Craccum Wars: Revenge at the CAB
In this episode, the boardroom becomes a battleground. Light is shed on Craccum's governing body, the Craccum Administrative Board (CAB) and its membership.

Episode III of a series
In an email to Craccum staff on 28 August, AUSA General Manager David Fulton said he intended to recommend Dr Ethan Plaut, a University of Auckland Senior Lecturer, for appointment to the Craccum Administration Board (CAB) and would “ask” the Executive to consider it.
The CAB oversees Craccum’s management, including monitoring the Editorial team’s performance, and protects AUSA from liabilities as publisher. They are responsible for appointing the Editor(s) each year on merit. Of its five voting members, only two seats are held by students. Furthermore, at CAB meetings, additional AUSA staff members are often invited to join, but the Executive are not.
The board currently includes (under s 44 of the AUSA Constitution):
- Engagement Vice-President (Kalana Piramanage) — CAB Chairperson
- Association Secretary (David Fulton)
- Craccum Editor(s) (Harry Sutton, Lewis Creed, Lee Li)
- University academic member (Professor Toni Bruce)
- Independent industry expert (vacant for over a year)
Under s 44(3), only the Executive may appoint CAB’s two external members by resolution.
For several Craccum staff members, the timing of the appointment has raised concerns about the magazine’s autonomy, given that another University academic staff member is being considered for appointment to the CAB, while the seat reserved for an independent journalist on the board has been vacant for more than 12 months.
Since the recommendation originates from a non-student, non-elected AUSA staff member, they worry it could be read as a constitutional overreach, potentially tilting the CAB seats away from student priorities, especially during a live funding and independence dispute. Recently, AUSA staff member suppressed Craccum’s AUSA election coverage without the collective permission of the CAB, raising concerns about possible overreach and breach of Craccum’s press freedom.
The CAB is said to be in talks with “an experienced sports journalist” to fill the vacant independent industry expert seat, Bruce says, adding that earlier recruitment faltered amid widespread media disruption and job losses. One of Craccum's Co-Editors has nominated the previous Craccum Editor and independent journalist, Martyn Bradbury, to fill the vacant position. However, the CAB have not met yet to discuss this nomination.


(Left) Professor Toni Bruce & (Right) Dr Ethan Plaut (Image Source: The University of Auckland)
Toni Bruce
Professor Toni Bruce, the current academic member of the CAB, says she offered to step aside and be replaced by Dr Ethan Plaut.
“Ethan and I discussed whether he would consider this, given his history with Craccum. We then met informally with AUSA general manager David Fulton to explore options, not to make final decisions which are, in any case, decided by the CAB”, Bruce wrote in correspondence.
On Craccum’s independence proposal, Bruce says: “The CAB has not yet met to discuss the current proposal, so I do not have sufficient information to take an informed position”.
Ethan Plaut
Dr Ethan Plaut said he contacted Bruce to put himself forward, telling her he was prepared to step in and even take her place on the board if required. This was after reading an article about the magazine’s appeal to split from AUSA. While he initially framed his offer as unofficial help, Plaut acknowledged he “might be able to help in a more substantial way” as a board member.
“I have been in touch with Prof. Bruce… When I asked her for additional details about the situation, she suggested a meeting with David Fulton, and the three of us had a brief discussion at his office, during which I learned a bit more about the conflict over funding, reduction of print issues, changes to the constitution etc., of which I had been unaware... that discussion indicated I might be able to offer help”, Plaut told Craccum in correspondence.
Plaut claims he only wanted to help if he was to rejoin the CAB. When asked about his previous CAB appointment, Plaut did not provide dates or names of editors he worked with.
Plaut further states that “Craccum’s successes are always due to the students’ hard work”, and that “I sincerely cannot offer a firm position on the independence proposal”. Plaut told this to Craccum on 1 September.
However, according to one of Plaut’s students, he allegedly described the Craccum dispute as “petty drama” between students who won’t be around for too long.
Plaut told Craccum staff: “I would just like to gently suggest you consider the possibility that your narrative about the CAB is exaggerated. In reality, the board has very limited power, and any individual member even less…”
Kalana Piramanage
When asked for comment about the Craccum SGM (Special General Meeting) proposals, Piramanage said that he supports Craccum editors and contributors’ move to separate from AUSA’s managerial umbrella. Saying, “they should have editorial freedom”.
Piramanage chairs the Craccum administrative board but claims he has little power over the board, despite being its head. For example, this year's editorial team was appointed by the CAB when the previous year's Engagement Vice-President was still chair.
David Fulton
AUSA received Craccum’s independence motion on 22 August. The Craccum team was informed that AUSA’s Association Secretary, David Fulton, had dismissed the petition, citing that the motion had insufficient signatures to call for an SGM. This was despite the AUSA Executive already passing a vote to hold the SGM as requested by the concerned members.

At that time, the proposal had reached 85 names with signatures attached (116 signatures overall), above the 50 minimum required by the constitution to call an SGM. Since then, the Craccum SGM proposal now has 166 signatures, has been resubmitted and accepted by AUSA, provided it is in alignment with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
Two months later, as of publication, AUSA has yet to set the date for the Craccum SGM and is still seeking legal advice. In lieu of an SGM announcement, AUSA has not yet confirmed if they plan to continue publishing Craccum in 2026 or if there will be further budget cuts and restructuring.
“It’ll be great to just focus on writing articles and not have to worry about the magazine’s existential crisis. But the reality is that we’re under attack”, a Craccum volunteer writer lamented.
Fulton was also one of the Directors of University Bookshop Limited (UBIQ), which has been under liquidation since July after it incurred a debt of $586,526 from trade creditors, $154,919 from wages and holiday pay, and $29,570 from IRD, according to the first liquidator report.
The report says that it was the UBIQ Directors who recommended the liquidation. The bookstore closed after 31 August this year. Liquidator Rachel Mason has since confirmed the business was sold to mystery buyers who plan to reopen the campus bookstore in 2026.
Companies Office records list David James Fulton among the directors of University Bookshop Limited (UBIQ), since 9 August 2022. The company was placed into liquidation on 2 July 2025, less than three years into Fulton's directorship.
Some concerned students expressed their doubt about Fulton’s managerial motives and capability, given his significant influence over AUSA and Craccum in light of his views and UBIQ’s debt and downfall.
Furthermore, AUSA have recently promoted Fulton from General Manager to CEO. Craccum has obtained the leaked resolution for this promotion, which rewarded Fulton for his “continued leadership and contribution” to AUSA. On 22 July 2025, the General Manager Employment Committee (GMEC) formally changed his title from General Manager (GM) to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), expanding his leadership role within AUSA and granting him a 4% salary increase — from $136,890 to $142,365.60 — alongside eligibility for a 10% performance bonus worth $13,689.
The same resolution also required AUSA to cover Fulton’s outstanding UBIQ director fees, including $7,820 for 2024 and a pro-rata $3,910 for the first half of 2025 up to the company’s liquidation.
This document was prepared by Finance & Operations Vice-President Praneel Gupta and endorsed by President Gabriel Boyd and Advisory Board member Ross Henderson.
Fulton became AUSA General Manager in June 2023. He is also listed as a director of Shadows Bar (The Kennedys Limited) since December 2023. He was approached for comment but did not respond.
Leaked documents reveal that the approximate cost for the wages of the entire AUSA Executive in 2025 was $303,567. If divided 14 ways evenly, an estimated average annual salary of an AUSA Exec member is about $21,642.
The majority of AUSA's funding comes from compulsory student fees.
At AUSA, promotions and bonuses are being handed out while core services are being cut and staff are being made redundant. The question students are left asking is simple: whose voices are really being valued inside the house?
