Candidate: FaAfuhia Fia

Kia Ora! My name is FaAfuhia(Fa) Fia. I am a fifth-year law student and am running to be your student representative for 2025. My primary motivation in running for the role of University Council Representative is to see the Council’s decisions focus on YOU –– our students!!

It’s now more important than ever that you cast your vote in this year’s election, as our University is mooting ideas to drop a number of courses under the guise of a curriculum transformation. This is something I warned would happen when I ran for this Office last year. These types of proposals do not just affect staff but affect student life and the quality of education you will receive at the University. Students will rely more on their Council representative if these proposals come before the Council. The University’s successes and failures fall onto the Council as a whole and emphasise a need for a strong student voice. I believe I can be that voice. I would only be one vote at the board table, but your voices will be heard – this is the reality as the Council has many stakeholders represented. The successful candidate is only ONE VOTE AMONG THIRTEEN.

How would I represent you in the role of student representative? My first idea is to increase transparency and communication through social media. There is no point in electing anybody if you cannot contact your representative and tell them what you want advocated for at Council meetings. Your elected representative should be giving robust updates about Council business and asking for your input. The Curriculum Changes and the consultation periods were a symptom of this problem.

Among other things, further investigations also need to be had of the leases causing significant increases in the price of Student Accommodation and securing AUSA’s viability.

So, what can I bring to this role? I have extensive governance experience in the Charitable and Non-Profit Sectors. Sitting on the Auckland Anglican Church board and its Finance-Risk and Audit Sub-Committee, which has some direct and indirect oversight of approximately $241 million worth of assets. I have been part of the Union movement, elected to the National Executive of First Union Inc. in 2022. I’ve also been involved in Bargaining, resulting in an average 19% pay increase for Countdown workers. I also sit on the Auckland District Licensing Committee, another statutory body dealing with Alcohol licensing applications.

I mention these things not to flex but because your student representative is responsible for voicing opinions on how 4 Billion dollars’ worth of University assets are managed and spent. You need to have confidence that your representative can advocate for you, work in a team and be a responsible governor of the University. I hope that my experience ticks all those boxes.

I hope you see that I am an individual who seeks to serve YOU, our students. So if you want the focus back on you – vote for CHANGE, vote for FaAfuhia Fia for Student Representative for University Council.