You're applying IBJJF requirements to a club that doesn't subscribe to 'the man'.

Will/Machado Affiliated academies in NZ generally run proposed promotions through multiple club instructors, many of which are 3° or higher. In most cases John Will is also informed and approves Black Belts. Harvey put Dodge and myself up for scrutiny to the group, he's our instructor and I wouldn't put anyone else as our promoting instructor, not do I think Dodge will.

... And Harvey was awarded is 1° 27/11/2022 by John Will as a time correction due to Covid (he was approved for BB sooner than he received it). BeltChecker won't allow him to put the actual date though.

I got Micheal Fooks - 3rd Degree to present, with the blessing of John Will - Coral belt.

Mike Fooks is one of the highest ranked affiliate instructors in the area and physically tied the belts on, to meet the 2° minimum requirement, so I get the confusion but he's not who trained us and put us forward for promotion.