Wintec student president faces challenge

Newly elected Wintec student association president Myles Watene is facing a bid to oust him from the job.

The Students’ Association of Waikato Institute of Technology (Sawit) will hold a special general meeting on June 30 to consider a notice of motion from students calling for Mr Watene’s immediate removal. The notice, signed by 78 students, gives no reason. He was elected with just 124 votes four weeks ago.

Mr Watene was vice-president of the association in 2005 when Sawit was embroiled in financial scandal. The Waikato Times at the time reported that he was investigated by police but no charges were laid against him.

The losing candidate in the recent Sawit elections, Joshua Bangs said students had a right to know about Mr Watene’s past. However, Mr Bangs said he was told by the student committee during the campaign that he could not raise issues related to Mr Watene’s involvement in 2005.

“At that point because he had already been nominated for election, and been passed by the returning officer to campaign, there was nothing we could do. It would have looked very unfair,” Mr Bangs said.

But Mr Watene says the ouster bid is just sour grapes: “[Mr Bangs] was telling everyone he was going to be the next president and I think that’s why he was upset.

“In any court of law you are innocent unless proven guilty. I actually want Josh to put it on the table, if he opens it up at that meeting and makes clear statements then I’ll answer to that,” Mr Watene said.

He said he would fight any bid to remove him and was seeking legal advice on the notice and his position.

Student representative Jacob Hami Crown said Mr Watene didn’t have a mandate from the student body. He said students knew little about the election and he didn’t believe 124 votes made Mr Watene president.

The student association banked $449,000 last year from Wintec’s 7000 full-time students, who are required by law to pay its $78 levy. The Government is moving to scrap compulsory student association membership.

Mr Bangs said the bid was not about him becoming president, “it’s about students having a discussion and deciding who they’ll have as leader. It’s decided by the committee whether to hold a by-election,” he said.

The special general meeting will be held on June 30 at 12.15pm in room CG16 at Wintec’s city campus.