Otago Student Executives Face 30% Pay Cut After Quarterly Hours Review

The Otago University Student Association has released its third-quarter executive reports, revealing that several union leaders have taken their first pay cuts of 2026. The reductions follow a standard review process where executives submit detailed logs of their weekly hours, and peers assess whether those hours justify full pay. While similar cuts occurred last year, this quarter’s reductions are deeper, though fewer in number.

President Daniel Leamy, who averaged 40.54 hours against a 40-hour target, led the union through a high-profile quarter. He attended at least sixteen committees and addressed media inquiries regarding hybrid governance and the university bookshop. Leamy described the pay decisions as a matter of collective accountability, noting that executives are paid with student money. He stated, “Pay decisions are not made lightly and demonstrate the Executive taking its responsibilities seriously in a fair and constructive way.”

Not all executives met their hour targets. Rihana Warsame, the Welfare and Equity Representative, averaged 10.7 hours against a 20-hour requirement. She cited a trip home and the difficulty of managing time zones as factors affecting her availability. Consequently, she received a 25% reduction in her honorarium. Fergus Parks, the Postgraduate Representative, faced a steeper 30% cut after averaging only 5.32 hours against a 10-hour target.

Kamesha Jones, the Administrative Vice President, reported 19.95 hours against a 20-hour goal. Jones acknowledged that many of her annual goals had been sidetracked due to administrative burdens and a recent re-election campaign. She described her role as the connective tissue between the executive, staff, and the union’s purpose. Despite the challenges, she remains focused on increasing student engagement for the upcoming general election.

Troy Gibbons, the Finance and Strategy Officer, exceeded his 20-hour target with an average of 21.77 hours. He cited a hectic schedule that included graduation ceremonies and budget preparations for the annual general meeting. Gibbons also noted progress on a memorandum of understanding for the University of Otago’s UnionQ, though he expressed concern over a proposed ACT Party policy that would make funding for student associations voluntary.

Flynn Nisbett, the Political Representative, averaged 9.14 hours against a 10-hour requirement, though his yearly average stood at 11.96. He organized the OUSA Leaders debate, which drew 300 students, and coordinated with four other student associations on fees-free advocacy. Ella-Mary Sangster, the Clubs and Societies Representative, averaged 4.31 hours against a 10-hour target. She noted that medical reasons required her to shift tasks, but she successfully implemented an informal club calendar on the OUSA website.