our profession is facing. They will not turn around the crisis in education that is looming,” said NZEI Te Riu Roa president Lynda Stuart.   “We are united in our aspirations,” added PPTA president Jack Boyle. “Teachers do not take strike action lightly. We would rather be with our kids in our classrooms. We want a positive outcome.”   Education Minister Chris Hipkins told RNZ that he sympathised with the teachers but could not raise pay further, saying “we’ve got to get the balance right here” so the Government’s other priorities, such as housing and mental health, could also be addressed.   Hipkins said that the Ministry of Education’s current offer, which would put most teachers in the top 20 percent of income earners in New Zealand, and almost all principals in the top ten percent, showed that the government did indeed take teachers’ demands seriously.   An independent survey conducted by The Navigators and commissioned by the two unions found that 89% of New Zealanders felt that teachers did need a pay rise and that education spending should be prioritised.   No end is in sight for the dispute, as the government has already ruled out additional education spending in the 2019 Budget beyond what they have already proposed to unions.

    • WCC Q and A
      • On Tuesday, 30 April, WCC council members held a live Q and A ahead of the Annual Plan review. A number of important issues arose.   Waste Management Storm water was revealed as a high priority, after one resident drew attention to drains blocked with rubbish.   Councillor Sarah Free said “We’ve just finished a $3.8 million upgrade to storm water pipes in Kilbirnie,” insisting that further investments are on their way.   Councillor Diane Calvert suggested that, “while the council needs to play their part, individual citizens have a personal responsibility in keeping our waterways clear.”   Funding Funding and investment proved a popular topic. Councillor Iona Pannett believes “most of [the] budget should go to resilience” and cited the proposed airport runway extension as a project that should be “shelved” to make way for other priorities.   Calvert suggested there are “never enough funds”, but believes the council has “balanced a number of competing priorities.”   Consultation One resident quizzed the council on their plan for consultation processes.   Councillor Nicola Young said “engagement isn’t working” and believes it is better for the council to make decisions than “convince the public that we’re doing the right thing.”   Calvert agreed, stating the council “runs the risk of consultation overload”, particularly concerning the Annual Plan, carbon emissions, and growth planning.   Kilbirnie Liquor Ban Some residents questioned the liquor ban in Kilbirnie, following complaints directed at the homeless.   Councillor Brian Dawson drew attention to a “proactive plan to ensure those on the streets in Kilbirnie have access to the services they need.”   Pannett shared resident concern, agreeing that the ban “only moves problems around.”   Earthquake-prone buildings Buildings deemed unsafe following the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016 have remained a focus.   Pannett said there was a proposal for an injection of $500,000 to be given to owners of heritage buildings, as well as owners of non-heritage buildings weakened by the earthquake.   However, Councillor James Sullivan criticised the heritage laws: “We are trying to protect so much that we lose the ability to regenerate areas.”  

    • Post Cabinet Press Conference: Census Problems to be Resolved
      • Jacinda Ardern has announced pre-budget funding to fix statistical holes in the Census data collated last year.   In her Post Cabinet Press Conference last Monday, Ardern acknowledged the need for government funding to be allocated to fixing these issues, so that there is no repeat in future censuses.   “Picking up the pieces has come at a cost,” she said.   The government has pledged to grant $6 million to aid Stats NZ to make up the shortfall, with Ardern confirming that a further $10 million will be given to help mitigate any problems that the department may face during the planning of the upcoming Census in 2023.   Minister of Statistics James Shaw, along with Ardern, cited the previous National-led government’s decision to move to an online census as one of the contributing problems.   In the move, National had cut 5% of total operating costs to Stats NZ, a move that James Shaw said incited mistrust in the department from New Zealanders.   “New Zealanders need statistics that they can trust, and we know that New Zealanders do trust the professionalism and independence of Stats NZ. That trust and independence has been under unreasonable attack from the National Opposition.”   The same morning, Statistics NZ said that the department only has accurate data for 4.7 million people in New Zealand. As a result, they have had to collate data from other government departments to fill in the gaps.   Chief government statistician Liz MacPherson also stated that the 2023 census cannot be conducted successfully if the government uses the same data-gathering processes as imposed by the previous government.   Stats NZ is expected to release Census data in its entirety in mid-2020.  

    • Support for Return of Postgrad Allowance
      • In 2013, the government ended postgraduate student allowances. There are now calls being made to reintroduce it.   This is considered to have significantly impacted those who struggle to fund their further education. As an election campaign promise, Labour vowed to restore the allowance to postgraduate students. However, no progress on the reintroduction has been seen. In response, the VUW Postgraduate Students’ Association (PGSA) organised a protest on the issue. On April 11, the association held a rally on the Parliament lawn to deliver their petition to MP Chlöe Swarbrick.   To date, the online petition has over 5000 signatures.     The university, VUWSA, PGSA, and the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) have all expressed support for reintroducing the allowance. VUW Provost Professor Wendy Larner argued that while this is a “national matter,” the university “supports the reintroduction of a postgraduate student allowance”. Larner also commented that the university are “supportive of the students by endorsing our students’ efforts.” She mentioned it was also likely that the matter would be raised with senior government officials.   VUWSA President Tamatha Paul reaffirmed its relationship with PGSA, and told ^Salient the association “will continue to support them however they believe necessary to achieve this goal.” She added, “It’s pretty hard to understand why we’d stop supporting students financially because they choose to carry on.”   NZUSA National President James Ranstead reflected back on the efforts made by students: “With 5500 signatures, significant media attention, and a statement from Chlöe Swarbrick that she believes it can be restored this election term, we were incredibly proud of the effort as an organisation.”   Ranstead continued, “We are currently in the process of setting up a meeting with the Minister of Education, and organising a date to speak at a select committee. We are pushing for a commitment that the Minister will restore the Postgraduate Allowance within this current parliamentary term.”

    • Party Line – Issue 08
      • Question: “It’s very rare for every member of a political party to agree on every policy, all the time. What is a policy your party has, which your wing finds concerning? Should it be removed or altered?”   Greens@Vic The Budget Responsibility Rules is a fiscal policy the Green party committed to with Labour for the 2017 election, to maintain the level of government spending to a similar level as the previous National government. The result of these self-imposed fiscal handcuffs is a complete lack of spending on fixing child poverty, the housing crisis and climate change – the very things our party said the BRR would help fix. We urge the government to be the government of change like it promised and invest in its people and its future instead of maintaining the status quo.     Act on Campus We think ACT has been too slow in adopting real policy on the legislation of marijuana. Our party has always believed in the idea of personal responsibility, that one should be free to choose how to live their own life. So the fact we haven’t come out in full support for legislation is disappointing, especially as other parties are now controlling the conversation and taking it in the wrong direction. As a youth wing we have always supported the idea and we hope the rest of the party will catch up soon.

    • Concerns around Shortening of Exam and Marking Period
      •   A shortened examination period and grade submission deadline this trimester has members of the university community concerned that there will be a negative impact on students and academic staff members. In 2016, the VUW Academic Board decided to shorten the Trimester 1 2019 examination period and grade entry deadline, in order to extend Trimester 3. VUW Provost Professor Wendy Larner told Salient the aim was to regularise year dates to make each trimester 12 weeks each.   Exam Period a Week Shorter than in 2018 VUWSA believes that the shortened examination period will put added pressure on students, as there will be less time than usual between exams.   The exam period for Trimester 1 this year runs for around two weeks, from June 14 to June 29. Last year, the period was around three weeks, running from June 15 to July 4. VUWSA Student Representation Co-ordinator Joseph Habgood says the new exam timetable will reduce students’ downtime between exams, and also impact how they can unwind. Larner indicated that VUW has tried to ensure that students’ exams are spread out evenly within the timetable so they will not be disadvantaged.   She acknowledged that the period will require more forethought than there previously might have been among students. “It will require students to be thinking a little bit differently, so the idea that you can do your exam, and then study for the next one, [do another] exam then study for the next one.” “We still have the study week prior to the examination period, so rather than taking that as a break, take it as a study period,” said Larner.   Concerns Three Days to Mark Not Enough Another major concern for VUWSA is the shortened grade entry deadline this trimester.   The deadline shortens the marking period, only giving staff members three full working days to mark exams that fall at the end of the period. The last day of exams this trimester is June 29, and all grades must be submitted by July 3.   VUWSA is deeply concerned for the welfare of academic staff marking exams, and the impact on students who receive late grades. VUWSA bought their concerns to the Faculty Academic Committee on March 26. Associate Deans similarly expressed their concern with their ability to meet grading deadlines. Larner said additional resourcing would be put in place if necessary to make sure grade deadlines are met. She did not specify what the additional resourcing would include at the time. “Quite what the detail of what resourcing will look like will [vary] a little bit from course to course.”   “They are the kind of decisions that Heads of School make. They are in the best place to think about what additional resources might be required to ensure those dates are met,” said Larner.   Nicki Wilford, VUW Branch Organiser for the Tertiary Education Union, believes academic staff members may not be prepared for the spike in the marking workload. “The period of time between the end of exams and when grades have to be marked is very constrained.“ “It means they have will have to be doing nothing but marking for several days to get it in on time,” said Wilford. VUW Tutor Henry* thinks the grading deadline will have a negative impact on the stress levels of staff who are required to mark, particularly those who are students themselves. “You finish your own exams, and then you have to mark like 60 exam scripts. I don’t know anyone personally who has that kind of stamina or attention span,” said Henry. Henry also raised the issue of the grading deadline impacting the quality of marking. “It’s not something you can cram. You are not going to get accurate marks as a student for the work you put in, with this shortened marking period.”   *Name changed   VUWSA’s Recommendations A VUWSA Memorandum to the Academic Committee on March 21 stated that if “the Trimester 1 2019 grading deadline is not met, students studying in Trimester 2 will be severely adversely affected; most obviously, those enrolled in a paper requiring them to have passed a Trimester 1 paper as a prerequisite.”   Further, VUWSA have recommended that VUW extend the withdrawal date for papers in Trimester 2. According to Habgood, this would ensure that students would not be affected financially if they needed to pull out of papers due to late grades. When asked by Salient about extending the paper withdrawal date, Larner said she did not see it as necessary at this stage. “I will be very surprised if we end up in that situation. If there were particular issues around a particular paper, we would be able to deal with those.” Markers In The Dark There have been further frustrations among academic staff members around the lack of communication about the shortened grade entry deadline. Multiple tutors confirmed with Salient that the university has not formally told them anything about the grade entry deadline change. Wilford highlighted the importance of academic institutions announcing changes when they occur. “We would expect a general email to all academic staff who are marking, to make it very clear to them about the reduced grade deadline.” Larner did not offer an explanation for academic staff members (such as tutors) not being aware of the new deadline. She said that all academic staff should be aware of the changes, since the academic year dates were approved in 2018. “That kind of information should cascade down through faculties and schools so that everybody does know.” VUWSA is expected to continue its work on the issue, hoping to “get messaging out” to students soon.  

    • Mud and Mental Health, VUW Students Supporting Gumboot Friday
      • Gumboot Friday was a recent national effort to bring awareness to mental health issues and depression, through wearing gumboots. A video was created by Victoria University students to encourage people to take part.   Gumboot Friday was held on April 5, with Kiwis all around the country taking part, not only to increase mental health awareness, but also to raise money for free kids counselling.   “Living with depression is like walking through mud, every day” is the main concern of Mike King, mental health advocate and New Zealander of the Year, who wanted to use the initiative to encourage as many New Zealanders as possible to wear gumboots, to “walk in the mud with them”. Ngāi Tauira led the creation of a montage of VUW students, from many walks of university life, wearing gumboots and going about their daily life.   In an official statement, Ngāi Tauira Co-President, Te Mahara Swanson-Hall said that “Ngai Tauira acknowledges that many of our whānau, friends, and students are dealing with mental health issues”. She continued, “We wanted to create something together that was positive and uplifting and showed solidarity with Mike King’s kaupapa “Gumboot Friday”. We know that one video isn’t going to solve the issue of mental health in Aotearoa but if at least one person watches it and feels that they aren’t alone then that was a message worth promoting”. “Because at the end of the day some of us got to take those gumboots off after filming and some of us did not. Mental Health issues are a real-life battle every day for our people. And this video was for them”. VUWSA Engagement Vice President Puawai Waller expressed the association’s support for Gumboot Friday, saying that, “We hope that each person who attends Vic, has the support in place to help them throughout their journey at university and if they don’t we want to help them find that.” She described the event as “a day to come together and contribute in a positive way to an issue that is affecting so many people within Aotearoa.” “No student is simply a number in a statistic,” she concluded.   More info can be found at ^www.iamhope.org.nz/gumbootfriday The ‘Gumboot Friday’ video can be found on the Ngāi Tauira Facebook page

    • Māori Law Students
      • A recent Official Information Act request has shown a proportionate increase in Māori law students over Aotearoa in the last few years. The Māori population of Wellington has increased by 8% since 2001. Now 10% of the Māori population reside here, in the capital.   Victoria University of Wellington states that it is “one of New Zealand’s leading universities for research into Māori knowledge and development”, but is this reflected in the law school? And how does this compare with other universities?   The OIA reveals that the proportion of Māori students in first-year courses has remained stable from 2016 through 2018, only changing year by year by less than one percentage point (14.29% in 2016, 13.58% in 2018).   Passing into second-year, there is a cap on the total number of seats available. Previously capped at 300 students, this rose to 330 going into 2018. However, a 10% rise in total enrollment rise did not occur between these two years, as 2017 had already seen a second-year cohort of over 330 anyway. In fact, there was a 1.19% drop in total enrollment.   However, the proportion of Māori students did rise with the larger cap. The proportion of Māori law students in second-year (those enrolled in the compulsory LAWS297) rose by 12.2% between 2017 and 2018; from 14.15% to 15.36%.   This is above the 10% of seats reserved for Māori students moving into second-year. There are no other caps or quotas relevant to this data.   The other notable point from the VUW OIA is that 2018 is the only time in the last three years that the proportion of Māori students has increased when passing from first- to second-year. 2016 and 2017 saw small drops (-0.14 and -0.77 points, respectively), while 2018 saw a much larger 1.78-point rise.   13% of all law students, including those in postgrad courses, are Māori. However, VUW was unable to provide a breakdown for each group at the time the request was made. This information, and longer-term trend data, is expected soon.   Related to this, the data for second-year Māori student numbers is not indicative of pass rates at, or beyond, second-year.   Other than the 10% of reserved seats, Ngā Rangahautira (the Māori Law Students’ Association at Victoria) encourages Māori students to commit to kaupapa Māori, with emphasis on safe kōrerorero.   When Salient spoke to a lawyer who completed their studies at VUW, however, they pointed out that, at 200-level, there were “limited” resources when it came to learning about the Māori systems of law, and had hoped they weren’t so “broad”.   As for the rest of Aotearoa, the University of Canterbury has “Te Tono Motuhēhē Discretionary Entrance” where students applying for admission must abide by all other entry requirements along with at least a C- pass rate.   The University of Auckland (UoA) law school provides entry to Part II of their legal studies to 32 Māori students under their Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme.   A law student from UoA says the accessibility of Māori content has made them “extremely passionate”, though they are disheartened when others enrolled in law don’t share this passion. The student says “it wasn’t what [the others] were expecting, to learn as much as we did.”   Salient will be looking at doing another stats breakdown on this issue in the near future. If you have any information, or personal experiences with the Faculty of Law at VUW, we would appreciate your insight. Please contact news@salient.org.nz.   Universities’ relevant OIA responses can be found by searching “Number of Law Students/Māori Law Students” on the FYI.org.nz website.

    • Dylan Horrocks gets new job
      • Highly-acclaimed graphic novelist Dylan Horrocks has accepted a position at Victoria University in 2019, acting as a senior lecturer for the COMD 211 (Drawing) class at Te Aro campus.   Having worked as a cartoonist and graphic novelist for over thirty years, Horrocks is well-known for his works Hicksville and Sam Zabel and the Magic Pen, as well as work on the Batgirl comics line.   During his time as a Writer in Residence at Victoria’s International Institute of Modern Letters, the idea of a more permanent position at Victoria became appealing. He told Salient, “I found myself falling in love with the university. Everyone I met—students, teachers, admin staff, technicians—was fascinating and inspiring, whatever their department or research area or role.”   He sees combining teaching and research with his own creative work as “basically [his] dream job.”   More people are studying comics, publishing them, and creating them all around the world.   Horrocks sees the New Zealand comics world going through an evolution, and wants to become part of that change.   “Helping coach new comics creators; introducing people to the history and diverse landscape of comics in New Zealand and globally; encouraging research into the form, its history and theory—all of this is what made me want to do this job.”   He hopes to help emerging New Zealand artists learn about their predecessors, and establish a Kiwi presence within the wider comics world.  

    • Looking at Student Safety in Blind Date Columns
      •   CW: Sexual Assault, Sexism, Ableism   “Blind date” columns have become a staple of student magazines in New Zealand. These columns involve two students going on a blind date (with food and drinks supplied by the respective magazine), writing about the experience afterwards.   Following an alleged sexual assault related to a blind date in 2016, Salient investigated what student magazines are doing to keep their participants safe.   In 2017, Salient reported on an alleged sexual assault which happened on a blind date for University of Otago student magazine Critic Te Arohi’s “Love is Blind” column the previous year.     The column, now known as “Critic Blind Date”, involves two participants going on a blind date together. The participants each write entries about their experience of the date, and both entries are published in the magazine.   Blind Date participant Monique told Salient she was sexually violated by her date Nathan* when they returned to his flat the evening of the date in 2016.     Monique’s column stated that both she and Nathan had consumed two bottles of wine throughout the night, becoming inebriated.   The incident was investigated by police after Monique laid a complaint on 29 July 2016. However, after both participants were formally interviewed, police did not find enough evidence to prosecute Nathan.   Since the alleged sexual assault, Critic has continued the Blind Date column.   Critic Editor Charlie O’Mannin says they continued their column this year because it is “wildly popular” with students.     Fiona McNamara, General Manager at Sexual Abuse Prevention Network, believes that to ensure students’ safety on these blind dates, university publications need to set up guidelines that focus on respect and consent.   “The guidelines should focus on educating people on how to treat their date well, and put emphasis on how important consent is,” said McNamara.   Critic has put certain safety measures in place to ensure students know what to do if they feel at risk on the date.   The measures include sending out an email to participants which covers guidelines around consensual sex, and who to contact if they feel uncomfortable.   University of Waikato student magazine Nexus also decided to continue their blind date column after being informed about the 2016 sexual assault allegations.   Nexus safety processes involve letting participants know there is no expectation of sexual contact, providing contact details of the magazine editor for students to contact if they have any concerns, working proactively with the staff at the date venue, and organising a safe ride home for participants if needed.   Both Critic and Nexus have said they place limitations on how many drinks participants can consume on the date.   Massey University student magazine Massive launched their own blind date column this year.   Massive Editor Laura Macdonald told Salient they made the decision to introduce the column after seeing how popular it was among students from other universities.   “Since it was such a hit in the other magazines, I thought that it might boost Massive’s popularity with the student body,” said Macdonald.   Massive confirmed with Salient they have put specific safety measures in place to prioritise student welfare.   “We have a five-page hazard plan, a health and safety document/behavioural contract, as well as making sure the [restaurant] staff are aware that it is a blind date,” said Macdonald.   For information on mental health and sexual harm support services, see page 7.   *Name changed.

    • Eye on Exec
      •   Two ‘Eye on the Exec’s in a row? What a lucky life you lead. VUWSA’s March 28 executive meeting was full of big news—some concerning, but also plenty of exciting stuff.   Mental Health Wānanga *President Tamatha Paul* started off with a recap of the recent mental health wānanga at Tapu Te Ranga Marae. Tam expressed her optimism for the kaupapa. Campus rep groups and activists from last year’s The Wait is Over campaign were invited to discuss mental health at VUW. This included discussions with mental health stalwarts Mary O’Hagan, Ezekiel Raui, and Kassie Hartendorp.   A full report will be published soon.   Lecture Recordings *Tam’s* report continued with a recap of a recent Academic Faculty Board (AFB) meeting. The meeting focussed on the university’s response to the Mosque Terror Attacks, which included compulsory recording of lectures for the week immediately after. *Education Officer Rinaldo Strydom* is continuing the push for compulsory lecture recordings.   Big Problems with Marking and Reporting Another big problem discussed was the shortening of the Trimester 1 exam period (down from about three weeks in 2018, to two weeks) and of the marking period (down to three days). The shorter exam period raised concerns about the density of assessments for students. The shorter marking period was more concerning, described as an “impossible deadline”. Academics are reportedly “terrified”.   Concerningly, the AFB proposed that academic progress reports should be made optional. These reports help faculties identify struggling students, and develop support strategies for them. It was suggested that this would put a huge amount of pressure on VUWSA to support these students instead. Academics are reportedly not keen on the idea either.   Sex in the Hub On a more positive note, there was a discussion of last week’s Sex Week event. The 2019 event has been developed a lot from 2018, with attempts made to make it more accessible, and to have events at all three campuses. The Te Aro and Pipitea “satellite” events were also part of ongoing work from VUWSA to improve their presence and relationship with the non-Kelburn campuses.   *Welfare Vice-President Rhianna Morar* also declared her satisfaction that a number of community organisations have put their support behind the event. These groups include VUW, Wellington City Council, and Massey’s Wellington campus (which had a pilot Sex Week as well).

    • Halls Continue to Serve Sub-Par Food
      • In 2018, it was revealed that Boulcott Hall were serving undercooked chicken to residents that was “bloody and red”. Now, its neighbour up the road is serving pasta with a side of maggots. Katherine Jermyn Hall residents received more than they bargained for when they were served “weird shit” at dinner last month.   In March, a photograph emerged on Instagram of a maggot on a piece of pasta. Another night, approximately four weeks ago, a resident found feathers on their plate from a chicken which hadn’t been properly processed. .   Salient was contacted by two residents and a handful of first-year students about KJ’s catering service. Two photos were sent in anonymously by residents over the last few weeks, worried about the quality of food in their hall since the start of the year.   When asked if they had been worried about the food in halls prior, an anonymous student replied, “Admittedly I had heard good things about the food at Boulcott… upon moving in I heard stories of uncooked chicken, which made me a little uneasy.”   KJ residents pay $392 a week to be housed and fed at the hall.   When asked about the incident, the university Comms team responded, “The University is aware of this issue. The photographs in question were taken three weeks ago, and the University quickly acted to address the situation with the catering contractor, and to communicate with residents, and parents and whānau.”   “Student and Campus Living has made its expectations clear to the catering contractor and is working closely with the catering contractor to ensure that offerings to residents meet expected quality, and health and safety standards.”   “We are strongly encouraging all residents to provide immediate feedback to hall staff at any time and are committed to acting on any issues raised.”   The VUW spokesperson clarified that all their halls of residence use catering contractors.      

    • In Brief: Sexual Assault and Rape Went Undisciplined at Knox College
      • CW: Sexual Assault, Sexual Harrassment, Mental Illness Sexual assault is an issue of growing concern in New Zealand, especially for university students. A recent investigation conducted by Esme Hall and Charlie O’Mannin at Otago student magazine, Critic Te Arohi, brought the issue into the national consciousness again.   The investigation revealed that the prestigious Otago Hall of Residence, Knox College, failed to appropriately deal with numerous cases of sexual assault, as well as the alleged culture that encourages and permits it. *** Sexual Assault “Brushed Off” by College Leadership Knox resident Anne* came forward in 2016 to report repeated sexual harassment and rape from a fellow resident.   After taking her case to the Deputy Master, her complaints were “brushed off”, and were not passed onto the hall’s Master. When Anne finally complained to the Master directly, they considered the event an “isolated issue”.   “It seemed as if the reputation of the college mattered more to them than the comfort and safety of their students,” Anne told Critic.   ‘Upsetting’ Handling of Sexual Violence by College Leadership 2016 also saw Alexis* and a group of other girls go to the Deputy Master with complaints about a serial sexual harasser.   Current Master Graham Redding told Critic that survivors were given a range of options to help resolve the issue, but it was left to survivors herself to make a decision on what action should be taken.   However, an RA said that residents rarely picked more significant actions for fear of “rocking the boat,” choosing mostly mediation or apology options.   An Otago spokesperson said that the university would not expect survivors to make determinations on more severe penalties such as exclusion.   Resident Felt Silenced Through Two Sexual Assaults Knox resident Talia* was sexually assaulted in both 2015 and 2016. Following an incident in 2015 where another resident entered her room and attempted to have sex with her, Talia was dissuaded from reporting the incident by other residents.   “So far as anyone was concerned this was normal,” she said.   In 2016, Talia was sexually assaulted again. She was deterred once more, not reporting the incident as she thought that the residents and RAs in the hall would judge her for her own “naivety”.   Additionally, she “didn’t feel the [female] deputy master was approachable”.   “I couldn’t leave my room for days because I was afraid of that sort of thing happening again … nobody noticed.”   “Casual Misogyny” Creates “Toxic” Environment for Residents 2017 resident Lizzy* identified a number of incidents and practices at Knox which demonstrated the casually misogynistic culture of the hall.   Examples included men “rating” women in the hall, regular groping, and dismissiveness and hostility when such behaviour was challenged.   “I felt lucky that I escaped the worst. I wasn’t raped or assaulted. I just got used to being scared or uncomfortable all the time.”   “I shouldn’t feel lucky,” she said.   A Tradition of Sexism Numerous traditions at Knox appear to be key issues in producing such a culture at the hall. Many of them have been maintained by the Student Executive, a group composed of second-year residents. Practices include events where male residents tag women with lewd messages, the now-defunct weekly reading-out of residents’ sexual exploits, and the declaration of ‘student groups’—including a group for promiscuous female residents.   One resident said men were encouraged to sleep with these women throughout the year.   Another tradition is the “dodgy as fuck” Date Night, where popular second-year boys selected attractive first-year girls to go on dates. A former resident said these men were “definitely trying to get girls drunk to get them back to their rooms”. Another resident echoed this, and added, “It’s pretty much a vehicle for the second year guys to have power over the freshers.”   Master Graham Redding said steps had been taken to curb sexually predatory behaviour at date night events.   End-of-year awards were also raised as an issue. Several awards have been historically given out, including the “Knox Bike” awards, given to the male and female residents who have had the most sex throughout the year.   Although Redding said the Knox Bike awards are being reviewed, they are still awarded at the end-of-year event.   Former residents said these sexist traditions created a sense of entitlement among male students that was mostly ignored by college management.   College Leadership Working Toward Change, but Students Want More Eight years ago, in 2011, Knox College underwent a review by the Presbyterian Church and the University of Otago, triggering a comprehensive “process of cultural change”.   Since beginning as Master at Knox, Redding said that he was continuing these changes in a “collaborative and incremental” way, rather than imposing a “stricter regime” that could strengthen the harmful behaviour. Knox RAs now undergo ten days of training, and earlier this year, returning Knox residents took part in a bystander workshop.   Some former residents still expressed concern, however. One commented that “it would be good if the Master and Deputy Master were a bit more informed. There are things that they don’t know.”   2017 resident Lizzy* said she would “like to see disgusting traditions end as they’re derogatory for everyone involved” but are just backed by students because of ‘tradition’.   “Things can change and that can be really good,” she concluded.   *Names changed. ***   If you require support following a sexual assault, a number of services are available: *VUWSA Advocate* | Erica Schouten | 04 463 6984 | advocate@vuwsa.org.nz *Mauri Ora Student Health* | 04 463 5308 (Kelburn) | 04 463 7474 (Pipitea) *Mauri Ora Student Counselling | 04 463 5310 *VUW Student Interest Team* | 04 463 5023 | student.interest@vuw.ac.nz *Safe to Talk* Sexual Harm 24/7 Helpline | Call 0800 044 334 or text 4334 | support@safetotalk.nz *Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP* 24/7 Crisis Support Line | 04 801 6655 (Push 0 at menu) | support@wellingtonhelp.org.nz *Wellington Rape Crisis* | 04 801 8973 | support@wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz *MOSAIC: Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse* *Support Line*: Call or txt 022 419 3416 | enquiries@mosaic-wgtn.org.nz Call *111* in an emergency.   More information can be found in the VUWSA offices and website.

    • The Party Line-What are you doing at VUW to engage students on important environmental issues?
      • What are you doing at VUW to engage students on important environmental issues?   VicNats In February the National Party was proud to release its environmental policy discussion document. Throughout clubs week it was awesome to discuss the proposals and questions within it and other environmental issues with everyone who came to say hello.   In addition to this, the Young Nats are in the process of developing our own environment policy document and later on in the year we will be hosting a policy forum focused on environmental policy for our members to attend and express their views.   I encourage everybody to have a look at our discussion documents and let us know your thoughts! Grahame Woods   VicLabour Labour is built on values. We care about kaitiakitanga. VicLabour has a strong history in supporting the most effective campaigns to mitigate climate change. At uni level – you can catch our volunteers engaging all over the place! We help out at various events with waste management but still making sure we focus on the large issues. As well as lobbying at local and central government level, recently – we’ve supported the Zero Carbon Act campaign and the School Strike 4 Climate. Climate change is an emergency. Let’s do everything we can to stop it.   Greens@Vic Greens@Vic are campaigning hard this year for real tangible action on climate change, along with a not just adequate, but ambitious, Zero Carbon Act to ensure that the government takes this crisis seriously with the urgency it demands. We’re excited about local body elections: students are already passionate about public transport, & we need accessible public transport that actually works if we’re gonna start reducing our massive transport emissions. We’re also looking forward to participating in events like Sustainability Week, getting Green politicians on campus to engage with students, & working with other groups to better Victoria’s environmental impact.   Young New Zealand First Young New Zealand First stands behind its’ comments made within the Party Line in Salient’s Issue 01. We understand that it is important to engage with both students and faculty to ensure that we’re making the grass-root steps towards greater environmental practice – particularly within our day to day lives. Our membership, with schedules that are just as frantic as other youth wings; opt to reduce our disposable coffee cup usage by replacing these cups with glass pitchers, particularly filled with a refreshing drop of lager. We believe that by doing so, we’re doing better for the environment, and encourage you to do so as well.

Updated Feeds

Recently updated feeds from local organisations.