New common room blessed at Ōtautahi House

_{The mihi (welcome) was lead by Tate Tiatia - Associate Director of Māori Success and Te Mātauranga Māori}

There was a strong sense of celebration and community as Ara Institute of Canterbury students, staff, Council members, trustees and guests came together at the opening of Ōtautahi House’s new shared space.

The opening began with a whare whakawātea, a blessing that moved room by room through the new space, guided by kaumātua Harry Westrupp, Charmaine Tukua-Pouwhare and Te Manuiti Whata. Tate Tiatia, Associate Director of Māori Success and Te Mātauranga Māori, led the mihi ahead of the formal speeches. 

The new common room sits alongside Ara’s student accommodation on the corner of St Asaph and Madras streets, home to around 180 learners. The common room provides something the original accommodation development did not have: a dedicated space large enough for students to come together.

It includes areas for students to study, relax and socialise, alongside practical facilities including a laundry and media room. Pastoral care staff are also close at hand for students who need support.

The common room was developed by the Ōtautahi Education Development Trust (OEDT), which owns the land on which it stands and has a long association with student accommodation at Ara, dating back to the development of the original accommodation blocks in 1995.

OEDT Chair Murray Weakley described the common room as “a modest building”, but one the Trust believed could make a real difference to the lives of the young people living just a few steps away.

He noted that the original accommodation provided a safe and comfortable place for students to live while they studied, but no shared space where they could gather. He said the need for that had become increasingly apparent as the way young people live and connect has changed.

“Fast forward to the early 2020s, with the proliferation of smartphones and other devices, and life has changed dramatically. The result, perhaps unsurprisingly, is that students can tend to stay in their rooms, or go to class, and sometimes little else.

“For young people, many of them living away from home for the first time, that's not how it should be. Tertiary education is about more than lectures and assignments. It's about friendships. It’s about conversations. It’s about shared experiences and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a community.”

Weakley said that sense of connection was at the heart of what the Trust hoped the common room would achieve.

“We know that when young people have a strong connection with those around them, they're happier. They’re healthier and better able to succeed. That, in the end, is the purpose of the common room.”

Designed by Splice Design Architects, with engineering expertise from Powell Fenwick Consultants, the common room was constructed by Hanham & Philp Construction over approximately 10 months.

_{Left: Kaumātua Harry Westrupp closes the blessing. Right: Ōtautahi Education Development Trust chair Murray Weakley (far left) with past and present members of the trust board.} 

The building also makes a bold visual statement from Madras Street, with a large-scale mural by Distranged Design celebrating the people, culture and resilience of Christchurch.

Weakley also acknowledged the many people who had contributed to bringing the project to life.

“This project has been a real collective effort. I’d particularly like to acknowledge the earlier trustees whose vision brought us to this point, Ara staff and community who helped give the project its authenticity and connection, and the professional teams who brought that vision to life,” Weakley said.

Ara Chief Executive Darren Mitchell, who is also an OEDT trustee, said the project began by listening to learners and understanding what they needed.

He acknowledged former trustees Mike Newcombe and Mike Daw, who were among those involved in the early stages of developing the idea, as well as the many people and organisations involved in bringing it to life.

“This is a great example of what can be achieved when people work together, when we listen, we understand and we all unite around a common goal,” Mitchell said.

He said he was delighted to accept the new facility on behalf of Ara and its learners.

“This is a place for our learners. It is your place. This is a great facility. It’s been a long time coming, it’s going to be most welcome, and I assure you it will be well used.”

Weakley said the Trust hoped students would make the space their own, filling it with conversation, laughter, study and friendship.

_{Common room spaces enjoyed immediately by those present at the blessing}