Thefts in Albany Māori room leave students “wary”

First sodas, then a vacuum, and now a speaker has been stolen from Albany’s Māori room, Te Rau Tauawhi. 

It’s suspected that high school students are the ones behind the thefts, however, the perpetrators are yet to be caught. 

There is only one security guard patrolling the Albany campus, a significant decrease from the multiple guards last year. 

The string of thefts since O-Week had left Māori students nervous in their own space. 

Student Mikaera Matengā said, “When someone comes in, I’m wary of them where it’s meant to be an inclusive space.” 

Student Caleb Monk said, “We don’t wanna leave our stuff out on the tables if no one is around because we’re scared someone is gonna steal it.”  

Staff members were looking into ways to safeguard the room, such as locks, while also continuing to make an inclusive and welcoming space for students.   

This is especially hard when kai and korero are shared with students in the space.  

As students frequent Te Rau Tauawhi to decompress after a long day of studying, the string of thefts has left a distasteful taste in the mouths of staff and students.