Candidate Statements for the position of Queer Rights Officer 2025

Lee Li (Second Option)

Kia ora, my name is Lee. I am running for Queer Rights Officer because, as a transgender refugee and asylum seeker from a country where ‘being yourself’ is a punishment. Not long ago, I signed a document presented to the New Zealand High Court, and a lawyer asked me, “Do you sincerely and solemnly declare that your name is Lee Li, you identify as female, and your pronouns are she/her?” At that moment, I felt my identity was finally acknowledged and accepted.

When I was 16, I was fortunate enough to get a one-way ticket to New Zealand and landed on this free soil. Since then, I’ve been living authentically as Lee. Over the past five years, I’ve been actively engaging in protests, rainbow parades, and activities to advocate for my Takatāpui community, including the pink shirt campaign and my fundraising efforts at Rainbow Youth. Yet, most toilets at our university don’t have any gender-affirming signs, and some unisex toilets are even locked for maintenance. We must change this.

If elected, I will:
• Advocate for Gender-Affirming Facilities: Ensure that all university toilets have gender-affirming signs and are accessible to everyone.
• Support Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities: Organise events, workshops, and support groups to promote inclusivity and provide a safe space for queer students.
• Raise Awareness: Continue to engage in campaigns and activities.

An MP once told me, “I am glad you find New Zealand so welcoming.” So vote Lee for your next QRO. Let’s make our campus more welcoming again.

Theo Van de Klundert (Second Option)

Kia Ora. I’m Theo van de Klundert, and I’m excited to be standing for election as the AUSA Queer Rights Officer. I’ve held this role twice before, in 2022 and 2023, and now ask for your vote again to continue improving student voice and support. I have strong and effective advocacy skills, and an excellent understanding of rainbow and queer issues. I’ve led some of AUSA’s biggest rainbow wins, including upgrading Queerspace, re-energising the AUSA Queer Student Council, reforming the transgender name change policy, and establishing the new UOA Rainbow Student Advisor role. I am currently the Chair of Spectrum Work Aotearoa, an employment advocacy trust, and am appointed by the Mayor of Auckland to the Council’s Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel.

Once elected, I’ll build on previous wins by using my university relationships to further refresh queer space, and make sure rainbow perspectives are at the heart of AUSA decision-making. I’ll make sure Pride Week funding goes towards rainbow faculty clubs, including Rainbow Engineering, Science, Business, Law and Arts, and create opportunities for exposure to professional networks for rainbow students. With your vote, I’ll work tirelessly to ensure every student will be heard, valued, feel safe, and be well represented.

Artie Ho

Kia ora! I’m Artie, a LLB/BA(Sociology) student who’s queer and trans and running for QRO! UoA’s queer community saved my life - the support, solidarity, and friendships that keep me going - and for almost as long as I’ve been here I’ve worked to give back to our community so that more people can experience the same: I’m currently a Trans on Campus exec and have served on the Queer Student Council this year and last year. I want to keep giving back, and that’s why I’m running.

I believe what our community needs most is concrete change. So, in addition to all the duties of QRO, I promise to deliver on three projects if elected.

I will start a Queer Students Association. This will meet our community’s need for a general queer student group to bring our community together through regular social events, help all rainbow clubs to pool our resources to hold bigger and better major events, and free up rainbow faculty clubs to focus on their faculties.

I will establish a fund to support our gender diverse students who need financial help to transition. From medical appointments to specialised equipment, a basic quality of life can be prohibitively expensive. I will seek sponsors, organise fundraisers, and will donate 10% of my income.

I will set up and maintain a community pantry in Queerspace.

I am incredibly proud to be endorsed by Trans on Campus, Ethnic Rainbow Community, AUGSS, and Rainbow Arts, Business, Science, EDSW, Engineering, and Law.