WEEKLY NEWS

“It’s insulting”: Students not impressed with staff’s pay rise

Sammy Carter (she/her)

Students say Massey staff’s pay rise of 4.25% is stingy, especially compared to other universities.

Last year, staff across all universities had multiple protests and strikes fighting for an 8% pay rise to match inflation.

After negotiating for eight months, two weeks ago Massey staff voted to ratify an offer of 4.25%.

In comparison, University of Canterbury staff secured pay increases as high as 17.9% and the University of Auckland had offered 9%.

Fresher students at Massey were not impressed to hear this news.

Jessica Kennington, Communications student, said, “If other unis can do it then there’s no reason why Massey can’t raise the bar.”

However, AUT was only offering a 2.45% raise, the University of Waikato had previously offered 2%, and Victoria University said those at the lower end of the pay spectrum had a 6% increase.

Kennington said, “If you want lecturers to put in their best work then they should feel heard and looked after.”

She said Massey staff put so much time and effort into students and deserved a higher pay rise.

Communications student Grace Richards said, “They should be getting the pay rise they deserve … It’s insulting.”

Richards felt it was fair for staff to ask for a pay rise that matched the cost of living, “It’s ridiculous it was even debated over.”

She said it undermined the achievements of all the successful teachers and students that came from Massey.

“People will assume that Massey isn’t as good because their teachers aren’t paid as well.”

Richards said lecturers and tutors were just as important as doctors or lawyers, “the work that they’re doing is shaping us.”

Fashion student Jetta BurtonBrown thought the pay rise was disappointing after all the protests and strikes.

Burton-Brown said it doesn’t make Massey look good, “definitely doesn’t look as if we’re valuing them [staff]”.

Communications student Leonie Sheehan said staff “weren’t asking for much”.

Sheehan said, “It’s not their fault that things go up, but employers have to match that.”

She described the 4.25% pay rise as “pretty shit”.

A Fine Arts student, who wished to remain anonymous, thought it made Massey look stingy.

It made them question “whether or not they [Massey] support staff as much as other universities”.

Pink sister vs purple sister

Tegan Jaggard (she/her)

A recent TikTok trend has sisters arguing whether they are the pink sister or the purple sister.

The psychological theory explains how between a pair of sisters, one would usually choose the colour pink for everything and the other would always choose purple growing up.

The general consensus is that the pink sister was the favoured ‘golden child’, while the purple sister was naughty. The colour-coded childhoods could be a subconscious decision on the parents’ part.

According to Stylist UK, the colour pink is seen as nurturing and empathetic while the colour purple is seen as powerful and energetic.

Massey student Ashleigh White is a younger sister, she said, “I think I was purple, not gonna lie.”

When asked if she thinks the pink and purple sister trope applied to her and her older sister, Tyler, she jokingly said, “Hmm, no cause I’m superior.”

“Tyler definitely was favoured throughout primary, but that’s because I was a little shit. I was the tomboy, so our grandparents favoured Tyler,” Ashleigh explained.

Ashleigh’s older sister Tyler said, “We definitely decided that I’m the pink sister.”

Tyler said, “I would definitely like to think I’m the favourite, but I think it’s actually pretty equal between me and Ashleigh.”

However, Ashleigh felt it was typical for the favourite child to think things were even growing up.

Despite being the pink sister, Tyler felt her younger sister got out of trouble a lot easier than herself, “maybe because she’s the youngest”.

“Doesn’t feel fair”: New tax on Uber and Uber Eats

Sammy Carter (she/her)

A new tax making Uber more expensive doesn’t take into account women who rely on it to get home safely.

The Goods and Services tax (GST) was approved at the start of March, charging 15% more on ride-sharing, food and beverage, and delivery digital platforms.

However, National promised to take away the law if it wins the election.

Georgia Cotterill, third year Screen Arts student, uses Uber often to get home at night and after parties.

When asked if she would still use Uber with the 15% tax she said, “My threshold for what I will spend will go up when I need to get home in the dark.”

The tax is set to start next April and is estimated to raise $47 million a year. Cotterill has relied on Uber many times to get her home safely and get her out of scary situations.

In her first year of uni, she was waiting for her bus after a movie at night when a man came close to her and started asking her lots of questions.

Cotterill felt uncomfortable and scared, “I was trying to stay calm… I told him my name was Lucy.”

She waited until the man got on the bus she was meant to catch, and she ordered an Uber home.

She said the bus system is so unreliable that students need Uber. Often, she’d try to catch the bus home at night and it would be cancelled or drive past without picking her up. Cotterill felt for younger students who will have to pay more for Uber Eats. “Flatting in first year, I had no energy or time to cook or supermarket shop, so you just get takeout and Uber Eats.”

Libie Nguyen, Communications student, said Uber driver’s wages should increase, not tax.

Currently, only Uber drivers earning over $60,000 annual revenue have to register for GST, but most do not earn this much.

Nguyen said, “They shouldn’t charge that much but I feel bad for the drivers, for all the crazy people they have to deal with.”

She said her friend once vomited in an Uber ride home.

She felt the tax was unfair on students, and that “they should do a student discount”.

Nguyen felt that ultimately the higher prices fall back on students and women who need to Uber home after a night out or in an emergency.

“In the end, you still have to use it.” Visual Effects student Sapphire

Wihiano said the new tax “definitely doesn’t feel fair”.

She said the government “doesn’t see the demographic using it [Uber]”. She felt it would be hard for women who rely on Uber after dark.

“It’s gonna cause a safety issue, especially because buses stop at certain times when people are partying till 2 am.”

Wellington artist’s documentary shows the journey to Olympic glory

An Olympic medal designer has, with the help of Massey, finished his documentary exploring the idea that every athlete is an artist.

Massey alumni Zakea Page created the medal design for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020. His debut documentary short film, “Ink and Gold: An Artist’s Journey

To Olympic Glory”, showed his experience designing the Olympic medals and performing at the opening ceremony.

Created with the help of Massey’s film, music and sound team, the film highlighted the connection between art and sport in bringing together people of different backgrounds.

Page said, “The performance is a statement against the stereotypical art vs. sports dichotomy that youth are very often forced into, playing with the idea that every athlete is an artist.”

“It is an opportunity to share what I learned and experienced - a reflection on my Olympic journey and the fact that we are all multi-faceted beings.” The film has already received 27 Official Selection laurels from film festivals around the globe, including 19 Best Documentary Short Film awards, as well as multiple Best Director, Best Producer, and Best Editor awards.

“I hope that the audience develops a deeper understanding of the values that went into my performancevalues that align with the Olympic movement which I take pride in as an artist, an athlete, and a New Zealander.”

His medal design, called ‘Beauty in Diversity,’ represented a culture of respect, friendship, and excellence, inspired by poet Maya Angelou who worked to educate others on human diversity.

The documentary’s first screening is on the 25th of March at the Sound Pacific Film Festival’s mid-season NZ Independent Film Festival.

The film will be up for an Audience Award and a place in the festival finals in August, held in Nelson and Wellington.

Page’s life has come full circle from winning the medal competition to now being selected to judge the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Medal Design Competition.

“Looking back on my experience at Lausanne 2020, I am so grateful to have been a small part of it,” said Page. “It is a great honour to be on the judging panel this time.”

The vision of Gangwon 2024 is to let young people celebrate peaceful coexistence and unity through sports. The winner will be announced at the end of March and the chosen design will be cast in gold, silver, and bronze to be awarded to winning athletes.