Second student dies in hall
Govt calls for review after revelations a Wellington student found dead last year
Areview of student accommodation has been ordered after it emerged that a second student was found dead in a university hall of residence. Victoria University of Wellington has confirmed that a male Australian aged in his 30s was found three days after he died in a university residence at Education House in Willis St in January 2018.
Details of the death were revealed after the body of Mason Pendrous, 19, was found in a hall of residence at Canterbury University last week, nearly eight weeks after he died.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said he was now “looking at the regulatory rules and requirements around student accommodation”.
He said the Tertiary Education Commission had asked all tertiary providers that provided student accommodation to contact “every student” living in hostels to ensure there were no unexplained absences or issues.
A Victoria University spokeswoman said the Wellington student who died was in his early 30s and was living in a one-person, selfcatered studio apartment and was found by a staff member.
“It is the responsibility of the coroner to determine cause and time of death and this matter has yet to be considered by the coroner. However, university records indicate around three days had passed between his death and the discovery of his death.
“All university critical incident policies and procedures were followed and support was provided to staff, students and family.
“It was a very sad time for the university and particularly upsetting for staff and students at Education House. The student’s family were in close touch with university staff and attended a memorial service held for the student by the university.”
The spokeswoman said the unversity changed its procedures to ensure only the person in charge at a hall enters the room of a missing resident to “prevent more junior staff potentially being exposed to a distressing scene”.
“We continuously review what we do in this area and respond to any recommendations from the Coroners Court.”
She said mature students were not expected to sign in and out.