Residents enjoying life at Te Pā Tauira

Accolades, as well as lots of activity, are flowing through the light-filled spaces of Te Pā Tauira – Otago Polytechnic Student Village.

As residents settle into their new lives at Te Pā Tauira, they are discovering the many benefits of the built-for-purpose facility which, with its mixture of dorm rooms and apartments, has a maximum capacity of 231.

Students have already enjoyed movie nights, a quiz night, a sports day and a speed meet, all designed to bring people together.

“The events help you get to know people on the floor quite well, and they make it a competition," says resident Nicole Woollard, from Christchurch.

Resident assistant Mhairi Duncan praised the size of her room, which has three windows, a queen bed, desk, an ensuite and a wardrobe.

She has also been enjoying the social atmosphere of Te Pā Tauira.

"You miss out on that when you stay at home. Also, my friends’ flats were horrible so I didn’t want to move into a flat."

Te Pā Tauira manager Andy Thompson says the facility is more than an accommodation centre.

“We’re developing young people as leaders."

Read the Otago Daily Times article

Read more about the Student Village