19 March 2020
Kia ora tatou,
I am writing to you to tell you about some significant changes you will see in our halls effective
immediately as a result of recent developments around COVID‐19 (coronavirus). Your health and
wellbeing is very important to us and these new precautionary measures have been put in place to
mitigate risk. We are continuing to work closely with the wider University and following advice from
public health agencies, and we are also consulting with VUWSA. You can find up to date information
on our main COVID‐19 information hub. Please read the following notices carefully and let me know
if you have any questions. You should also read the Ministry of Health guidelines on social
distancing.
Building Access
We have introduced a total guest ban effective immediately, this will be reviewed at the end of
trimester one. . This means that only residents of [insert hall name] can enter, and you are not
permitted to have any guests to visit during the day or to stay overnight. Residents from other halls
are not permitted to enter. Please ensure any booked guests are advised of this change. You will
notice that we have restricted entry to the building, to reduce the number of access points. This is
for your health and wellbeing and that of our hall community. Please do not let non‐residents into
our building. Hall staff will manage access for contractors and other necessary staff.
Dining Room
We will be establishing staggered dining times to reduce the number of residents in the dining room
at one time effective Saturday. We will advise you tomorrow (Friday) about how this will be
implemented.
You will notice seating in the dining area may have been removed to allow for more space between
chairs. This means you will not be able to sit as close to your friends as you have done in the past,
but we still encourage you to attend meals and catch up with your fellow residents.
At the entrance to the dining area you will see our duty RA. They will be now ensuring that in
addition to swiping your card, you are using hand sanitiser before going into the dining room. This is
compulsory and for everyone’s health and wellbeing. Please cooperate with any instructions from
them. They will also be ensuring that no unwell residents enter the dining rooms. There may be
disciplinary consequences for any residents that do not comply with this public health measure, per
our student conduct statute, which you can read here.
Events
All inter‐hall events have been postponed until Trimester 2, to reduce cross‐hall contact. This
decision was not taken lightly as we know the enjoyment that you get from these events. We will
ensure that you still have the opportunity to connect and socialise with each other as a hall, and we
will be in touch with you next week with further information about this.
Staying healthy well
It is vitally important that you practice good personal hygiene, particularly in our communal living
environment. We are checking that anyone with flu‐like symptoms does not meet the case definition
for COVID‐19. Please notify hall staff if you are unwell. We ask you to:
•
Stay in your room if you are unwell in any way. Please do not go into common areas
including the dining room. Do not attend university, and do not return until you are fully
recovered.
•
Hall staff will help you phone Student Health, your GP practice or Healthline for advice,
do not turn up at Student Health or your GP practice.
•
Follow best practices with hand washing (wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds
with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser) and personal hygiene
•
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
•
Throw used tissues in a lined bin and wash your hands
•
Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and a cough.
Recent travel
If you returned to New Zealand from overseas prior to 16 March, the government is recommending
you self‐isolate for 14 days, and we expect you to comply with this. Please contact your hall
reception immediately if you are affected.
Support
We realise that all of these measures will impact on your ability to socialise with your friends from
outside of your hall, and we hope that you will find connection and community with your fellow
residents as we look for in‐hall alternatives to inter‐hall events. We also understand that this is an
anxious and isolating time for many of you and that these changes may make you feel unsettled. It is
natural to feel worried about this type of event, and we want to you to know that staff are here to
support you. We encourage you to chat with your student support coordinator (SSC) or you can call
or text 1737 free at any time and talk to a trained counsellor. Come and see us in the office at any
time if you’d like to chat or have any questions, and stay in contact with your RA.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation with these important changes to our hall life while we
prioritise your health and wellbeing. We have consulted with VUWSA representatives who have
contributed to and are supportive of these changes. We appreciate that this is a rapidly changing
situation and we will be in touch with you if there are any changes to what we have outlined above.
Please take care of yourselves and others,
Nga mihi nui,
[insert Head of Hall name + job title]
Facebook post:
Hi everyone. We know that you will be feeling concerned and unsettled about developments around
COVID‐19. [insert head of hall name] has sent you an email this afternoon, please ensure you read it
carefully as it outlines some changes you will see effective immediately in your hall. These are
precautionary measures to ensure our community is safe and practising social distancing in our
communal living environment. If you returned to New Zealand from overseas prior to 16 March, the
government is recommending you self‐isolate for 14 days, and we expect you to comply with this.
Please contact your hall reception immediately if you are affected. Note that you also received an
email from the Vice‐Chancellor Grant Guilford on Tuesday with a general update for all students,
which has some important information. It is natural to feel anxious about this type of event, and we
want to you to know that staff are here to support you. We encourage you to chat to your student
support coordinator (SSC) or you can call or text 1737 free at any time and talk to a trained
counsellor. Come and see us in the office at any time if you’d like to chat or have any questions.
23 March 2020
Kia ora koutou,
You will be aware the Prime Minister announced at 1.30pm this afternoon that the country has
moved to a temporary alert level 3 to combat COVID‐19 (coronavirus), and that New Zealand will be
moving to a level 4 alert in 48 hours. Schools and universities must close by midnight Wednesday 25
March. Transport will become limited and students now have 48 hours to return home.
Residents who are able to go home must make plans to do so as soon as possible, within the next
48 hours. The halls will be closing for students at 1.30 pm Wednesday. All accommodation contracts
will be suspended from today, and you will not be charged during this time.
If you cannot return home, please speak to your head of hall immediately. We will be providing you
with alternative accommodation at Weir House with full catering. Please prepare what you need to
take for the next 4 weeks as we will be consolidating all remaining residents in the one hall on
Thursday 26 March, to ensure we can look after you all, and provide a high level of care for your
health and wellbeing.
Self‐isolation processes stay the same. You must stay in your self‐isolation accommodation for the
duration of your mandated period. You can go home if you wish after your self‐isolation period. If
you cannot return home, we will accommodate you at Weir House. Please speak to your contact at
University Accommodation to make arrangements.
These are extraordinary circumstances, and we understand this is a very anxious time for you all.
We
will be working to welcome you back after 28 April and we will be in touch with updates for you
during this time.
Please talk to your head of hall if you have any questions.
Take care and safe travels,
Rainsforth Dix,
Director, Student and Campus Living
24 March 2020
Update to all hall residents
Dear hall residents,
I am writing to provide an update about logistics, and our plans for your safety and wellbeing during
the COVID‐19 (coronavirus) alert level 4 period we are entering. Yesterday we contacted you to
notify you that we are closing halls and University accommodation because of the government
directive that all universities must close before New Zealand enters alert level 4. We are focused on
doing everything we can to comply with the directive and help to protect the health and wellbeing of
all New Zealanders.
This is a challenging time for everyone, and it is natural to feel overwhelmed. We want to assure you
that we are working to ensure we can continue to provide full care, services, and support for
remaining students. It is necessary to group some residents together to provide appropriate pastoral
care and support for students remaining in our accommodation, and to ensure staffing continuity
and wellbeing.
All students staying at 222 Willis, Education House, University Halls, and Stafford House self‐catered
halls at Victoria University of Wellington can remain in the hall you are currently located in during
this level 4 crisis, although some room configuration may be needed. Your head of hall is the best
point of contact for any questions or concerns. We will update you tomorrow with more information
about support on offer, and how the national stay‐at‐home period will work for you.
Everton Hall residents should be discussing arrangements with their head of hall, but I would like to
confirm we have plans in place to support you.
All first year students and Whānau House residents will be relocated to Weir House to ensure we can
continue to support you during this period. Wherever possible we will keep all residents from each
hall in close proximity. Transport arrangements are currently being put in place and we will be in
touch directly with those of you staying tomorrow morning. In the meantime, please continue to
pack what you’ll need during the period of lockdown.
For those having difficulty with travel arrangements, please be assured you can stay with us. Just
speak to your head of hall in the first instance and we’ll take a note of your circumstances.
Please direct any questions to your head of hall, and we will be in touch with you tomorrow.
Take care,
Rainsforth Dix
Director Student and Campus Living
25 March 2020
Dear University Hall residents,
Thank you for your amazing support at this challenging time. This is an unprecedented situation, and
we know it is an overwhelming and anxious time for you all.
Many of you will be understandably distressed that we’re moving you from the place where you’re
staying at this time to another house. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. The reason we are
asking you move is to ensure that we can continue to provide you with support and care during the
alert level 4 lockdown across New Zealand. In order to make the most of the limited resources we
have available during the lockdown and to ensure that you can connect with other people over the
next few weeks, we are having to make some changes.
Our resources are stretched at this time because many of our staff are unable to work during the
lockdown. Some need to isolate for health reasons, or to care for dependents, and others,
understandably, want to be with their families. While there are many online services, having you
together will mean you will have support from your community.
The University Hall team are already in contact with you and will continue to connect with you over
the coming weeks. Please support them during this extraordinary time. We are all working hard to
deal with these extremely challenging circumstances and to ensure your safety and wellbeing, while
also meeting government expectations.
We will be in touch with you in the coming days about general wellbeing and support available.
We are thinking of you all.
Take care,
Rainsforth Dix
Director Student and Campus Living
25 March 2020
Kia ora koutou
Welcome and Induction for Weir House arrivals
Welcome to your home for the next four weeks! Below is some essential information to help you
settle in.
It’s very important that you follow the rules of the country’s alert level 4 lockdown as New Zealand
manages the spread of COVID‐19. Breaches of the rules around this lockdown will be taken very
seriously.
Who are you living with?
You will be sharing Weir House with existing residents mostly from catered accommodation at the
university. To keep your routines as normal as possible we have housed you in your hall cohorts and
your normal hall staff and RAs will remain your pastoral support contacts.
We will work to manage you within these groups to ensure that your contact is limited to others in
your hall and on your floor.
William Weir Wing
Level A:
Joan Stevens Hall
Levels B and C:
Helen Lowry Hall
James Hutchison Wing
Level D:
Victoria House and Everton Hall
Level E:
Victoria House
Level F:
Cumberland, University Hall – Whanau House, Weir House, Capital Hall
Te Whānau block
Level G:
Boulcott Hall
Level H:
Katharine Jermyn Hall
Level I:
Te Puni Village
Arrivals are scheduled from 2pm until 5pm 25 March 2020. We appreciate your patience as we work
through moving everyone in.
Absolute guest ban
No visitors will be allowed onsite. Nor will residents be able to visit people on floors, other than the
ones they are located on. Total guest ban includes your partner/family members or friends that are
not living in the hall or are living on another floor.
Emergencies
Please make yourself familiar with your surroundings and exit points this afternoon.
Point of contact for all emergencies:
Duty Manager phone 027 563 3700
Emergency assembly area: Kelburn Park
If you hear the sound of a fire alarm or if an evacuation is ordered for any reason, head to Kelburn
Park. Ensure you maintain 2 metre physical distance at all times. Further guidance will be provided
by the duty staff on site.
A printed poster with emergency exit routes and instructions are located on each floor.
Your health and wellbeing
If you become unwell, please stay in your room and contact the duty manager phone.
Anyone unwell and needing isolation will be looked after according to their needs. There are rooms
with ensuites and kitchenettes reserved for general illness. Anyone needing additional level of
isolation, such as those being tested for COVID‐19 will be moved offsite. However, you must notify
us if you are unwell by calling.
Support
Your Head of Hall and staff team will continue to support you ‐ this includes RAs who will remain in
contact with you and your usual floor group for your ongoing support. Most of this will be remotely
however we do have a team of staff on site to support with day to day needs and respond to any
possible emergency situation that may arise.
Staying in touch with your regular floor mates from your originating hall is important. While you will
not be living with all of your friends and regular floor and hall mate, we encourage you to keep in
touch. You can connect through your floor and hall Facebook groups, and continue to support each
other online.
Meals
Meals will be provided on site in the dining hall. Stations for floor cohorts will be established. All
food and utensils will be disposable. For tonight in particular, if you have food allergies please make
yourself known to Deputy Head of Hall Ryan.
Staff will be available in the dining hall to answer any of your questions tonight and tomorrow.
Housekeeping
Hygiene is even more important than ever. Please wash and dry your hands regularly.
You are responsible for your own dishes and waste in the kitchenette area. Please keep these tidy.
You are responsible for your room which includes vacuuming and sanitising. Please use hand
sanitiser before and after use of the vacuum. Use the laundry to keep your own linen clean.
Laundry is located on D Floor for your use. All coin operated machines have been converted to allow
free washing and drying for the duration of your stay. Please wash your hands before and after use.
Address for deliveries: 1 Gladstone Terrace; Kelburn Wellington
Bathrooms and hygiene
The usual daily seven days per week cleaning schedule will be stepped up with all bathrooms and
common areas kept clean.
Maintenance requests – please contact the duty phone on 0275 63 3700 if a lightbulb needs to be
replaced or any other maintenance issue.
House rules
You will already be familiar with these rules. Most importantly be kind. Be considerate and stay safe.
Alcohol management and quiet hours ‐ Please be considerate of your neighbours and be
quiet in your rooms from 10pm onwards. Please note that alcohol is not permitted in any
common areas in the house, but you may drink in your rooms.
No smoking or vaping on site.
Respect the other residents. This is particularly important as everyone will have different
ways of managing the current situation.
Physical distancing
Stay on your floor, unless you are visiting the kitchen and laundry facilities.
Limit groups to 10 for mealtimes. Maintain 2 metre distance at all times. You can find more tips
about practising physical distancing (sometimes referred to as social distancing) here on the
government’s COVID‐19 site.
Academic needs
As you have been informed via email Teaching is suspended until 28 April. Lectures will then resume
online. Examinations will be replaced with online assessments. You can still access study resources
during this time. Read the most up to date information about our academic programme here.
Internet access. Your Wi‐Fi should work the same as when you are on campus. To connect to Wi‐Fi,
in your device settings select ‘WellingtonUniversity’. Open a browser on your device and type in
wgtn.ac.nz. You will then be asked for your username and password.
Student Support Coordinator support and health and counselling
Our Student Support Coordinator (SSC) team remain committed to supporting you with your
wellbeing and mental health in the face of the unprecedented COVID‐19 situation. SSCs will be
working remotely between 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The process of contacting an SSC
remains unchanged. For example, if you wish to arrange an appointment with them, email/text or
phone them directly to arrange this and instead of meeting face‐to‐face, you will receive a phone
call consultation from the SSC. Over the coming week we will be working towards video remote
calling and the SSC’s can support you on how to access this platform once this has been finalised.
We appreciate that this may not be an ideal situation for any of us, please do take note of the tips
from the Mental Health Foundation on staying well. The government’s COVID‐19 site also has some
great tips for looking after yourself and others at this time.
Health and counselling support through Mauri Ora will continue and these services are now being
delivered by phone or online.
We understand this is a particularly worrying time for students with high health needs. Student
Health will continue to provide medical assistance—call 04 463 5308. Do not come into the practice.
In an emergency, call 111.
The University’s Disability Services are working with our COVID‐19 Contact Centre to ensure
students with high health needs and students with disabilities are provided with all other support,
including academic needs. Contact [email address] or call 0800 04 04 04 for more information.
Standard misconduct procedures apply
Students that breach self‐isolation will be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Conduct
Statute. For international students, this could impact on their visa status in line with the New
Zealand government response to COVID‐19. These measures are to ensure the safety of our
community. For more information see the University’s guidelines.
University updates
The University is regularly updating the COVID‐19 information for students page. We recommend
you check in frequently to get the latest information and follow the University’s Facebook and
Instagram pages for updates.
As Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday, “we will get through this together, but only if we
stick together so please be strong and be kind."
Take care and stay in touch with us
University accommodation team
30 March 2020
Weir2
Alert Level 4 Self-isolation guidance for Student Accommodation
We are asking people to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much
as possible, like you would with the seasonal flu virus. We know it is a stressful time, but taking these
measures will help protect you, your family, and all of New Zealand from COVID-19 and other common
infectious diseases.
The level 4 lockdown began at 11:59pm on Wednesday 25 March. From this point on – as stipulated by the
government - unless you are accessing an essential service or getting a bit of brisk exercise (at a distance
from others), you must self-isolate at home.
In short this means you must:
Always apply the 2-metre rule
Stay within your floor ‘bubble’ and your smaller ‘bubble’ of under 6 regular contacts from your floor
Do not congregate
face-to-face (inside or outside of the hall) in groups of more than 6 people
Only leave the hall of residence to go to the supermarket, doctor, for exercise or fresh air and don’t
travel too far from the hall
Do not drive anywhere except to access an essential service i.e. doctor (phone first) or supermarket
for essential supplies.
What does self-isolation mean?
Self-isolation means staying away from situations where you could infect other people. This means any
situation where you may come in close contact with others. Stay two metres away from others at all times.
Social distancing/the 2-metre rule
Social distancing is meant to slow the spread of diseases like COVID-19. It works by preventing the virus
from moving between people via sneeze, or cough.
Social distancing is about keeping a safe distance from others and - more specifically - maintaining a physical
distance of two metres between you and another person.
Live within your ‘bubble’
Self-isolation has been described as ‘being in a bubble’ which means that you should - as much as possible
- limit your contact with people outside of your floor bubble and smaller ‘bubble’.
The idea is that everyone in the bubble has the same limitations. If one person in the bubble has close or
physical contact with someone outside of the bubble they risk bringing the virus into a safe area and infecting
everyone else in it.
Guests and Room Visitors
People need to isolate from as many people as possible.
External guests are not permitted onsite and residents are not permitted to visit people on floors other than
those which sit inside their (floor) bubble. Total guest ban includes your partner/family members or friends
that are not living in the hall or are living within another ‘bubble’.
Minimise close contact with the other residents by avoiding situations where you may have face-to-face
contact closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.
Common Space use
All common spaces including common rooms, sky lounge and the music room are closed and are unable to
be used during the level 4 alert period.
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, pillows or other items with other
people.
Heading outside the hall
You can leave the hall of residence but only to go to the supermarket, doctors (phone first), for exercise or
fresh air.
Only one person from your peer group bubble of 6 should go to the supermarket for essential supplies for
everyone else in the bubble. You should keep a 2-metre distance from others and avoid going in groups of
more than 6 people.
Going for a walk to Kelburn Park or outside for some fresh air or exercise is fine and we recommend you do
this for your own wellbeing. However, please only do so with people who are in your peer group bubble. All
playgrounds are closed and when outside you need to try not to touch too many things. Again, ensure you
maintain the 2-metre rule and always make sure you wash your hands frequently throughout the day,
especially when you enter the hall after being outside or near other people.
You can drive locally if you are going to essential services only.
The key is that there must be no face-to-face congregation in public spaces.
Getting food
Meals will be provided on site from the dining hall – please ensure you maintain the 2-metre distance and
follow the instructions of halls staff. Food stations for floor cohorts have been established and will include the
provision of breakfast and snack food. All food and utensils will be disposable.
Supermarkets remain open however we recommend avoiding them if possible.
Transport
You should minimise your use of taxis and ride-sharing apps like Uber.
If you must, while travelling make sure you use hand sanitiser regularly. If you need to cough or sneeze,
cover your mouth or nose, or you can cough and sneeze into your sleeve.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or you can cough or sneeze into your
sleeve. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can, and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for
at least 20 seconds making sure you dry them thoroughly. You can also use hand sanitiser.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can use a hand
sanitiser if soap and water are not available and if your hands are not visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Taking care of your wellbeing
Your emotional and mental health is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self-isolating, but
there are some things you can do to feel better.
Reach out to your usual supports, like family and friends, and talk about how you feel. We also recommend
sticking to a routine such as having regular mealtimes, bedtimes and exercising.
If you feel you are not coping, it is important to talk with a health professional. For an appointment or requests
for medical advice, call Mauri Ora on
04 463 5308. Do not go into the practice.
If you are at risk of harm to yourself or concerned about somebody else’s immediate safety, call Te Haika on
0800 745 477. If it is an emergency, call 111.
If you become unwell, contact the duty manager
If you become unwell, please stay in your room and contact the duty manager phone (
027 563 3700).
The symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
For more information, on the current COVID-19 alert level visit https://covid19.govt.nz/government-
actions/covid-19-alert-level/
30 March 2020
Kia ora residents,
We hope you are settling into our ‘new normal for now’ at Weir House, taking good care of
yourselves, and staying in touch with family and friends online. After all the rain over the weekend,
we hope you’re taking the opportunity to get some fresh air and exercise in the sun today. As we are
well into day five of a nation‐wide lockdown, we are writing to you to reiterate how important it is
that we all do our bit to stop the spread of COVID‐19 and to update you on some community rules.
We have also attached some important reading about isolation. We ask you to read these and the
email below carefully.
Doing our bit – why we are self‐isolating
You have been asked by the government to stay home to protect your community including hall staff
who are deemed essential workers and their families.
The government have asked
ALL citizens not doing essential work to stay home. This means only
leaving the house to access essential services such as the pharmacy, supermarket and petrol station,
or to get fresh air and exercise in the neighbourhood. Police are stopping people traveling around
cities and towns to ask them where they are going and to check that they are complying with
directives those that are caught ignoring the rules of lockdown may be prosecuted.
The same rules apply to Weir House, we are not an exception to this directive from government,
nor to the consequences of flouting the rules.
A bubble within a bubble You will have heard about each household in New Zealand being a ‘bubble’. For the purposes of our
communal living environment, we are advising you that you now have two bubbles. Your wider
bubble is your floor where you are grouped with residents from your regular hall where possible. To
ensure your safety and that of our wider community, we require that you form a smaller bubble
with up to six of your peers on your floor. We will ask you to confirm who is in your bubble later in
the week. We ask that you stick in these smaller bubbles while also practicing the
recommended two metre physical distance whether inside or outside the building and come across
others. Only one person from this group is nominated to go to the supermarket for
your bubble's essential supplies. As per government rules, you may not visit any other houses or
people while you are out.
Access to the building and management of quiet hours
Every resident must swipe and sanitise on entry to the building – do not swipe in other residents at
any time.
Entry after 10pm will be via the night entry near the vending machines on the ground floor and will
be controlled by staff.
Our 10pm quiet times will be observed 7 days a week, and residents will be asked to return to their
own room at this time.
Normal community rules apply in our communal spaces
You should think of life in our hall as no different to living in the wider community. Our common
areas including the music rooms, gym, tv lounges and study areas are closed the same way that
cinemas, libraries and recreation facilities are closed. We are instituting procedures in our dining
room to mirror your experience at the supermarket where physical distance is enforced, and
protective measures are in place to protect essential workers. Our hall staff in the dining room will
be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as do workers in supermarkets.
Be ready for questions
Just as Police are out in the community checking that people are leaving the house for essential
purposes, we will be asking you similar questions. Please do not be offended if we ask you where
you are going or follow up with you about prolonged absences from the hall. Our goal is to keep you
and everyone else here in our community safe. As mentioned in our welcome letter, breaches of
isolation directives will be taken seriously, and you may face disciplinary action.
If you have any questions, please contact your head of hall directly.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation with these vital measures. We are working hard to make
Weir House a safe, comfortable home with supportive community, and we need your support.
We’re signing off with this very apt expression in te reo Māori: noho tawhiti (sit at a
distance), tū kotahi (stand as one).
Ngā mihi nui,
University accommodation team
3 April 2020
Wellbeing and support message from HoH
Kia ora residents,
As we enter our second week of nation‐wide lockdown we wanted to follow up on the calls,
messages and emails we’ve been making and sending to check in with you whether you’re with your
families at home, remaining in self‐catered accommodation, or temporarily staying at Weir House.
We are enormously proud of the way you are all coming together to support each other and stay
connected during this extraordinarily tough time. We also want to thank you for the support, care,
and cooperation you’ve shown towards our hall staff who are all carrying out essential work under
really tough circumstances. While most of us are apart right now, we’re still all in this together.
We are approaching Easter and what would have been the start of the mid‐Trimester 1 break (10
April). Understandably your sense of time is impacted during lockdown, and I know many of you will
be feeling the effects of a lack of structure and the camaraderie of our hall whānau. As you know
teaching has been paused the University will recommence online study from 28 April. I hope you
can all take this time to rest up, keep well and get plenty of fresh air and exercise in this extended
mid‐Trimester break.
To help you out, this email has some good tips and updated information about staying healthy and
well during isolation, and how to get support if you need it.
Wellbeing
It’s essential during this strange, scary and anxious time to take active steps to look after yourself.
Here are some top tips from us:
Stay in touch with us through our Facebook group and our Instagram – we’re sharing lots of
fun at‐home challenges, experiences and all the aroha online. Keep your hall whānau close
at this time!
Socialise in your bubble and stay in contact with your friends – make regular video chat
dates to keep in touch and share your experiences.
Get out in nature – make sure you’re getting plenty of fresh air and exercise each day in your
neighbourhoods. Take photos of what you see out and about and share with us!
Join an online fitness class! University Recreation Wellington are running free online classes,
and also sharing some awesome wellbeing ideas and fitness challenges. Follow on
Facebook and Instagram.
The Mental Health Foundation has some great content to help you through this really
difficult time with tips and ideas for taking care of yourself, and keeping busy and connected
with others.
Read the new all student newsletter from the University – you’ll find lots of uplifting content
and ideas for connecting with others and passing the time at home.
Try to make a routine – rather than being boring it will help give your life structure during a
really uncertain time.
Keep doing the stuff that makes you happy and makes life meaningful to you – whatever
that is.
Be kind to yourself and others; we may be apart for now, but we’re standing together.
Support
The Student Support Coordinators (SSCs) are working remotely between 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to
Friday. If you’d like to talk with Ben (022 015 0355 [email address]) or Hester (027 563 3989
[email address]) you can arrange a chat by email/text or phone. The SSC’s can have phone
or Zoom consultations with you – whatever works for you.
The University’s duty counselling service remains open. You can ring Mauri Ora on 04 463 5308 for a
phone consultation on the same day, no appointment necessary, between 1pm – 4pm to speak with
one of Mauri Ora’s counselling team Monday to Friday.
You can free call or text 1737 at any time to speak with a trained counsellor – it’s free and
confidential.
The University is still operating student services and are here to help. If you need support, check out
this link to find out how to contact the service you need for assistance.
We are really missing having you all together. We’ll continue to check in with you to see how you’re
getting on. Please keep in touch and take care of yourselves and each other.
Nga mihi nui,
[head of hall]
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