Massey’s residential hall fees waived for lockdown leavers

Students who returned home from residential halls for Level 4 are not being charged accommodation fees. 

According to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students and Global Engagement Tere McGonagle-Daly, Massey decided on an August 21 start date to the pause on fees, as that was the end date of the travel window allowed by the Government at the start of lockdown. 

“To help relieve any additional stressors, the university agreed that students in our halls of residence who left to relocate for the duration of the current Alert Level 4 lockdown will not be charged accommodation fees between Saturday 21 August until they can safely return to campus under Alert Level 2 (or otherwise advised by the Government),” McGonagle-Daly said. 508 students are currently remaining in student accommodation over lockdown. 

This good news comes after last year's media uproar at Victoria University charging students for rooms they could not access during lockdown. Victoria University eventually backtracked on charging students a $150 placeholder fee during Level 4. 

Meanwhile, for Massey, learning will remain online, while following the alert level guidelines and any additional government guidance according to McGonagle-Daly. 

“When alert levels allow, face-to-face and blended teaching, with relevant health and safety measures in place, will continue as per normal in addition to our online provision,” he said.