The University of Canterbury has offered 'tongue-in-cheek' assistance with Auckland's housing crisis - by offering study opportunities to Auckland students in 2016 and beyond.
"We're not just being cheeky. It's fact that some students in Auckland travel 90 minutes or more to tertiary study from flats they can afford. In Canterbury, 90 minutes gets you to a skifield, or a myriad of other recreational opportunities. Those hours of commuting become time for study, recreation and socialising," University of Canterbury Vice Chancellor Dr Rod Carr says.
"We'll even help fund it - in 2015 about 40% of new to UC students with NCEA merit or better endorsements received financial awards of up to $3,000. In 2016, new to UC school leavers can get up to $6,000. That goes a long way to meeting the gap between Study Link support and first year accommodation costs in a hall of residence," Dr Carr says.
"Post-earthquake, UC knows a bit about housing issues. UC relieved post-quake rental pressure by adding student accommodation capacity, and there are plans to add even more to cater for forecast growth. While the pressure is clearly on in Auckland, recent media coverage suggests Christchurch residential rents are dropping to levels last seen two years ago," Dr Carr says.
"Today, more than 2200 students in UC halls live within 700 metres of their lecture theatres or labs. 60 beds are being added right now, and about 50 beds in halls of residence available tonight.