9 November 2020
Rawiri Piahana
By email:
[FYI request #13992 email]
Tēnā koe Rawiri
I refer to your requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) dated
16 October 2020. Each of your requests, and the University’s response,
are set out below.
“- Which halls have plans and special areas for athletes (including mountain
bikers) in Halls and what these special areas are? (floor, special rooms etc)”
Athlete Friendly Living (AFL) is based on the premise that student athletes living
alongside each other creates a unique and supportive living environment that enables
them to succeed in both their academic and sporting pursuits.
AFL is offered in Te Puni Village (TPV) for student athletes across all sports, and in Helen
Lowry Hall for mountain bikers only.
TPV students live in standard rooms and have access to the same communal area on their
floor as other TPV hall residents. Hall staff are made aware that student athletes have
different needs than regular hall students. They support these students however they can
within the existing hall staffing and support model. This may include arranging late meals
and extra storage for special sporting equipment, or connecting residents with different
student support services within the University.
AFL living was also trialled at Katherine Jermyn Hall (KJH) for 2020 after a strong
number of applications. There were a small number of successful applicants, occupying
half of one floor. From 2021, we will be providing AFL for all sports from one floor of TPV.
“-- Te Puni Village has an athlete's floor? I was unable to find any information
on this, where can I find information?”
In 2020, the TPV AFL floor was on level 11 on the edge building. The reason for this was
to keep the student athletes consolidated on one floor under the care of one Residential
Assistant. This was also an alcohol free floor.
“-- Helen Lowry Hall appears to have a plan for Mountain Biking? How did this
come about, and what was the University's involvement?”
Helen Lowry Hall (HLH) AFL is an extension to the AFL initiative, but with a mountain
biking focus, given its proximity to the Makara Peak mountain bike park and students’
differing needs, including special nutritional requirements and the need for extra support
for physical recovery.
HLH manage the house on behalf of the property’s owner, the Ministry of Education. The
University works in partnership with HLH to support its mountain biker residents, as part
of a wider mountain biking strategy for the University.
Student mountain bikers often have 1-3 bikes with them. The need for secure storage for
these bikes is critical. There was the potential to create this space in the basement of a
HLH house. The University presented this opportunity to HLH. The house was already
receiving a general upgrade, so the HLH Board Trust approved and funded more specific
upgrades to the house. These included the bike workshop and storage, with a higher
specification kitchen, appliances, and furnishings.
“- Are these "athletes" charged the same rate as non "athletes" when in halls?”
TPV and KJH hall AFL residents were charged the same as standard residents in those
halls.
Room rates at the Athlete Friendly House for Mountain Bikers HLH were:
• $260 per week for a place in a double room or $300 for a large single in self-
catered accommodation; and
• $340 per week for a place in a double room or $405 for a large single in fully-
catered accommodation.
These rates were adjusted slightly from standard HLH rates. Residents of this HLH AFL
house were informed that there is a rate difference because they received the following
benefits:
• a fully renovated house, including additional appliances and refrigeration to cater
for athletes and their food/nutrition storage;
• purpose designed and built bike storage and workshop spaces, with restricted
access and alarms;
• increased flexibility, portion sizes and options to meet nutritional needs around
events and training;
• larger beds;
• additional support with transport to and from events (if required);
• specific event planning for those involved in the Athlete Friendly House; and
• extended quiet hours to support disciplined sleep schedule for physical recovery.
“- Do these athletes in Halls receive any extra services compared to other
students in Halls and if so what are they and how is it funded?”
On the TPV AFL floor, University Recreation supplied a small number of functional
training and recovery items for the floor to share, such as foam rollers and power bands.
Residents in AFL rooms are invited to participate in the University’s wider Athlete
Support model, with events and support provided to these students across the university
year. This model is led by the University Recreation team and is funded by the student
service levy.
Some TPV AFL residents applied for free fitness studio access in 2020 as part of an
extension to the Athlete Training Grant support service. The University Recreation budget
centre leads this service and absorbs the costs associated with it.
“-- I am told that Te Puni Village has extra fridges for "athletes", is this true?”
The TPV Head of Hall purchased one small fridge in 2018 for the AFL floor common room
so that student athletes had the appropriate space to store their nutritional supplies that
required refrigeration (for example, protein shakes).
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me
at
[VUW request email].
Yours sincerely
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
