The haves, have-nots, and halls
Students are juggling two jobs on top of study to afford life in Victoria University halls of residence and that is before a price increase of up to $3956 a year.
The Wellington university’s quiet price increase – not advised in a booklet handed out at a recent open day – has sparked concerns that only the well-to-do will be able to afford to live in the halls.
One residential assistant (RA), who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said with top dollar being demanded for halls nearest to the university, it was creating a ‘‘weird social hierarchy’’.
‘‘Victoria University is kind of introducing a class system in the halls,’’ the RA said.
Students whose families were not able to pay hall fees were already having to work two jobs or up to 50 hours a week on top of study to pay the fees.
When future residents came to an open day earlier in the year, they were given a booklet with the old pricing in it and it was only at the end of the sign-up process did the new fees appear.
Te Puni – the biggest hall and closest to the university – will see its top annual rate go from $15,022 to $18,978 – an increase of $3956. Other
VUWSA president and Wellington City councillor Tamatha Paul with her 8-month-old bulldog Biggie Paul. She says hall pricing creates a ‘‘weird little class system’’. halls which Stuff has seen documentation for rose by $1683 to $2765. Selfcatered halls will range from $7237 to $13,135.
Victoria student and campus living director Rainsforth Dix said the university held off on significant price increases for the past three years but rising costs for insurance, maintenance, rents and rates, as well as annual increases in catering and core utilities, made it necessary.
The university was putting more pastoral care into halls, paying RAs more, and increasing hall staffing.
‘‘We recognise, however, that the increase in prices may impact students from less advantaged families. The university is also increasing its investment in scholarships in 2020.’’
Information provided at the open day was a 2019 accommodation guide but there was a note prices may change in 2020.
Two RAs spoken to by Stuff said that, while pay rates had increased, so had rent. It meant after their rent for living in the halls came out, they still only had $10 to $20 per week in the hand.
Te Puni resident Sophia Newsome worked through the summer holidays to pay a deposit at the Te Puni hall. She has worked two jobs – nine hours a week doing after-school care and a further 16 a week in hospitality – and had a student loan to make ends meet. That was before the price rise.
‘‘It’s kind of burnout. I’m feeling it now with exams and stuff.’’
Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) president Tamatha Paul, a Wellington City Councillor, understood the university was looking at ‘‘proximity pricing’’ – charging more for halls closest to the university. ‘‘It creates a weird little class system – a lot of scholarships can’t keep up with the price.’’
‘‘We recognise, however, that the increase in prices may impact students from less advantaged families. The university is also increasing its investment in scholarships in 2020.’’