The Auckland University Students' Association (), also known as AUSA, represents students at the University of Auckland. Founded in 1891, AUSA organises student events, publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies. It also produces Craccum magazine and runs the bFM radio station.

The constitution of the AUSA centres the organisation around student advocacy and the provision of welfare services. AUSA has 27,000 members out of 42,000 equivalent full-time students enrolled at the University of Auckland.

Structure

AUSA executive This is the incumbent AUSA executive team for 2026. Note that the Māori and Pacific Island Student Officers are elected separately from the rest of the Executive by Ngā Tauira Māori and the Auckland University Pacific Island Students Association (AUPISA) respectively.

AUSA does not hold elections for the position of Association Secretary, but the Executive has the power to appoint an officer or member of staff to the role. This position is usually held by the Association General Manager or CEO by default.https://ausa.org.nz/resourcehandler/610a71b3-0bbf-45b5-b8e7-8afde540c728/

Executive Position 2026 Officeholder PresidentNimish Milan Singh Education Vice-President (UG)Matthew Lee Education Vice-President (PG)Eugene Lee Finance and Operations Vice-PresidentPraneel Gupta Engagement Vice-PresidentRachana Rajeev Wellbeing and Equity Vice-PresidentNadia Malik International Students' OfficerGauri Jeejesh Post-Graduate OfficerChelsea Prince Queer Rights OfficerArtie Ho Women’s Rights OfficerAyesha Mohammed Disability Rights OfficerAyolabi MartinsMāori Students’ OfficersRhiannon KapaPacific Island Students’ OfficerTschan Hagai

Senior Leadership Team (SLT) President Finance and Operations Vice-President (Formerly Treasurer-Secretary) Education Vice-President (Undergraduate) Education Vice-President (Postgraduate) Engagement Vice-President Wellbeing and Equity Vice-President

Portfolios International Students' Officer Women's Rights Officer Queer Rights Officer Postgraduate Students' Officer Disability Rights' Officer Pacific Island Students' Officer Māori Students' Officers after an Executive election, the President-Elect.

Past presidents

2025 Gabriel Boyd 2024 Alan Shaker 2023 Alan Shaker 2022 Alofa So’olefai 2021 Anamika Harirajh 2020 George Barton / Emma Rogers 2019 Anand Rama / George Barton 2018 Anna Cusack 2017 Will Matthews 2016 Will Matthews 2015 Paul Smith 2014 Cate Bell 2013 Dan Haines 2012 Arena Williams 2011 Joe McCrory 2010 Elliott Blade 2009 Darcy Peacock 2008 David Do 2007 Lesieli Oliver 2006 Dan Bidois 2005 Greg Langton 2004 Kate Sutton 2003 Scott Kelly 2002 Ross Burns 2001 Kane Stanford 2000 Kane Stanford 1999 Efeso Collins 1998 Mark O'Brien 1997 Phillip Stevens 1996 Phillip Stevens 1995 Brendon Lane 1994 Cyrus Richardson 1993 Richard Watson 1992 Douglas Sadlier 1991 Douglas Sadlier 1990 Ella Henry 1989 Des Amanano 1988 Richard Foster 1987 Graham Watson 1986 Graham Watson 1985 Graham Watson 1984 Trish Mullins 1983 John Broad / Jonathan Blakeman 1982 David Kirkpatrick 1981 Wayne McIntosh 1980 Kevin Hague 1979 Janet Roth 1978 Mervyn Prince 1977 Bruce Gulley 1975/76 Michael Walker 1974/75 Clare Ward 1973/74 Ed Hayson 1972 Russell Bartlett 1971 John Woodroffe 1970/71 William Spring 1969/70 Michael G. Law 1968/69 W. B. Rudman 1967/68 J. Prebble 1966/67 R. G. Wood 1965/66 R. S. M. Mountain 1964/65 A. M. Katavich 1963/64 H. M. Romaniuk 1962/63 P. J. Rankin 1961/62 W. J. Strevens 1959/60 O. J. Miller 1958/59 A. W. Young 1957/58 P. J. Gordon 1956/57 P. W. Boag 1955/56 P. W. Boag 1953 Frances D. Spence 1953/54 Frances D. Spence 1949/50 M. S. Brittain 1949 P. F. Robinson 1947/48 J. A. Nathan 1947 J. A. Nathan 1946 K. L. Piper 1945 K. L. Piper 1943/44 J. E. Blennerhassett 1943 D. J. Morrell 1941 M. W. Speight 1940 D. T. Clouston 1939 J. C. Reid 1938 J. C. Reid 1937 A. P. Blair 1936 J. D. Lewis 1935 E. P. Haslam 1934 E. P. Haslam 1933 M. G. Sullivan 1931/32 M. G. Sullivan 1931 J. N. Wilson 1930 J. N. Wilson 1929 A. K. Turner 1928 A. Thompson 1925 A. J. Gray / S. F. Meikeljohn 1924 G. H. Munro 1923 C. R. McCullough 1922 W. A. E. Leonard 1921 H. W. Shove 1920 S. E. Senior 1919 C. Smith 1918 E. H. R. Green 1917 V. R. Browne 1915 F. T. Cox 1914 F. A. Airey 1913 J. Reynolds 1912 F. A. Taylor 1908 W. G. Aldridge 1907 S. N. Ziman 1906 E. de C. Clarke 1905 L. T. Pickmere 1904 F. Sinclaire 1903 G. B. Stephenson 1902 F. C. Long 1900 H. D. Bamford 1899 A. J. D. Mahon 1894 F. E. Baume

AUSA House

AUSA is headquartered at 4 Alfred Street, Auckland Central. The association own the property and as of 1995, the building is listed as a Historic Place Category 2 with Heritage New Zealand. An annual music festival is held outside AUSA called Alfred Street Festival.

AUSA also own a property portfolio and generate revenue from it.

Membership AUSA membership is free to all current students of the University of Auckland. As required by legislation, the University Council conducted a student referendum in 1999 on whether membership in AUSA should be voluntary or compulsory. The majority of students supported voluntary membership and this was enacted. Referendums on the same issue were held in 2001 and 2003, and in each case, the majority of students voted for voluntary association.

Detractors of voluntary student membership (VSM) say that AUSA suffers drastically from it, and that VSM undermines AUSA's ability to advocate on behalf of students and provide welfare services. They also say that in controlling the flow of money, the university dictates the terms to some extent of its operations through various agreements. As early as the mid-nineties, a number of incidents decreased AUSA's credibility and alienated a lot of members who were previously disinterested in student politics, and were an undeniable factor in the 1999 referendum. Contentious issues like allocation of funds was the focus of many debates at the Quad. Proponents of VSM, on the other hand, claim VSM means freedom of choice for students. They cite the United Nations declaration of freedom of association. They also paint AUSA executives under compulsory unionism as being wasteful, and believe that under voluntary AUSA executives are forced to be more accountable to members. They claim that the level of intervention is very limited (for example, the conditions are only that AUSA must run orientation and the like).

Craccum

Craccum is a magazine produced by the AUSA since 1927. The name originated from the scrambled acronym of "Auckland University College Men's Common Room Circular".

As a student publication, the magazine has tackled controversial topics at times. Notable examples include instructions for making a nuclear bomb, and an article that discussed different methods to commit suicide.

Until 2020, the Editor-in-chief of Craccum was an elected position but is now appointed by the AUSA's Craccum Administrative Board. From 1970 to 2024, the magazine released weekly print issues but now releases monthly after budget cuts.

95bFM

95bFM (or simply bFM) is a typical student radio station that plays alternative music. Like other student broadcasters, it supports local artists well before they become mainstream.

Originally started as Radio Bosom, a capping stunt, bFM has gone a long way. Today, with voluntary student union membership, bFM is pushed to make a profit for the Association, and exists more as a corporate entity than a student radio station.

Shadows Bar Shadows Bar is a student bar owned and operated by AUSA. It is located in the University of Auckland's city campus.

UBIQ bookshop UBIQ (previously UBS) was a bookshop owned and operated by AUSA from 1966. On August 31, 2025, UBIQ was permanently closed down following financial liquidation.

References

External links AUSA List of AUSA clubs