Massive: Issue 20 'Mātātoa' English Version by Massive Magazine

o t t s

15th September 2025

Asbestos contaminates Massey’s new Vet building

Words by Jessie Davidson • she/her

Massey University is one of the newly confirmed victims of an asbestos fire door scare which company Pacific Door Systems put an alert out for last month.

An email sent out last Tuesday said staff may have been exposed to the contamination, warning them about the release in Manawatū’s new Veterinary building, Ngā Huia.

“We have confirmed that 12 of these doors supplied by Pacific Door Systems have been installed,” Shelley Turner said, deputy vice chancellor of university services.

While the asbestos was contained inside the core of the doors, unfortunately five had already been drilled into releasing the asbestos material.

“We have been in touch with Massey staff who have entered the building since the five doors were drilled to offer support and guidance.”

Asbestos is a mineral previously used in building materials before being banned in 2016. Previously the number one cause of workplace deaths in New Zealand, its fibres can cause serious health issues like lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The university’s email said prompt action was taken to isolate and secure the worksite after they were notified.

“It’s important to note the entire site is a controlled and contained worksite requiring strict adherence to access and exit protocols by contractors and Massey staff.”

The university will continue working with independent asbestos specialists to find the extent of the risks and take next steps.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is actively investigating the nationwide fire door scare.

The issue comes from fire retardant boards (also known as FRB core), a crucial component for fire-rated doors used in New Zealand and Australia.

The material, which did not contain asbestos by design, was sourced from a third-party supplier outside the country.

Police and Massey students connect at BBQ

Words by Sammy Carter • she/her

Over burgers and friendly competition, police recruits and Massey students connected last Tuesday at an event hosted by the fuzz.

Since the tense announcement came in May that NZ Police would be leasing part of Massey’s Auckland campus, some students have felt nervous about the 41 newbies.

Both wearing dark blue lanyards just with different logos, Massey and police students are hard to tell apart. Police students might just be wearing dress pants.

Police recruit Prarabdh Rawar was happy on campus. However, he did feel a mixed response from Massey students, finding some were apprehensive.

“You feel it, they're not really comfortable.”

But he was understanding of the response, saying he was having a great time connecting with other residents in the Weka Hall where 18 recruits currently live.

His peer Tushar Sharma said Massey students were welcoming and friendly.

Sharma didn’t feel a divide between the cohorts, “I don’t really see any difference, everyone came to learn something.”

Sharma was also living in Massey’s Weka Hall, having mixed and mingled with Massey students, eating dinner and playing pool.

The recruits will be on their way to Wellington this week, for five weeks of firearm training.

New AI major to begin next year

Words by Jessie Davidson • she/her

Anew major focusing on Artificial Intelligence is being added to the Bachelor of Information Sciences next year, and students are feeling open to the new course.

While other New Zealand universities already offer, or are planning to offer, AI-based courses, Massey’s will be the only AI undergraduate major which can be completed entirely via distance from anywhere in the world.

Students studying a Bachelor of Information Sciences will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI and other majors in their first year. From year two, students majoring in AI will look at core topics in AI and machine learning.

Speaking to students on the Wellington campus, they were open to the new course.

Nursing student Alyssa said it showed Massey was looking at training students to embrace the future.

“The world is becoming increasingly influenced by AI, and I think it’s important that we understand how to use it and how it can be used,” she said.

Commercial Music student Daniel agreed that while AI shouldn’t replace human thinking and creativity,

it should be important to learn how to use AI to support the creative process.

“Obviously AI shouldn’t be replacing human thought,” Daniel said. “I think it would be valuable for students to learn how it can complement their skills.”

In a Massey News article, head of school of Mathematical and Computational Sciences

Chris Scogings said AI is growing rapidly, and they’ve designed this course to get students ready for an ever-changing industry.

“We’ve designed this qualification with the future workforce in mind. Our graduates won’t just be users of AI, they’ll be the people creating it, managing it and making ethical decisions about how it’s applied.”

Starting in 2026, this major will be taught on the Auckland campus, distance and online.

Almost every university in the country is or will be offering some form of AI education. From Masters in AI, to postgraduate certificates in AI, universities are recognising its value.

Students got competitive, rivalling in press ups, grip strength, and jump heights.

Period kits mailed to distance students

Words by Claire Taylor • she/her

While students on campus get free period products, Massey’s distance students will now have a chance to do the same.

With 275 kits set for delivery, distance students can now access mail-order period products through a new initiative from the student association's advocacy team.

The kits include three reusable period pads, tea, and chocolate treats, available to students' studying half or more of their courses via distance.

The new one-off service allows distance students to apply for reusable period kits through an online questionnaire, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

With distance students paying a student services fee of $7.70 per credit, just $1.70 less than internal students, questions have arisen about how this fee is used and what services are actually available to this cohort.

Online students make up 65% of Massey’s student population, yet face limitations in accessing healthcare, mental health support, and on-campus facilities.

A Te Tira Ahu Pae spokesperson said the university already supplies free period products to on-campus students, something the distance community misses out on.

“However we wanted to set up something that was more accessible to students studying via distance.”

The spokesperson said the distance cohort had previously called for a period initiative, noting the high cost of essential period products. And this year, they were successful in gaining more funding from the Student Services Fee (SSF) for distance-focused initiatives.

“We’ve seen a great initial response to the first announcements, with positive feedback on the posts and a good number of applications through our form.”

And positive social media comments also highlighted strong support from the distance community.

Concerns over access to period products at Massey campuses have emerged repeatedly. In late 2022, Massey committed to allocating $12,000 for single-use period products however this was quickly adjusted the following year to just $6,000.

Early last year, the university announced a collaborative effort with partners AWWA Period Care and HELLO Period to reduce period poverty experienced by Massey students. Through the partnership, singleuse period products were introduced at 18 locations across all three Massey campuses.

Kits will be delivered via post from next week, with applications closing when all kits have been distributed.

Photography by Te Arahori Day • she/her • Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Tūrangitukua

Hot for a hongi

A few years ago when I was still in high school, I wanted to take my girlfriend at the time to visit my marae. She was super nervous cause she’d never been to one before, and the thought of sleeping marae style and accidentally stepping on someone worried her. I was the first Māori guy she’d dated. Plus, the girl was from Christchurch. But I tried to be as reassuring as I could.

After a long drive to my marae on the coast, we opened with a pōwhiri as per usual, and then it came time for the hongi. I could see my gf getting red and sweaty as we walked over and I couldn’t help but giggle at her a bit.

I make my way down the line as normal, but when I look to my left, I see my girlfriend lingering on a hongi with my uncle. I thought it was sweet for a sec, until I watched her purse her lips and go in for a kiss!

My uncle pulled away and laughed out loud, and I burst out laughing too. “I’m stealing ya girl,” he says to me with a massive smirk on his face. She went bright red, and I gestured for her to hongi the next person. She tried to move on, but later that day, I had to question her on what on earth made her kiss my uncle.

She said she got confused and it just happened (???)

She seemed to get over the embarrassment quick, because later that night she tried to make a move on me in the marae. I’ve had cousins manage to do stuff in the marae, but personally, getting it on with my Koro on the mattress over is not a turn-on.