Tupuānuku

UniLodge New Zealand is thrilled and honoured to be working in close partnership with the University of Canterbury on its new Tupuānuku student accommodation, to deliver an exceptional Residential Life experience for the students of the University of Canterbury in a caring pastoral environment. In particular we look forward to supporting University of Canterbury’s initiative to promote education opportunities and pastoral outcomes for Māori and Pasifika students. Tupuānuku is a first year hall of residence and is in operation 24/7, offering a support person on duty 24 hours a day. We also have 20 Taurima embedded in our hall (1:24.2), these are senior students living in the hall to help coach and mentor our first year residents.

As the largest new accommodation build at UC to date, Tupuānuku offers 504 fully-furnished rooms for first year students.  Located amongst other halls of residence, the location on Homestead Lane (adjacent to the Ilam Homestead and gardens) is a short 5-minute walk to main campus facilities. Tupuānuku is owned by the University of Canterbury and UniLodge Auckland Ltd is proud to be contracted in partnership to manage the services for the hall on their behalf. UniLodge is fully embedded in the wider University of Canterbury student support environment making connections with support services  on campus as well as external services.

Offering fully-catered and self-catered options, single rooms and single ensuite rooms, accessible rooms, and with multiple study and common spaces, Tupuānuku offers flexibility, diversity and a community environment inspired by Papatūānuku, one of nine stars in the constellation of Matariki associated with both cultivated and uncultivated food and resources harvested from the soil, which is reflected in the colours and the names of the kāhui or neighbourhoods on each floor.

Tupuānuku is one of nine stars seen within the cluster of Matariki, Te Iwa o Matariki.  It is the star that is connected to kai (food) and rongoā (traditional medicines) that is grown within the soil, or harvested from the ground. The rising of Matariki signals the new year within te ao māori and plays a significant role in the māramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, in determining and planning for the year ahead.