It’s election season for the OUSA Executive. With 20 candidates vying for a position in 2026, three lunch-time forums were held this week to provide the opportunity for candidates to share their policies. Knowing most students don’t have the capacity to sit through six hours of politicking, or follow the daily posts of each candidates’ campaign Instagram pages, Critic Te Ārohi has compressed 14,000 words of notes on the contested positions into a summary of a campaign period that’s seen more drama (read: “healthy democracy”) than the season finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Grab your popcorn.
President
For the first time in three years, students will have a choice of candidates for President. Current President Liam White and Finance & Strategy Officer Daniel Leamy are running for the full-time role at the helm of OUSA, responsible for leading the Executive, representing Otago students in the media, and steering the ship of student advocacy in Ōtepoti. It’s been a tight and somewhat tense race, butting heads both at the Monday forum and on-air in a Radio One interview with not-so-subtle jabs.
Liam has campaigned on experience. He introduced himself to the 50 or so people present at the forum as having been around for a “long Grandad time”. Liam wants to build OUSA into a “real, genuine student union” and build off long-term campaign plans he’s drafted in his current presidency. After Liam was cut off for going overtime in his intro (a typical move for the certified yapper), Daniel said, “Give me the keys. I’ll take the wheel. Let’s do something with OUSA.” Inspired. His priorities are being practical and realistic about what he could achieve as President, with a duty of care to keeping OUSA afloat and able to serve students.
Questions for the duo ranged from their vision for OUSA, to which former Presidents they took inspiration from. The latter prompted the first sign of banter (we think) when Daniel joked to Liam, “I wouldn’t say you mate,” before pining after former President Keegan Wells – a tough act to follow, Liam admitted. In terms of their policies, Daniel has a three-pronged approach to presidency: holding landlords accountable, cost of living support, and student bars (Liam accused Daniel of stealing the latter). Liam’s priorities are independence, bold action, and community.
A forum that began in somewhat good spirits suffered over a few sore spots for the pair. First came the question of the Exec’s well-publicised “kerfuffle” in adopting a BDS policy. Liam was shaking his head with a frown as Daniel told the audience that he’d always been in support of a “where we can” BDS policy, admitting that the motion to abandon it was “rushed” and pointed out that Liam was the one to have called it. While true, Liam clarified that he’d noted his discomfort with the decision, wanting to seek further consultation. He accused Daniel of being a “liar” and “underhanded” in making that comment.
The second tense moment came when they were asked how to ensure that the Executive works as a united team. Liam was the first to answer, saying that he’s learned this year that it’s important to support the people first. “The Exec needs to know the President has their back no matter what,” he said, while Daniel looked as if he’d swallowed a bug. For context, earlier this semester, Liam went off-script in the SGM over BDS where he had meant to speak on behalf of the Exec. He surprised his Exec by speaking “as a student” in support of the motion, and Daniel was forced to make an impromptu speech to speak to the Exec’s initial decision – something he told Liam at a following meeting that he “didn’t appreciate”.
Other juicy tidbits came from their Radio One interview (available on their website). Asked about the role of student media in relation to the Exec, they agreed over Critic Te Ārohi’s important function of holding the Exec accountable. However, they disagreed on its current state. Liam reckoned the relationship is currently “too close” which “isn’t healthy”. He voiced his “serious concern” if Sam were to be successful in his campaign for Admin Vice-President, saying his close relationship with Critic staff as a current contributor might result in a "propagandist regime” (excuse you). Daniel disagreed, coming to the defence of his co-campaigner. Current staff both respect personal and professional boundaries, in his opinion. “I trust the Exec and Critic to hold each other accountable when needed and be friends when needed, too,” he said.
Admin Vice President
The Admin Vice President (AVP) is a race between Kamesha Jones, Sam Smith-Soppet, and Tate Agnew. Kamesha is the current OUTC President, bringing experience of running one of the biggest clubs on campus, wrangling its exec, and organising the many trips that OUTC runs. Sam’s name might ring some bells from his widespread involvement in Critic Te Ārohi and Radio One, making sure to note he has also become familiar with the current Exec (giving nepo baby). Tate dumped a CV that would make any LinkedIn warrior envious, with involvement in numerous environmental clubs and the Ministry of Environment.
A key part of the AVP’s role is student engagement. It’s an issue many Execs have grappled with; the three were asked what they would do to address this – beyond rage-baiting. Sam pitched student internships within the different departments for awareness of OUSA’s operations and career opportunities. Kamesha would like to see monthly forums in order to have in-person connections with the Exec and their constituents, which Tate reckoned sounded swell.
Things heated up during question time from the crowd. First came a question addressed to Sam alone, pointing out that while he was running alongside Daniel in a joint campaign, he’d posted something about making cuts, while Daniel has said there wouldn’t be any under his leadership. Was there an inconsistency in their campaign? Sam didn’t attempt to defend the post, simply saying that he’d made the post late at night while tired. “I’m human, I’m not a machine,” he said. From the crowd, Liam yelled, “Cop out!” Seeing an opportunity, Kamesha took the mic and added, “When it comes to AVP, the specific words you use really matter, so we need to make sure we have an AVP who isn’t going to miss a specific word.” Damn.
Another question cheekily asked which President each of the AVP candidates would be voting for. During the forum, Liam had hard-launched a ‘ticket’ of candidates that were running together – in competition with Daniel and Sam’s joint campaign – including Kamesha. She answered that she had chatted to Liam and was aligned with his political vision, but she also thought Daniel would make a good president and was fully prepared to work with him as well. Sam’s answer was Daniel, elaborating that this year under Liam’s leadership has been “telling” and “unproductive”. Tate answered Liam, but wasn’t fully aligned with anyone.
Since the forum, Liam’s ticket has disbanded following revelations that he jumped the gun on the post, going against the wishes of independent candidates. It included eight candidates who he’d invited to his flat at the beginning of the week to chat about collaboration on campaigns. Having run two campaigns prior, Liam told the newbies that he would be happy to lend his experience and campaign tools – including an enticing Canva subscription. Allegedly, he also warned the selected candidates of his opponent Daniel’s supposed plans for cuts to OUSA should he win the presidency, including equity services. Daniel confirmed to Critic Te Ārohi that this is false, and of all people knows that the President has no power over the operational budget of OUSA.
The candidate group agreed that they would not like theoretical cuts to be made to services, and that they would support a post indicating this. What they did not agree to, however, was to be on a ticket with Liam. This didn’t stop him from repeatedly mentioning his supposed “ticket” throughout his campaign, with some commentators speculating it’s a strategy to gain their voter bases. “I get why people might see it that way, but honestly the way you actually win votes is by getting your message in front of students not just through Instagram reposts,” replied Liam. He’s now actively campaigning with Troy, whilst “cross-endorsing” with other candidates.
Finance & Strategy Officer
It’s a two horse race for Finance and Strategy Officer (FSO) between Dominic Sarelius and Troy Gibbons. Troy reckons he’s fit for the role thanks to his accounting degree and being treasurer of three clubs, while Dominic’s CV includes being on the Politics Students Association executive. Despite their competition, they are united by a love for Microsoft Excel and hatred for Google Sheets.
Dominic reckoned the most important part of the role is managing the OUSA Exec’s budget, while Troy pointed out that the ‘strategy’ part of the role is often forgotten about. Asked about their financial strategy for next year, both cited OUSA’s deficit – $680k last year. Dominic listed smart, long-term spending to help close the financial hole. The two also agreed on the need to increase transparency and communication of financial decisions to tauira. Troy said, “OUSA needs to be more transparent. Students are really disengaged right now.” Dominic concurred, saying OUSA needed more exec engagement.
But it wasn’t all agreement. Each had a different take on the first place they’d look to for savings should OUSA’s financial situation go south. Well, more south. Troy’s idea was to march up to Grant’s office and tell him OUSA needed help. Dominic took the self-confessed “cop out” answer saying, “The exec budget, it is $250k. Not the biggest, but doesn't affect students as much.” He’d trim that up a tad. Prepared to dive head first into OUSA’s balance sheets, they both described OUSA as a TV show episode: Troy saying the finale of Breaking Bad (“almost post apocalyptic”). Dominic took a similarly cynical answer: the last season of Clone Wars (“everything falling to shit”). Nothing like a healthy dose of optimism.
Academic Rep
Harry Almey and Hansini Wijekoon are squaring up to take on the 20-hour Academic Rep role in a battle by proxy between Critic Te Ārohi and Radio One, being volunteers for each respectively. Both boast of the transferable skills they have gained from their time at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. Harry’s degree and writing has built his interpersonal skills, while Hansini points to her experience on the Society of Otago University Law Students (SOULS) exec as having given her experience with academic advocacy.
Asked about the biggest academic issues facing students, Harry pointed to a lack of awareness of academic services the University provides, while Hansini answered the lack of paid placements for degrees such as physiotherapy. To increase engagement, Harry wants to have weekly meet-ups in the Link, admitting it’s not a “star spangled idea”. Hansini wants to focus on achieving smaller-scale issues with “plausible promises,” such as fee discrepancies in papers. Of all the candidates’ forums, Harry and Hansini objectively agreed the most – except when cheekily asked what degree had the lowest IQ. Harry savagely answered BComs while Hansini was more neutral, saying all degrees were valuable – before adding theatre might be her pick (Harry’s major). Banter.
Welfare & Equity Rep
Rihana Warsame and Liam Melvin are your candidates for Welfare and Equity Rep. Through his lived experience, Liam is passionate about instituting a Disabled Students Rep on the Exec – which 54.9% of students voted for in this year’s OUSA Referendum – and building a stronger relationship with the local and national branches of the National Disabled Students’ Association (NDSA). Rihana is keen to foster a diverse campus where all groups are represented, and address the drop-off in support many students feel they face after first year.
Political Rep
In the race for Political Rep is Silly Hat Mayoral Candidate Flynn Nisbett (dropping the silly hat and getting serious for OUSA); Fergus Parks (otherwise known as the ‘Campus Banksy’ after postering campus to call for current Pols Rep Jett to resign in July); and Harry Almey (Critic contributor who’s “passionate and angry” about the current state of politics).
Flynn has bold visions for the Exec, believing OUSA should “not necessarily be politically neutral” like it currently is, and wants to move away from the “individualistic” way of thinking that puts the onus on students to engage with politics, arguing it should be the other way around. Harry wants to increase engagement through his campaign-signature drop-in clinics at the Link, put pressure on the Government to stop University funding cuts, and write lots of submissions – something he does already in his spare time. For Fergus, he wants to hop on either a soap box or a beer crate on campus to canvas student opinion in order to appropriately represent their political views: “United we stand, divided we fall.”
What they agreed on: a strong implication that the current Political Rep’s conflict of interest kerfuffle had motivated them to run. What they disagreed on: whether a ‘fees free’ campaign was realistic. Flynn said yes, Harry said no. Over to the students to decide.
Residential Rep
Zoe Eckhoff and Tyler Wichman are facing off for Residential Rep. Zoe brings to the table a well-publicised nightmare tenancy with a certain infamous Ōtepoti landlord, while Tyler boasts a history of advocacy. They agreed on a lot of points, including applying pressure to higher-ups for a rental warrant-of-fitness scheme, but with different pathways to get there. Zoe is keen to advocate for the Dunedin City Council (DCC) to get a stronger relationship with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Her vision is based on Wellington’s council, who provides the opportunity for anonymous flat inspections from MBIE.
On the other hand, Tyler reckons working more directly with the DCC will be more effective because the central Government may not be as co-operative. He proposed the idea of “random, but voluntary” flat inspections run by the DCC and an anonymous website where you could rate landlords and flats. Zoe proposed a green sticker system (rewarding good flats) and pamphlets to notify tauira of flat availability and experiences. Both of them are keen to increase exposure of the role, including lots of hall visits for freshers as they navigate the transition to flatting.
Clubs & Socs Rep
AVP candidate and Tramping Club Prezzie Kamesha is also running for Clubs and Socs against Ella Mary Sangster, member of many clubs and former Co-Director of Thursdays in Black (TiB). Asked about the biggest issue facing clubs, Kamesha points to the struggle of securing funding for both big and small clubs, while Ella is keen to see more support in building club and financial management skills and resources. Both are passionate about increasing club visibility on campus – whether that be ‘hall-bashing’ (going to halls to beg freshers to join your club), collaboration between smaller clubs, or creating new channels of collaboration and communications between club reps.