Stationery store plans put on hold “indefinitely”

If you want a pen, enjoy the 10-minute walk to Countdown lol

The MAWSA Exec have decided to put plans for a Wellington stationery store on hold despite promising talks last year. Plans with art supplies store Gordon Harris about a possible on campus click and collect supply service have been postponed until further notice.  

“We did quite a lot of consultation with students, and most people thought it was a pretty good idea,” MAWSA President, Tessa Guest, admits. “It was looking like it would be a potential, but given the state of flux that we’re in as an organisation, we decided it was too risky of a move to make.” The Exec is facing “potential changes” in their budget in the coming year, so considered the stationery store “too risky” in light of these changes.  

A student told Massive last year that an on-campus supply store is essential: “Oh my gosh, the amount of times that I’ve had to leave uni and walk all the way to Gordon Harris just to get some more paper or a pencil, so stupid. In the Design School we rely on those sorts of supplies so I feel like it’s a no brainer. I mean, half of this campus is design focused.” 

Tessa says she understands student disappointment, but the project isn’t currently feasible. “For now there are still a lot of affordable options available. It’s not the biggest loss and there are many other wins we can celebrate instead.” When questioned on what other wins the Exec could celebrate, Tessa declined to specify.  

Bennetts, a campus bookstore, closed in 2019 to student disappointment. Tessa expressed her frustration with Massey’s decision to close the bookstore “without consulting anyone”, saying “Massey has more services than us, so if this [stationery store] is a service that students need, then they should definitely be investigating it. For us, it’s something we’d love to go above and beyond to do, but isn’t as feasible in the immediate future as we don’t have the same resources.” 

In the meantime, the Massive office is willing to sell ballpoint pens at a starting price $500 for any interested students. Cash payments only. Hey, at least it’s better than nothing.