Student Union: Third-Quarter Honorarium Cuts Reach 30%
Otago University Students' Association leaders accepted reduced pay this quarter after a review found several members fell short of required work hours.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Postgraduate Representative Fergus Parks received a 30 percent reduction in his honorarium for the third quarter of 2026. This marked the deepest pay cut for an Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) executive member this year. The union's leadership team approved the reductions after scrutinizing individual work reports.
Executive members are required to log specific weekly hours based on their portfolios. Those who work fewer hours than their quota face proportionate pay deductions. The union noted that seven members had their pay cut last year, with most reductions falling between 10 and 15 percent. This year's adjustments are deeper in magnitude but fewer in number.
President Daniel Leamy stated that the pay reductions reflect a commitment to collective accountability. "We are constantly aware that, at the end of the day, we are paid with student money, and there are expectations that come with each Executive role," Leamy said. The executive described the decision-making process as fair and constructive, distinguishing it from what they termed a "write-off" in the previous year.
Welfare and Equity Representative Rihana Warsame received a 25 percent cut. She averaged 10.7 hours of work per week against a required 20 hours. Warsame attributed the shortfall to time spent away from campus and the difficulty of managing communication across time zones. Her hours were higher in the first two quarters, averaging between 15 and 18 hours per week during that period.
Other members met or exceeded their targets. Administrative Vice President Kamesha Jones logged an average of 19.95 hours per week, missing the 20-hour target by a fraction. Academic Representative Hansini Wijekoon and Finance and Strategy Officer Troy Gibbons both exceeded their 20-hour requirements, averaging 21.75 and 21.77 hours respectively. Gibbons noted that he helped sink the hybrid governance proposal, which he called his greatest achievement of the year.
Residential Representative Zoe Eckhoff worked 7.83 hours against a 10-hour target. Political Representative Flynn Nisbett exceeded his 10-hour requirement, averaging 9.14 hours in the third quarter while maintaining a yearly average of 11.96 hours. Clubs and Societies Representative Ella-Mary Sangster logged 4.31 hours against a 10-hour target, citing medical reasons for shifting some tasks. The union continues to operate with these adjusted compensation structures for the remainder of the year.
