OUSA is paying $7,900 to translate its constitution into te reo Māori: approximately 20,462 words.
The current OUSA Executive were handed this task from the previous Executive. Last year, the Exec voted to include a clause in the Constitution that required the Constitution to have both a te reo and English version.
Georgia Mischefski-Gray, OUSA’s Vice-President, said that OUSA “decided to do the entirety of the document as this shows we are fully committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi”. OUSA believes that “the key benefits include becoming a more culturally inclusive association and honouring relationship with our partner association Te Roopu Māori”.
Komene Cassidy will translate the constitution. He is often contracted to translate documents for the University of Otago and works as a consultant for the University’s Office of Māori Development.