Council Minutes
4:30pm
Council Room
21 August 2017
Present:
Mr St John (Chair), Professor McCutcheon (Vice-Chancellor), Mr Daniell, Ms
Dawson (by telephone), Mrs Dunphy, Associate Professor Kawharu, Mr
Kiely, Associate Professor Sims, Ms Tarrant, Mr Matthews
In Attendance:
Mrs Cleland, Professors Morrow and Metson, Ms Davila, Mr Gudsell, Mrs
Moss, Mrs Verschaeren
Welcome:
The Chancellor welcomed the participants in the University’s Women in
Leadership Programme, who were observing Part A of this Council
meeting.
PART A – Open Minutes
1.
APOLOGIES
Sir Ralph Norris, Mr Ferrier
RESOLVED (Chancellor): That the apologies be noted.
2.
DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No further disclosures were made.
3.
CONFERMENT OF DEGREES
With the authority of Council, the Chancellor
conferred the degrees as per the schedule
provided to the meeting.
4.
AWARD OF DIPLOMAS
With the authority of Council, the Chancellor
awarded the diplomas as per the schedule
provided to the meeting.
5.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
5.1
Council, Draft Minutes (Part A), 19.06.17
A minor correction was made to Item 11.4, p. 6, fourth paragraph, second sentence; to
read:
“A difficult issue was that of the academic staff members who left the University
in the last 18 months, most taught in the four compulsory courses in Part 2 Law and
that, when the semester started, there had been only one replacement for these staff
members”.
RESOLVED (Chancellor/ Mrs Dunphy): That the Minutes (Part A) of the Council
meeting held on 19.06.17 be taken as
read and
confirmed, subject to the
above correction.
5.2
Matters arising from the Minutes (Part A), 19.06.17 not elsewhere on the Agenda.
No matters arising.
Council Minutes 21.08.17
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6.
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
The Vice-Chancellor’s report was taken as read.
The Vice-Chancellor drew Council’s attention to the passing of Sir John Graham, former
Chancellor of the University of Auckland (point 2.1) and extended Council’s deepest
sympathy to Lady Shiela and their family.
With regards to point 1.1, it was noted that the wording on p.11:”
It is understood that
there was no exposure’’ meant that, based on the information available to Property
Services at the time of the discovery, there had been no exposure to asbestos.
With regards to point 9.1, it was noted that the criteria to establish a university were set
out in Section 162 of the Education Act 1989 and an organisation that met these criteria,
could apply to become a university. It would, however, not be appropriate for any
institution that did not meet the statutory criteria of universities to be called a university.
Council raised the question whether, for clarifying purposes, it would not be preferable to
consult with Māori colleagues and investigate whether the University of Auckland’s Māori
name: “Te Whare Wānanga o Tamaki Makaurau” should be replaced by a name that did
not include the word “wānanga”.
RESOLVED (Chancellor/ Ms Tarrant):
that the Vice-Chancellor’s Report be
noted.
7.
REPORTS OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES
7.1
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE
8.2.1
Minutes (Part A), 27.07.17
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Mr Daniell): that the Capital Expenditure Committee
Minutes (Part A), 27.07.17 be
received.
7.2
FINANCE COMMITTEE
7.2.1
Minutes (Part A), 25.07.17
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Mr Daniell): that the Finance Committee Minutes (Part
A), 25.07.17 be
received.
7.2.2
Financial Performance to 31 March and Forecast for 2017
The Chief Financial Officer, Mr Peter Gudsell presented this item.
He reiterated that the financial position of the University remained strong.
The aspects that were causing some risks to the operating surplus, were
unusual cost items related to construction, demolition and especially
asbestos removal.
A formal forecast for 2017 was currently in the making.
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Mr Matthews): that the Financial Performance to 31
March and Forecast for 2017 Report be
received; and that Council
note the
Finance Committee report that the University’s forecast performance against
budget, TEC financial risk criteria, the University’s own financial management
parameters, Strategic Plan objectives related to financial and resource
management and debt-related and other external covenants are satisfactory.
Council Minutes 21.08.17
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8.
SENATE MATTERS
8.1
Report of Senate, 31.07.17
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Morrow, introduced the Report of
Senate.
Part A:
Policy and other matters requiring Council approval
Part B, 1:
Matters for noting by Council
Part C, 1-3:
Matters handled under Delegated Authority
He commented that, at the request of the Faculties involved, the 2018 Programme
Limitations had been tweaked since the Meeting of Senate, 31.07.17 and the
following changes had been made:
•
The limitation for the Bachelor of Property (BProp) increased from 135 to
165; and
•
A limit of 150 was set for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDipEd)
and the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (PGDipSW).
With regards to the Review of the Discipline of History, the Report mentioned that the
last review took place in 2004. Council asked if there had not been another review
since then, as this seemed a long time and reviews usually follow a seven-year cycle.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) responded that he would follow up on this.
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Associate Professor Kawaharu): that the
recommendations in Part A of the Report of Senate, 29.05.17 be
adopted, and
Parts B and C be
noted.
9.
CORRESPONDENCE REFERRED BY THE CHANCELLOR
No items received.
10. OTHER MATTERS FOR DECISION OR NOTING
10.1
SEAL
Since the Council meeting on 19.10.16 the seal had been applied to the
following documents in accordance with the Council resolution of 18.02.1991:
(1) Deed of Assignment of Lease : 59 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland: Up Aqua Foods
Ltd and The University of Auckland
(2) Deed of Lease : 55 Symonds Street, Auckland : New Zealand Education Holdings
Ltd and The University of Auckland
(3) Deed of Renewal of Lease: University House, 19A Princes Street, Auckland :
Nineteen Princes LLC and The University of Auckland
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Professor McCutcheon): that the affixing of the seal
to the above documents be
noted.
10.2
RESCINDMENT
10.2.1
Student Lisa Maree Stowers
ID: 9455546
Memorandum, 10.08.17 from the Director of Academic Services, Mrs Joanna
Browne.
At its meeting of 19.10.16, Council conferred a Graduate Diploma in Arts on
the student.
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Tarrant): that the Memorandum, 10.08.17 from
the Director of Academic Services be
received and that Council
rescind the
Council Minutes 21.08.17
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Graduate Diploma in Arts conferred on 19 October 2016 and
confer a
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts.
11.
GENERAL BUSINESS
11.1
UPDATE REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DILIGENT
BOARDS
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Mrs Dunphy):
that Council
receive and note the
memorandum, 07.08.17 from Mrs Wendy Verschaeren, University Committee
Executive regarding the implementation of Diligent Boards
12.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE (for Council meeting of 16 October 2017)
None requested at this time.
Council Minutes 21.08.17
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PART B
PUBLIC EXCLUSIONS
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Professor McCutcheon): That the public be excluded from Part B of this
meeting.
The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for
passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution
are as follows:
General subject of each matter to be considered:
Item No. 13.1
Council Meeting Minutes (Part B), 19.06.17
Item No. 14.1
University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee, 04.08.17
Item No. 14.2.1
Capital Expenditure Committee, Minutes (Part B), 27.07.17
Item No. 14.2.2
Proposal relating to Park West, Grafton
Item No. 14.3.1
Finance Committee, Minutes (Part B), 25.07.17
Item No. 14.4
University Honours Committee Reports, 03.08.17 and 07.08.17
Item No. 14.5
Naming Committee Report, 07.08.17
Item No. 14.6
Vice-Chancellor’s Review Committee
Item No. 15.1
Memorandum regarding the appointment of Esquires Bedell
Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter:
The protection of the interests mentioned below.
Grounds under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution:
Those in Section 9 of the Official Information Act 1982 namely:
i) To protect the privacy of the persons referred to in the recommendations and to
maintain the confidentiality of those recommendations;
ii) To enable the University to carry on without prejudice or disadvantage negotiations;
and
iii) To prevent the disclosure or use of Official Information for improper gain or
advantage.
AND THAT Adrienne Cleland, Professor Jim Metson, Peter Gudsell, Gabriella Davila, Peter Fehl,
Brendan Mosely, Michael Rengers, Pamela Moss and Wendy Verschaeren be permitted to remain
for this part of the meeting, after the public has been excluded, because of their knowledge of, or
need to be briefed about, the matters to be discussed. This knowledge, which will be of assistance
in relation to the matters to be discussed, is relevant to those matters because it relates to aspects
of the administration of The University of Auckland for which those persons are responsible.
The Meeting moved into Public Excluded Session at 5.20pm
The Meeting closed at 5.50pm
Approved as a true and correct record.
_____________________ ________
Scott St John, Chancellor Date
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