Senate and Committee Elections Statute 2025

(1) The Council of the University makes the following statute pursuant to section 284 of the Education and Training Act 2020. This statute may be cited as the University Senate and Committee Election Statute 2025.

(2) This statute comes into force on 25.03.25.

This statute applies only to elections to fill the following positions:

a. On Senate: 23 Elected Members of the Sub-Professorial Staff:

• Two faculty members of each faculty
• Eleven members at-large.

b. On the following committees of Senate:

1. Academic Programmes Committee

• Three professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Three sub-professorial members elected by the sub-professorial staff

2. Auckland University Press Board

• One professorial member elected by the professoriate
• One sub-professorial staff member elected by the sub-professorial staff

3. Education Committee

• Two professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Two sub-professorial staff elected by sub-professorial staff
  

4. Board of Graduate studies

• Two professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Two sub-professorial staff elected by sub-professorial staff

5. International Committee

• Two professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Two sub-professorial members elected by sub-professorial staff

6. Libraries and Learning services Committee

• Two professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Two sub-professorial members elected by sub-professorial staff
• Two members of library staff elected by library staff

7. Research Committee

• Two professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Two sub-professorial members elected by sub-professorial staff
• Two members of library staff elected by library staff

8. Teaching and Learning Quality Committee

• One professor elected by the professoriate
• One sub-professorial member elected by the sub-professorial staff

c. On the following Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committees:

1. Staff Advisory Committee

• Two Professorial Representatives elected by the professoriate
• Two Sub-professorial Representatives elected by sub-professorial staff
• Two Professional Staff elected by professional staff

2. University Academic Staffing Committee

• Two professorial members elected by the professoriate
• Two sub-professorial staff elected by sub-professorial staff

d. On University Honours Committee:

• Two members of Senate elected by Senate

This statute governs the election of those members of the Senate, Committees of the Senate, Staff Advisory Committee, University Academic Staffing Committee and University Honours Committee, who are elected in accordance with the terms of reference of those committees.

• Elections of Lecturers’ Representatives on Senate
• Elections of elected members on Committees of Senate, Staff Advisory Committee, University Academic Staffing Committee and University Honours Committee

Elections of Lecturers’ Representatives on Senate

In accordance with the provisions this statute, the following 23 members of Senate will be elected by and from lecturers:

a) Two lecturers’ representatives of each faculty; and

b) Eleven members elected from and by the lecturers of the University at-large.

c) In each election eligible lecturers will be eligible to:
i. be a candidate; and
ii. vote in the election.

d) The names of the Lecturers’ Representatives of Faculties and At-large on Senate for the subsequent year will be announced at the first meeting of the Senate after the elections close.

Elections of members of Committees of Senate, Staff Advisory Committee,
University Academic Staffing Committee and University Honours Committee

a) Provisions will apply to the elected members on a committee of Senate, on Staff Advisory Committee and on University Academic Staffing Committee which, according to the terms of reference of these committees, are to be held by members of the professoriate, of sub-professorial staff, professional staff and library staff according to the committee’s terms of reference.

b) Provisions will also apply to two positions on the University Honours Committee which, according to the terms of reference of that committee, are to be held by and from members of Senate.

c) Members of the Professoriate are entitled to be candidates and vote in professorial elections.

d) Members of sub-professorial staff are entitled to be candidates and vote in subprofessorial elections.

e) Members of professional staff are entitled to be candidates and vote in professional staff elections.

f) Members of library staff are entitled to be candidates and vote in the elections for Libraries and Learning Services Committee.

g) Members of Senate will be entitled to be a candidates and vote in elections for membership of the University Honours Committee.

h) Elections will be run in accordance with the Elections Procedures. 

The following definitions apply to this document:

Candidate means a candidate for election to Senate, Committees of Senate, University Honours Committee, Staff Advisory Committee and University Academic Staffing Committee.

Council means the governing body of the University.

Elector means a person eligible to vote under the Senate and Committee Election Statute.

Lecturer includes all persons employed as an associate dean, associate professor, senior lecturer, lecturer, senior tutor, tutor, professional teaching fellow, senior research fellow or research fellow who have been continuously employed as such for a minimum of 12 months, but excluding adjunct staff, at the date specified by the Returning Officer; a lecturer is an elector for the purposes of the Senate and Committee Election Statute.

(University of Auckland Act 1961 states: lecturer means a member of the staff of the University of Auckland who is in terms of his appointment an associate professor, a reader, a senior lecturer, or a lecturer of the University; and includes such other persons and classes of persons as the Council from time to time determines).

Lecturers’ representative means a member of the Senate elected from and by the lecturers in accordance with the provisions of this statute.

Registrar means the Registrar of the University as defined in the University of Auckland Act 1961.

Senate is the academic committee established by Council under section s18(2) of Schedule 11 to the Education and Training Act 2020; it includes professors, as well as representatives of sub-professorial staff, professional staff and students.

Statement means a candidate’s supporting statement for a specified election which must be made in accordance with the Election Procedures.

University means Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland and includes all subsidiaries.

University publications may be in hard copy or electronic form and includes magazines, newsletters and websites which may be used by the University from time to time.

Vice-Chancellor is the person currently holding office as the Chief Executive Officer of the University; and includes any person

a. acting temporarily in that capacity; or
b. acting under the delegated authority of the Vice-Chancellor

This includes the following:

• Education and Training Act 2020
• University of Auckland Act 1961
• Senate Standing Orders
  
• Terms of Reference of Senate, Academic Programmes Committee, Auckland University Press Board, Education Committee, Board of Graduate Studies, International Committee, Libraries and Learning Services Committee, Research Committee, Teaching and Learning Quality Committee, Staff Advisory Committee, University Academic Staffing Committee and University Honours Committee

Owner: Vice-Chancellor
Content manager: Registrar
Approved by: Council
Date approved: 11 March 2019
Date last reviewed or amended: 26 February 2025
Next review date: 25 February 2030