VUWSA student hacks—winter edition
It can be weird to be thrown into the deep end in a new place and not know what to do. In this myView blog, VUWSA shares some top tips if you’re coming back to Welly for Tri 2, or even if you’re completely new to the city!
SNAPPER
Get yourself a Snapper card as soon as you can. Public transport is especially necessary in chilly or wet weather! The besties over at Metlink have half price fares until at least until 31 August, and with the sweet student price, a Snapper card will save you a bunch of money in the long run. If you’ve got classes at more than one campus, you can get a bus pass with us to save you even more—just come to our VUWSA Kelburn reception and we’ll suss it for ya!
THE WEATHER
Look, Wellington has a reputation. We have some gorgeous sunny days, but there are a lot of days when the weather gets bad too. It’s winter, mates. You need to be prepared. Umbrellas will not work. We know that sounds like a Wellington meme, but they’re insufficient. They’ll break. Get a cute raincoat—you’ll thank us in the long run.
GET YOU SOME NATURE
Sometimes you’ve got to escape uni life and get outside for a bit. Fortunately, Wellington is chocka with the green stuff. Within walking distance from our campuses are rad little hidden places where you can have your lunch, hang with mates, or pretend you’re going to study.
Check out Katherine Mansfield Park in Thorndon, Waitangi Park, or the Botanic Gardens (the Botans) in Kelburn. If you want to go further afield, wander up Mt Vic (it’s not that bad a climb, honestly), or out to Berhampore or Zealandia. For those of you who like longer hikes, Mt Kaukau is a stunner, and so is the Eastbourne Lighthouse walk. In winter, be careful of changes to the weather, and always check the forecast before you go!
INDOOR HANGS
Not feeling the outdoors? Vibes. Pōneke’s got you sussed. We’ve got a ton of amazing indoor places to while away the hours. Wellington is full of the arts; from theatre, to film, to galleries and street exhibitions. We’ve got a huge range of cinemas across the city and student tickets tend to be about $12–$14. BATS Theatre, Fringe Bar, and Te Auaha are here for your theatre needs—and most of them have student deals! For art, check out the City Gallery, Te Papa, and many others, including our own Adam Art Gallery, right here on campus.
CHEAP EATS
Try out some of the diverse food options scattered about the city. We’ve got more eateries per capita than New York, and these won’t break the bank. Get your BYO on at Oriental Kingdom or Red Hill. Duck Island is fab for ice cream, Sweet Release and Mockingbird have some of the best food out there for those with dietary requirements, and our own Maki Mono has half-priced sushi after 4 pm. Check out more deals on our socials!
HEALTHCARE
Did you know Mauri Ora (Student Health and Counselling) is free for most students? The team here on campus can help you get back to feeling your best without draining your wallet. Watch this clip about the service!
VUWSA also has free menstrual products at each campus as well as subsidized menstrual cups available to buy at our office ($10-$20). These can last you up to 10 years and save you over $500 in the time you are here with us at uni.
GOT AN ISSUE?
Having trouble with uni, personal or flatting issues? VUWSA’s got your back. Check out our website for more info, or email our advocates for free, private, and confidential advice.
You can also contact the University’s Student Interest and Conflict Resolution team for advice on how to respond to threatening, inappropriate, and concerning behavior.
Emma Maguire works for VUWSA in their communications team. As a student, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film and a Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practise) in Theatre.
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