The newly elected Unitec Student Council will have both Māori and Pacific representation for the first time since before the COVID pandemic.
This was confirmed by Student Voice Coordinator Vivek Panchal who described the outcome as “great in terms of continued representation for our students” across both campuses.
Waitākere-based Social Practice student Beyonce Kahui was elected as the new Māori Representative and says she’ll work hard to ensure Māori tauira have a platform to share ideas, raise concerns and celebrate successes.
“I am passionate about creating spaces where our voices, culture, and values are truly heard and respected. As a Māori student, parent and the first in my whānau to attend university, I know the importance of support, representation, and strong leadership,” she says.
Computing ākonga Natara Iata Pimou was re-elected as the Pacific Representative and she promises to continue the work she started this year of “enhancing the student experience through collaboration and building an inclusive and positive student environment”.
Out of fifty-one nominations across the student body, twelve candidates stood in this year’s elections.
According to Vivek, candidates campaigned from October, meeting potential voters during various events held across both campuses. Each pitched their ideas to improve the student experience.
“Candidates used a mix of traditional campaigning techniques like posters and flyers and social media platforms, which helped bring creativity to their campaign and increase student engagement.”
Methindu Damsara has promised to advocate for the international student voice as the new International Student Representative by creating a “fair, supportive environment where every student feels included and valued”.
Claire Johnston has been re-elected to the Council as Student Vice President and has vowed to continue “championing a campus where neurodiversity if not just acknowledged – but embraces, supported and celebrated.”
The departing council will hand over the reins to the new council at the end of this month.
Outgoing president, Rayyan Hassan, thanked his council members and wished the new council well in 2026.
“It has been an amazing year full of amazing tasks and challenges that our student council managed to accomplish. My journey as president was a great responsibility. It was made easier with the help of my team working together as a single body and a family,” says Rayyan, who is preparing to take on a new job in south Auckland after completing a degree in Civil Engineering.
“The new group of student leaders will need this unity to help each other in working to achieve their goals next year. I wish the new council all the best as they start in their roles in February 2026 with Thao leading the waka as the new Student President.”
Incoming president and Civil Engineering student, Thao Nguyen is of Vietnamese heritage and says she brings “real-world experience” as a mature student returning to education. With over ten years experience managing her own company which she feels she is equipped to lead the council.
“I understand the pressures students face. My experience has given me strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills that I now wish to apply in serving the student community. I want to make the student experience as positive as possible,” she says.
Vivek adds: “The immediate task for the Student Council is the upcoming Orientation, where they will be seen alongside the new students, guiding them and leading them on campus tours.
“In addition to that, our new Student Council will uphold the work of our current council to build and integrate a student leadership model across Unitec/MIT to ensure a continued representation and advocacy of student voices.”