Some students were struggling to pay rent in the Bay. Photo / Getty Images
Some students are sacrificing food and study times and working fulltime jobs just to keep up with the costs of living in the Bay of Plenty.
Educational leaders say students were struggling to find affordable accommodation in the Bay and a students' union president says students should be able to study without this "ridiculous financial burden".
The news comes as the Bay of Plenty's median weekly rent has hit an all-time high of $550.
The latest Trade Me Rental Price Index showed Tauranga's median weekly rent was even higher than the region's median at $565, while Rotorua's sits at $470.
The weekly student allowance rate for a single student without dependent children under 24 years living at home is up to $200.79 per week after tax and $237.90 if they live away from home.
A single student 24 or older living at home can get $230.47 and $275.02 if they're living away from home.
Waikato Students' Union (WSU) president Kyla Campbell-Kamariera said it was "extremely difficult" for students to be able to afford rent in the Bay of Plenty while they study.
Campbell-Kamariera said students were working part-time jobs just to be able to afford to live.
"On top of that, students are working fulltime jobs and sacrificing study times just to keep up with the rising cost of living," she said.
"In addition to picking up employment, students are sacrificing food to pay rent."
However, Campbell-Kamariera said the union was fortunate to receive food donations from Good Neighbour to support students in need.
Students should be able to afford to live and study in Tauranga and Rotorua without being afflicted with this "ridiculous financial burden", she said.
Campbell-Kamariera said the rising rental costs were, unfortunately, affecting the livelihoods of Tauranga students.
"Students suffer when the cost of accommodation rises because neither the student allowance or student loan living costs can entirely cover the cost of accommodation (private or commercial), food, utilities and other day-to-day expenses that a young adult and student is expected to pay."
Toi Ohomai head of student support Dr Logan Bannister said there was not enough accommodation available in the Bay and students were among those struggling to find affordable accommodation.
"The costs of rents are high and students often have to prioritise their money, which can be challenging.
"We do see that students can experience poverty and we aim to support them through this."
Bannister said Toi Ohomai had experienced engagement facilitators available on all campuses to support students through personal issues and hardship.
"We can connect students to the most appropriate campus, community and/or government help."
In 2020, the team additionally managed needs assessments and administration of two New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) Covid-19 funds and the technology assist fund for learners (TAFL), which supported 293 students with devices and 69 with connectivity.
The polytechnic's hardship fund for learners (HAFL) financially supported 601 students and 1956 through group provision initiatives.
"The delivery of these funds assisted students who were at risk of having to leave study to remain in study."
The University of Waikato's self-catered accommodation costs range from $200 to $265 a week. This includes power, gas, internet and the provision of pastoral care through a team of residential staff.
Senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Alister Jones said the university acknowledged the cost of accommodation continued to rise locally and nationwide.
Jones said last year the university's student accommodation had vacancies throughout the year but currently its self-catered accommodation in Tauranga was full for 2021.
"While there is no question rent in the Bay of Plenty is becoming increasingly unaffordable, over the past three years, the university has worked to mitigate this issue with residential scholarships, as well as providing accommodation to students in need.
"Our equity-based residential scholarship covers a portion of student accommodation in both our Tauranga and Hamilton facilities.
"We also manage a Tauranga homestay service for students who prefer to live in a family home environment."
The university also offers a free regional bus service to support students at both campuses, Jones said.
"The bus service gives students the option of continuing to live at home or taking advantage of lower rent further afield from the cities and using the bus to travel to campus."
Jones said the university prides itself in having some of the most affordable accommodation among New Zealand universities and manages all of its own student accommodation.
The university was developing a new accommodation facility with 95 self-catered ensuite rooms on Selwyn St in response to growing rental competition and more students coming to Tauranga.
The facility will be available to students from next year.
"We are very confident this new facility will have more than enough capacity to meet projected demand and we will offer a range of scholarships to make this accommodation more affordable for our students."
Ministry of Social Development group general manager of client service support, George van Ooyen, said any students experiencing hardship were encouraged to contact MSD to see how they can be assisted financially.
Depending on their circumstances, van Ooyen said help was available through the student loan and student allowance.
He said the Ministry could also help with other costs including accommodation supplement, childcare, or health and disability costs, as well as other urgent or unexpected costs.
Ministry of Education's Te Ara Kaimanawa Tumuaki Tuarua, Vic Johns, said student allowance payments and living cost student loans were the main ways the government helps tertiary students meet their living costs.
"These supports are adjusted annually from April 1 according to inflation.
"Tertiary qualifications give learners valuable skills and access to better employment and earning opportunities over their lifetime.
"This is why the government expects the costs of study to be shared between learners and the government."
Bills first, eat later
Tyler Herbert had to juggle a part-time job with study just to be able to afford to live.
The 25-year-old Tauranga Toi Ohomai student said since the Covid-19 lockdown students were struggling to pay rent and juggle leisure and study time.
Herbert is studying for a Bachelor of Creative Industries at Toi Ohomai's Tauranga campus and rents in Hairini with flatmates.
He started studying in 2019 and moved out after his parents sold their home and moved to Taranaki.
Herbert said students 24 or younger had to find work to be able to afford money for transport, food and rent.
"There will be some support from most parents but when you're an adult studying, you have to fend for yourself. You're on your own," he said.
"When I was working it was tiring because you would be going to course and studying in the morning and afternoon, have about an hour's downtime then you would go to work for a couple of hours, come home, have dinner and sleep.
"You'd do that five days a week. You wouldn't get any work done outside of course."
Herbert said once his student allowance came in he would always pay his bills first.
"I didn't worry about food until after I had paid all my bills that were due. If I starved, I starved."
In the end, Herbert said he had to quit his part-time job to be able to focus on study.
When he turned 25, Herbert said he was able to get a little more student allowance each week, which helped.
"I live close to the campus though, which helps."
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