Kirkwood Avenue Hall
Frequently Asked Questions

All our student accommodation located in Christchurch can be found here.

Please view our Vision, Mission and Values click here.

It’s just a 10 minute walk in either direction to a supermarket! Pak ‘n’ Save is located at Westfield Shopping Mall, and Countdown is located at Bush Inn mall, where there is also a number of other eateries.

There are multiple bus stops located on Riccarton Road and also on Ilam Road depending on where you are heading. For more information on the Christchurch bus system, please enquire at the office.

We are no more than 100m from the entrance to the University on Kirkwood Avenue. A walk to lectures in the morning should take no more than 10 minutes!

There are a limited number of on-site carparks.  If demand exceeds supply a ballot for carparks will be drawn.  Those who are unsuccessful will be able to purchase a UC carpark permit, which will allow parking at any UC site, the most convenient being the car park located on Kirkwood Avenue outside the Rec Centre.

No, all rooms are single occupancy.

No smoking is allowed on-site. UC is also a smoke free campus.

No, but we do practice quiet hours. Quiet hours are from 10pm – 7am every evening.

Yes, you will be allocated an individual front door card, and a private bedroom door key. For security purposes, we recommend you keep your room door locked at all times when you are absent from your room. In addition, to comply with fire regulations, you should not leave your room door propped open as a bedroom is a fire cell.

Yes, UC security patrols throughout the night. There are four Residential Assistants (RA’s) on site, and we also have a live-in Duty Manager who will respond to after-hours emergency calls. Support is available 24/7, including weekends and holidays. You could also talk to your insurance provider about recommendations for insuring your personal belongings.

There are individual heaters in all rooms. Due to the position of the heater in your room, it is not permitted to hang your clothes above or on the heater.

We have a great housekeeping team who clean all common spaces regularly. It’s up to each resident to keep their room clean. The housekeeping team WILL NOT be cleaning dishes or cooking utensils. This is your responsibility and if dishes are not kept clean you might lose them! (You will need to provide your own dishwashing liquid.)  If you have an en-suite it is your responsibility to keep this clean and provide your own cleaning equipment. We will be doing spot checks on these for your own health and safety. We offer a cleaning service of your room that will be at an extra cost to you, but you can book these in as frequently as you like.

Kirkwood Avenue Hall is a self-catered facility and we have endeavored to provide you with all of your cooking needs! If you don’t quite think you’re ready to be on Masterchef, then we do offer meal plans at Uni Hall (a 10-15 minute walk). Instructions on purchasing meals will be provided to you.

We have locker facilities available in the Dining Hall. There is the option to put a padlock on your locker for security. There are individual storage lockers assigned to each resident for use in the communal fridge. Freezer facilities are also available.

We provide all the necessary kitchen appliances (microwaves, toasters, stove top, etc) and utensils. Small bench top ovens are also available for your use.

Yes, bike storage is available in a secure bike shed.  We also strongly recommend that you use a D-lock to secure your bike.

There is a laundry located within the building with two washing machines and two dryers.  Usage of these is free (you just need to provide your own soap powder) Clothes airers will not be permitted in hallways, and if you put these in common areas then we take no accountability for your items. Drying lines have also been installed at the rear of the building beside the bike shed.

We have several areas within the hall which are quiet areas, including the Sun Room and the Café, and three designated study spaces.

Power, furniture (bed, desk, chair, wardrobe), pastoral support, and events that follow the Live, Learn, Grow program.  Each room also has a wash-basin. 

Any guests or visitors that you have onsite must be signed in at the office. If you wish to have someone stay the night then they need to obtain a guest pass. Due to resourcing consent we will only be allowed to have a small amount of guests stay with us. No guests will be allowed during the first two weeks from Move In – this is for your safety and for the safety of the Village. You are allowed visitors during the day, however they become your responsibility and no one else should be letting them in to the building. During Study and Exam break, there is a complete Guest and Alcohol Ban to eliminate distractions and allow you to be at your best.

Your room is your own space! However it is absolutely NOT PERMITTED to use pins on walls or make alterations to any of the surfaces in your room. You are more than welcome however to use blue tack, or sticky hooks to attach anything to the wall.  Unless there are medical grounds and you have prior management approval, you are not permitted to have a fridge, freezer, microwave or cooking appliances in your room.

Monday to Friday between 9am - 5pm.

Yes, by prior arrangement - please call our after hours on-site staff on 0508 864 425 or send us an email.

Please ensure that you have emailed us at least one business day before your arrival so that we can prepare in advance. Once you have arrived, please call the on-duty phone number advertised on the exterior door of the front entrance.

UniLodge aims to resolve resident complaints in a transparent and fair manner. With respect to our privacy policy UniLodge will disclose to the complainant any requested information or documentation required to fully address the complaint.

Our objective in providing a complaints process is to allow our residents to air their grievances in a constructive manner with a focus on reaching a mutually acceptable solution. Where a mutually acceptable solution cannot be reached, UniLodge may refer to the resident handbook or to your Occupancy Agreement in response to your grievance.

UniLodge aims to reach resolution of the complaint in a reasonable time frame, with a focus on minimising any ongoing impact to the resident engaging in the complaints process.

• Step 1: Contact a member of the UniLodge team. Explain your grievance and your desired outcome.
  • Staff will respond to your complaint within five business days and may request to meet with the complainant as part of reaching a solution.
  • (Not resolved?)
• Step 2: Contact the General Manager Portfolio via email and submit the details of your complaint in writing. The General Manager Portfolio will request a meeting to discuss the matter further.
  • (Not resolved?)
  • It is important to remember that you have signed an Occupancy Agreement. An Occupancy Agreement differs from a Tenancy Agreement quite significantly.
• Step 3: Should you be unhappy with the outcome from your complaint you can escalate it to the UCSA, or the University Grievance Coordinator to discuss your concerns and your options (phone number 03 369 0292).
• Step 4: Should your concerns not be resolved by these internal grievance procedures; you can then pursue an external complaint through Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa | NZQA. You can submit your complaint query on the NZQA website or send an email to risk@nzqa.govt.nz. If you need more information, contact NZQA on 0800 697 296.