Is Auckland Too Expensive To Study In?

Is Auckland Too Expensive To Study In?

Many students continue to leave Auckland to study in Dunedin because of the high price of student living.

Andrea Howard of Otago University says approximately 2555 Otago students originated from Auckland schools in 2008.

Seventy five per cent of all New Zealand students studying at Otago University are from outside Dunedin.

An Otago student originally from Auckland, Rachel Howard says she moved to Dunedin to experience the ‘student lifestyle’ but did not want to pay too much for it.

“Dunedin is catered around students, it’s just such an easy place for us to live.”

Howard says rent on average is around one hundred dollars a week.

“With that you get a far better flat than the ones I’ve seen in Auckland where you pay lots more.”

The city also offers other great deals for students such as cheap eating and drinking spots.

“Whenever I return to Auckland I notice how expensive it is. It costs so much more to drive and park in the city, eat and go drinking,” she says.

Julia Crisp, a member of the bar staff at the pub Gardies in Dunedin, says it offers deals to students because they are the biggest market.

“Students won’t come here if they aren’t going to get good deals. There is competition between bars so we have to keep prices down.”

AUT Communications student, Jake Carter who flats in Western Springs says he pays far more to live in Auckland than his friends in Dunedin.

He says aside from the fact that rent is more expensive in Auckland we have to pay for transport on top of this.

“I pay $135 a week for rent and on top of this I have to pay expenses,” says Carter.

Jan Herman, President of AUSM says they are working hard to help out AUT students who need it.

Aligned with other New Zealand student associations, AUSM is lobbying for government student allowance to be available for all students.

“Only 27% of students are eligible for student allowance and we are pushing for all students to be supported.”

Currently AUSM have schemes to help students out with transport and legal advice, as well as offering a food bank which is available for all students who need it.

ENDS

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