As the newest residential college at Otago, we have modern facilities throughout our building.
Te Rangihīroa student bedroom
Student rooms and facilities at Te Rangihīroa
Each floor has six communal bathrooms (two shower and two toilet cubicles in each) and three accessible bathrooms.
Bathrooms at Te Rangihīroa are all gender.
Te Rangihīroa has 300 standard and 150 ensuite rooms. This includes several accessible rooms (both standard and ensuite). All bedrooms are within the same building, with 90 residents per floor.
Furniture
Every bedroom is fully furnished with:
- Bed
- Built in desk, with study light and pinboard
- Study chair
- Radiator for heating
- Reading light over bed
- Built in wardrobe (with mirror)
- Towel rail
- Curtains
- Wireless internet access
Bedding
Supplied by the College:
- Duvet
- Duvet cover
- Mattress protector
- Extra blanket
- Sheets
Our laundry service allows you to exchange your used sheets for clean ones on a weekly basis.
Bring your own:
Personalise your room
Residents often like to personalise their room. Within common sense limits, we encourage and support room personalisation efforts.
However, we ask that all residents observe fire and life safety standards for the safety of themselves and of other residents and guests.
Please keep in mind that you should leave your room in the same condition it was in when you arrived. Do not fix anything to the walls, ceiling or woodwork by any form of adhesive such as glue or sticky tape or fastenings such as staples or drawing pins.
Your Kaiāwhina may be a helpful resource as you plan your room personalisation efforts.
Visitors
Visitors become your responsibility and if they become a disturbance within our community we reserve the right to ask them to leave immediately. This applies to visitors wanting to stay overnight as well. All guests staying the night must be signed in, additional charges may be incurred.
There are some times of the year where overnight guests are not permitted to stay. Our kaimahi will advise you when these times are, and further detail can be found in the student handbook.
Room changes
Room allocation is the responsibility of the Tautiaki.
Room changes are not permitted except in exceptional circumstances with the permission of the Tautiaki.
A small number of car parks may be available for residents to lease at Te Rangihīroa, including accessible parks.
To request a car park please email terangihiroa.college@otago.ac.nz
There are more applications than there are car parks. Car park allocation is at the discretion of the Tautiaki.
Parking in the general area of the College is limited, so please consider whether it is necessary for you to bring a car in the first place. Our College is well located close to University and the city centre to be able to walk, scooter, bike or catch the bus.
Your bedroom is cleaned twice per week, once to empty the waste bin and the other to vacuum. Ensuites are cleaned once per week.
Public areas (including communal bathrooms) are cleaned daily.
We expect you to keep your room tidy and open your window daily for ventilation.
Each resident takes responsibility for emptying their own recycling bin, provided in your room, into the central collection point.
Puanga Kai Rau is our dining room.
Puanga is a significant star for hāpu of Taranaki whose rising (around June/July) marks the new year. The whakataukī Puanga Kai Rau refers to this being a time when kai has been harvested, pātaka are full and everyone gathers to celebrate the year been.
- This space is open to residents throughout the day and early evening.
- Breakfast runs all morning, with cereals available until 10:00am.
- Hot and cold drinks are available at all times while the dining room is open.
Packed lunches and late dinners
With flexible options for packed lunches and late dinner nobody need ever miss a meal at Te Rangihīroa!
If required, you can take a packed lunch with you and you can by arrangement have a late meal put aside for you in the evening. Residents that have a conflict with course timetable, or sport practice, are encouraged to make use of these options.
Late dinners can be requested through the student portal Te Puna.
Special dietary needs
If you have a special dietary need, such as a religious or cultural food preference, allergies, intolerances, or similar please contact the College to discuss your needs before accepting your accommodation offer.
The kitchen team will make every reasonable attempt to manage a special diet, however due to the large number of residents it may not be possible to cater for all needs.
Special and theme dinners
Throughout the year themed and formal dinners will be held at the College.
Guests at meal times
If meals are required for any guests of residents the guest meal must be paid for in advance at our reception.
If you have a guest dining with you, you must pay for the cost of that meal. No unpaid guest is to be entertained in the dining room during mealtimes. This includes morning teas and suppers.
In Ruma Horoi Kākahu (laundry) on the ground floor of the building there are shared facilities available at no extra cost to residents.
Both washers and dryer are provided, however on fine days residents are encouraged to make use of the washing line.
Residents need to supply their own laundry detergent.
Keys and student ID card
When you check in, you will receive keys to your room.
24 hours after completion of your course declaration you will be able to get your student ID card. This card also enables you to move around the College and it is important that you do not lose your student ID.
Check that your eVision record has your accurate semester time address.
Lost keys?
It is your responsibility to ensure that your keys and card are kept secure while in your possession. If you do lose your keys, you will be charged for replacement keys and tag, and the lock if necessary.
Locked out?
If you lock yourself out of your room a staff member will let you in.
Security measures
- Student ID swipe card access
- Automatically locking doors
- Contracted after hours security guards and external patrols
- Highly trained residential staff
- Emergency evacuation procedures
- Access after hours is via front door only, past reception
- Smoke detection and sprinkler systems in all areas
Te Rangihīroa operates a CCTV security system 24/7 for the safety of all residents.
First aid
The first aid cabinet in the College is kept at Te Taupaepae (Reception). Ask any of our kaimahi (staff) for help, most are trained in first aid.
The defibrillator is located outside the Te Taupaepae (Reception) near the main front door.
Emergency services
Campus Watch
Contact Campus Watch Security at tel +64 3 479 5000.
Reception
If Te Taupaepae (Reception) is unattended, in an emergency, you can contact the duty Kaiāwhina (Sub Warden) or Security Guard using the after-hours call system.
Emergency services are on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Dial 111 for emergency services.
At our College we have multiple spaces that are designed to cater for social activities located on the ground floor.
Mahi Tamariki
Mahi Tamariki is our large open plan space with basic kitchenette facilities, pool tables, table tennis table, foosball table with flexible seating arrangements.
Tōpūtanga
Tōpūtanga is a space where residents can set up for a movie, or get a group of people together to watch the latest TV series. This is a flexible space and may also be used as a study space especially during exam time.
Oranga Tonutanga
Oranga Tonutanga is a dedicated recreational space and equipped for gaming.
Whakaruru
Whakaruru is our dedicated music room. Utilising this room is recommended for practicing your instrument rather than your bedroom which may disturb other residents. Whakaruru has sound proofing to support enjoyment of others in the surrounding social spaces.
Outdoors
We offer an artificial half basketball court and seating for residents to spend time in the outdoors (when the Dunedin weather allows).
Our north facing courtyard is a sheltered open area for residents to enjoy in the warmer months.
Storage space is limited and Te Rangihīroa College assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged articles left in storage.
If possible, you should plan to bring only items that will fit in your room. Suitcases and other bags used to move to the College need to be stored within your bedroom, in some cases residents choose to send these home again, or prefer to bring soft bags that can easily be stored.
Large sporting equipment including bikes, surf boards and kayaks can be stored in Putunga Hākinakina (sports storage). Speak to the kaimahi to arrange access to this area.
We have two dedicated learning rooms, Te Punawai and Te Titōhea as well as a study lounge.
These rooms are available for residents to use at any time providing it is not in use for the in-house tutorial programme. Residents can undertake independent study or group work in these spaces.
Residents are encouraged to be respectful of others when working in these areas, use headphones if listening to lectures or music and avoid social conversation that may be a distraction to others.
Our learning rooms are equipped with AV equipment to support your learning, including zoom capability.
Each floor has two whānau rooms for residents to use.
In the whānau room is a basic kitchenette including microwave and fridge.
Image gallery
View our rooms and facilities
Questions?
Contact us at terangihiroa.college@otago.ac.nz. We can help with questions about the facilities at Te Rangihīroa and anything else you may want to know about our College.
