Haere-roa opened in 2019 as a purpose-built home for University of Canterbury students. It was awarded ‘Best New or Refurbished Building Over $600,000’ at the CampusLink Awards.

The UCSA has won two categories at the trans-Tasman CampusLink Awards this week.

The categories included ‘Best New or Refurbished Facility/Building Over $600,000’ for Haere-roa. It also won ‘Most Successful Event – Student Focused’ for Band Together, a vigil for the March 15 attacks in Christchurch. Band Together was held in conjuncture with the University of Canterbury, and the University of Canterbury Muslim Students Association as well as other student-led clubs.

The annual awards, which are held by the Tertiary Access Group (TAG), recognise excellence in marketing, services, student programs and innovation within the tertiary sector. TAG represents University and TAFE associations.

In a live-streamed ceremony, the award presenter said Haere-roa was ‘an incredible building; beautifully aesthetic, student-focused, and sustainably designed.’

The Awards also recognised the event Band Together as ‘an incredibly compassionate and heart-felt display of solidarity and support for the Muslim student cohort and staff.’

Chief Executive Dave Hawkey accepted the awards, and spoke of the importance of partnership with fellow institutions. He noted the UCSA’s strong collaboration with the University of Canterbury on both projects.

Above: A video produced as part of Band Together, a stand of solidarity and inclusiveness to support the Muslim community.