Welcome to Ara's student accommodation, right across the road from our City campus

Just a two minute walk away from our main campus you'll find Ara's student accommodation. Situated in the heart of Christchurch, Ōtautahi House is a flat-style accommodation for our out of town students. There are 36 secure, warm and sunny apartments that can house up to 192 students. Located close by is the city centre with plenty of shopping and food options, the bus exchange with connections to all over the city, and just down the road there is a supermarket and pharmacy. 

Applications are open now, and preference is given to those who apply before the 31st of October. Residents must be aged between 18-25.

All apartments have either 5 or 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open plan dining, kitchen and lounge area and a patio or balcony. There are 2 ground floor flats which are wheelchair friendly, making Ōtautahi House as accessible as possible. Flats are fully furnished too, making moving cities that little bit easier. 

As these are apartment style rooms, students cook their own meals, allowing personal flexibility, and many come together for flat meals to save money, time, and as a great chance to catch up with flatmates. 

Throughout the year you can join in on social events such as barbecues, pizza nights, a ball, and more. There is a grassy courtyard in the middle of the apartments where residents can often be found playing games, relaxing in the sun and enjoying a meal, especially in the summer months. Secure parking is available, and this is allocated via ballot as there is a limited number of parks. Secure bike sheds are also in the carpark area, and the entire premise is well fenced, with access via gates that open with swipe cards. This means only residents and relevant staff can access the facilities, which is great for security and peace of mind. 

Pastoral care is a great focus of Ōtautahi house, and there are student advisors available for support and pastoral care and a residential assistant (2nd, 3rd or 4th year Ara students) in every block, as well as a live-in manager on site.  

A breakdown of the costs of living are as follows: 

• Bond - 2 weeks rent (refundable)
• Activities fee - $205.00 (non-refundable)
• Administration fee - $250.00
• Residential fee: $10,080 (equivalent to $210 per week. 48 week contract) Includes power and wi-fi.
• Food: N/A (Self catering &/or shared costs with flatmates)
• Car parking (limited parking available) - $22.50 per week (a ballot will be held to allocate limited parking spaces)

More information including rules and regulations can be found here!