Nominations open
28 SEPT!

AUSA Queer Rights Officer By-Election Rules and Procedures 2026

1. The Rules which govern this election are in Part V of the AUSA Constitution – Rules 26 to 33. Please read those rules and abide by them. In addition the Executive has adopted some relevant Policies, which are included here.
2. This by-election is to fill the position of Queer Rights Officer on the AUSA Executive for the remainder of the term from 1 December 2026 to 29 November 2027, following the 2026 AUSA Executive Elections, in which No Confidence prevailed for this position. The available position is:
   • Queer Rights Officer (who must be a self-identifying Queer Person)

   Position Descriptions are here.

3. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must meet the following conditions.
   • Be a member of AUSA
   • Be a currently enrolled students at the Auckland University and must not be disqualified under the Incorporated Societies Act s47 (3) or the Charities Act s36B (2)
   • Attend one of the mandatory ‘AUSA Introduction to Executive’ session. These sessions provide an overview of Executive roles, allow potential candidates to engage with the Student Voice Manager or current executive members, and offer an opportunity to ask questions and discuss their candidacy.
   • Submit their own nomination via the official nomination form, available from 9:00 am on Monday 28 September until 5:00 pm on Friday 9 October. A provisional list of candidates will be published shortly after the nomination period ends.

   A nominee may withdraw their nomination any time up to 5.00 pm on Friday, 9 October, by written or email notice to the Returning Officer.

   As this by-election is for a single position, nominees may stand only for Queer Rights Officer.

4. All candidates must attend one of the 'AUSA Introduction the executive’ sessions, times for these sessions will be communicated with all nominees. The Returning Officer, and/or Student Voice Manager will run over the rules and answer any questions about the election and AUSA in general.
5. All candidates have the opportunity to provide a headshot photograph, and a short statement on their candidacy (250 words max) will be placed on the AUSA voting platform. This statement and the accompanying photograph must be submitted within AUSA’s website by 5 pm Friday 9 October.
6. AUSA will provide opportunities for Queer Rights Officer candidates to engage with students and answer questions, which may include a candidates’ Q&A or forum. Details will be communicated during the by-election process.
7. Please abide by the relevant university requirements if you use physical campaign materials such as posters, leaflets, etc. You must remove and dispose of these as soon as the election is over. Please don’t fix posters in a way which will mark or damage the surface, don’t chalk in areas where it won’t be washed away by rain, and if you distribute leaflets in lecture theatres, make every effort to remove all remaining ones by 7 pm the same day.
8. Candidates are permitted to spend up to $250 of their own money on campaign activities. This amount must be self-funded—AUSA will not reimburse or contribute to these expenses. For the purposes of these regulations, "personal resources" and "campaign materials" refer to any financial contributions or items of value supplied by the candidate or their supporters, with the intent of promoting or opposing a candidate, or influencing voters on campaign-related issues. Candidates are required to maintain a comprehensive record of all campaign expenditures. This includes documenting the fair market value of any goods or services that are donated or provided at a discount.
9. A candidate may be requested to submit an activity report detailing the candidate’s expenditure related to the campaign. This must be completed truthfully and as accurately as possible and must be in the form shown in Schedule One to these Rules. The deadline for this submission will be set up by the Returning Officer.
10. Candidates must not pressure, coerce, or threaten students in any way to secure votes, nor may they vote on another student’s behalf. Voting must be conducted individually and voluntarily, reflecting the voter's own presence and choice, except where third-party assistance is needed to support a voter with a disability, which must not be a candidate.
11. The focus of the election should be on the candidates' merits for the positions, considering their policies, experience, philosophies, charisma, and overall suitability. You are strongly advised to conduct an honest campaign based on your achievements, vision, aspirations, and qualifications for the role. Campaigns in support of “No Confidence” are permitted but should not become abusive. Additionally, candidates are prohibited from providing gifts, money, or other incentives in exchange for votes.
12. No candidate may use AUSA resources—including social media accounts, mailing lists, or other official platforms—to support their campaign unless those resources are made equally accessible to all candidates. AUSA Executive members are strictly prohibited from using their official AUSA email addresses, mailing lists, social media accounts, or any communication platforms associated with their Executive roles for election-related purposes. This restriction applies equally to Executive members running for office and those supporting another candidate.

    Candidates who are current members of the AUSA Executive must not exercise any authority, benefit, or influence stemming from their Executive role in a way that provides them with an unfair advantage in the election. Executive members are not permitted to wear AUSA-branded clothing or any attire that identifies them as part of the AUSA Executive when endorsing or opposing any candidate or campaign. However, they may express support for specific candidates (or for a "No Confidence" option) in the same capacity as any other AUSA member.

    Candidates are permitted to record campaign videos in public AUSA spaces if needed or desired. However, the use of private offices or any AUSA-exclusive resources that are not publicly available remains strictly prohibited. Specifically, promotional videos may not be recorded inside the AUSA offices (Including Craccum).

13. All current students of the University of Auckland are eligible to vote, regardless of whether they are members of AUSA. Due to the University’s Qualtrics platform being temporarily unavailable, voting for this by-election will be conducted in person using paper ballots. Students must present a valid student ID card in order to cast their vote. Students may cast their vote at the AUSA House (4 Alfred Street) or in the University Quad, at times to be confirmed by the Returning Officer, during the voting period. Life Members who are not current students may also vote in person at the AUSA office at 4 Alfred Street before 5:00 pm on Friday, 23 October, and must present valid photo identification.

    Votes will be counted and the winner announced on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.

14. The Returning Officer for this election is Blake Monk, who holds overall responsibility for overseeing the election process. Mauricio Lozano, AUSA Student Voice & Communities Manager, will manage the administrative aspects of the election. Nick Withers will serve as the Assistant Returning Officer.

    For any correspondence related to the election, please email elections@ausa.org.nz and clearly indicate in your message which member of the elections team your enquiry is directed to.

15. If you have any questions or want to raise any administrative issues (e.g., members having difficulty voting electronically), please raise them with Mauricio in the first instance. Email as above or go to AUSA Reception.
16. Formal complaints regarding any aspect of the elections process—including, but not limited to, the conduct of candidates—must be submitted in writing to the Returning Officer via elections@ausa.org.nz. Complaints must clearly state that they are a formal complaint, must not be anonymous, and must include:
    • A description of the alleged incident,
    • Reference to the specific rule or constitutional provision believed to have been breached, and
    • Supporting evidence and/or the names of any witnesses.
    • The expected outcome from the complaint.