Toroa House, Otago
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Established | 1996 |
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| Students | 131 in 2006 |
| Location | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Website | www.otago.ac.nz/toroa |
Toroa International House is a self-catering Hall of Residence, developed by the University of Otago to meet the needs of its growing number of international students. It provides accommodation that is welcoming and supportive yet allows residents to live, eat, study and socialise in an environment that meets their individual needs.
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[edit] About Toroa
Toroa is the Māori name for the Royal Albatross, the magnificent long-distance sea bird that nests at the tip of the Otago Peninsula. The Albatross wanders far across the oceans of the world but comes back to Otago each year.
Toroa embraces the Māori concepts of support for members of the community through the whanau (family) and hapu (extended family). The flat forms a whanau and the Toroa community of 143 residents forms the hapu for each student to help them in their study, their living, and the enjoyment of their time at the University of Otago.
Residents shop and cook their own meals, either for themselves or with their flatmates, keep their flat clean, and come to other agreements with their flatmates about how their flat will operate.
Toroa House is a five minute walk from the University of Otago. It is set in beautiful sloping grounds with mature trees, rhododendrons, grassy areas and gardens.
[edit] Toroa Administration
The Head of Residence and Administrator both work during weekday hours in Manawa, and there are several senior students or Residential Assistants (RAs) living on site who are on duty in the evenings and at weekends. The Warden's residence is also on site.
- Head of Residence: Gretchen Kivell
- Deputy Head of Residence: Brigit Coleman
- Head of Maintenance: Mark Robertson
- General Helpful Person: Suse Kearns
[edit] Toroa Facilities
Toroa is a community of 28 self-catering flats each with five bedrooms (there are a few with 3 or 4 bedrooms) and a kitchen/dining/living area.
The community house, Manawa, offers televisions with DVD players and SKY channels, computers, a scanner and printers, access to study rooms and tea/coffee/milo/snack making facilities which are especially useful during exam time.
Toroa has an upright piano, an elusive classical guitar, a foosball table and a pool table. Five washers and dryers are provided for the residents, one set of which is in a sneaky location and is therefor usually free of use.
[edit] Toroa Flat Names
| Māori Name | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Kotahi | One | |
| Rua | Two | |
| Toru | Three | |
| Wha | Four | |
| Rima | Five | |
| Ono | Six | |
| Whitu | Seven | |
| Aroha | Love | |
| Awa | River | |
| Hauauru | West | |
| Iwi | Tribe | |
| Koanga | Spring | |
| Maunga | Mountain | |
| Ngahuru | Autumn | |
| Pakiwaitara | Legends | |
| Raki | North | |
| Rawhiti | East | |
| Roto | Lake | |
| Taitonga | South | |
| Uenuku | Rainbow | |
| Wahinetoa | Strong Women | |
| Haka | Dance of Challenge | |
| Koha | Gift | |
| Mana | Prestige | |
| Turanga | Home Place | |
| Wairua | Spirituality | |
| Runga | Top | |
| Raro | Under | |
| Manawa | Heart |
