AUTSA Student Representative Committee election ballots open

NEWS | ISSUE NINE | WHAKAKATA / HUMOUR

Written by Liam Hansen (they/them) | @liamhanse.n | Associate Editor

The Student Representative Committee is the governing body of the Auckland University of Technology Students Association, consisting of student representatives across faculties, campuses, and cultural groups that help shape the direction of AUTSA in 2027 and beyond. 

Ballots for the 2027 election opened last week, on the 3rd of August, and remain open until next Monday, the 17th. 

All roles are voluntary, consisting of fortnightly meetings where representatives take the concerns of their classmates to the leaders of AUT and AUTSA while working to ensure their community is protected, with koha delivered each semester alongside leadership opportunities and other projects off campus. 

Leading them is the executive branch, consisting of AUTSA President James Portegys, VP Academic Peter Peng, and VP Community Ishani Mathur. At the beginning of their term this year, the Vice President roles transitioned from one-year to two-year contracts, meaning the team will stay the same for 2027 unless any members vacate their position. 

AUT students can vote via the link sent to their emails, where they can also browse the candidates and learn more about their values and goals. If you haven’t received this email and wish to cast your vote, get in touch with elections@autsa.org.nz.

At the time of writing, several positions received one candidate, making them the presumptive selected candidate. The HES Faculty Rep and North Campus Rep roles were both only contested by R U OK? Ambassador Storm Welman, while the other campuses also have their reps locked in as Matte Cade Perrin for the City campus and Isara Paramore down south. 

The Diversity Affairs Rep and Rainbow Affairs Rep roles have been only contested by Pei-Lin Hiang and Stefan Argentiero. Both students, alongside Welman and others who have put their name forward, have been nominated for multiple roles - this means that their unpreferred role would remain vacant unless someone else was available to contest it. 

Regardless, all the students who’ve put themselves forward are keen to get stuck in and help out on campus one way or another. To learn more about each candidate, you can go to autsa.org.nz/elections. 

The Māori Affairs Rep, Mature Students Rep, Pasifika Affairs Rep, and Accommodation Rep roles were all uncontested, remaining vacant and open for interested students to apply. 

All students who cast votes in the election are automatically in the draw to win a new iPad.