Welcome to Whītiki, our Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington student newsletter. Nau mai haere mai ki Whītiki, te kawerongo mo ngā tauira i Te Herenga Waka. 

Kia ora koutou,

It’s here, the final edition of Whītiki 2022. Like you, we’ll be taking a break over Christmas and New Year, but before that we have some important summer info to share. 

We also want to congratulate you on your achievements this year amongst all the challenges that 2022 presented. Our essential services will be available over the break, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Details on our services are in this newsletter, and on our website.    

Stay safe and celebrate responsibly. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2023.

Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tō huarahi. May peace be widespread, may the sea glisten like greenstone, and may the shimmer of light guide you on your way. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Kirsty McClure, Manutaki—Director, Te Pūrengi—Student Experience and Wellbeing 
Richard Neal, Manutaki—Director, Tītoko—Centre for Student Success 

It’s time to enrol in your courses for Trimester 1 2023

Enrolment for Trimester 1 is now open. Enrol via the enrolment system, Pūaha as soon as possible for your best chance of entry into your preferred courses. 

For help, or to discuss your study options, contact your student success team. 

Find out more about using student services and get key tips for making the most of the summer months

Whether you are taking a course in Trimester 3, or preparing for study in Trimester 1, your Student Success team, academic staff, and our student services are here to support you—get in touch with them if you have questions or need advice. You can access our services both on campus and online. 
 
Find out more at our studying over summer webpage. 

Mauri Ora—Student Health and Counselling will be open during the summer and the Christmas break

During this time, you will be able to access services in person at Kelburn, or virtually from anywhere in New Zealand. You can make virtual appointments using the MyIndici portal or by asking reception when you call to book. 

Mauri Ora will be open during the Christmas break on the following days: 

• Monday 19–Thursday 22 December, 08:30 am–6 pm: Student Health and Counselling 
• Friday 23 December, 08:30 am–3 pm: Student Health only 
• Wednesday 28–Friday 30 December, 9 am–3 pm: Student Health only 
• Wednesday 4– Friday 6 January, 9 am–3 pm: Student Health and Counselling. 

Normal business hours resume on Monday 9 January 2023.  

Repeat Prescriptions 

The University Unichem Pharmacy will be closed from Wednesday 21 December–Tuesday 24 January 2023. Please make sure to order any repeat medications you may require before Tuesday 20 December to enable these to be processed for pick up at your preferred off-campus pharmacy before the weekend and Christmas statutory holidays.

After-hours services  

Information about after-hours services, including Practice Plus (which is free to students using the voucher code 'VUW-200' when booking the appointment) can be found here. 

Access to counselling support during closure days and after hours: 

Go to our website to see a list of some of the services available in New Zealand that offer support, information, and help. All services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless otherwise specified. 

Share your stories with us!
If you’d like to contribute to our student blog myView and share your experiences and stories, visit the website and read our submission guidelines, or get in touch at students@vuw.ac.nz.

Southeast Asia CAPE 
 
The Southeast Asia Centre of Asia Pacific Excellence have just kicked off a placement opportunity for tertiary students and are looking for eager students (including international) to join their placement pool! This placement pool will remain open year-round and students will be contacted once the perfect placement opportunity that matches their interests and skills has been found.  
 
Access to Blackboard is changing 

All courses starting from now are in our new online learning environment, Nuku. That mans we’re starting to wind down the old platform, Blackboard. The first step is restricting who can access Blackboard. 

After Friday 13 January 2023, the only students who will be able to log in to Blackboard are those who are completing a 2022 course that is still underway on Blackboard. Students who have completed their 2022 Blackboard courses will not be able to log in to Blackboard after 13 January. Contact the service desk if you need to access Blackboard after this date. 

For those of you who are still completing a Blackboard course, the Blackboard link in Pūaha will remain active, and the Digital Solutions service desk will continue to provide Blackboard support. 

We’re taking a break 
 
This is the last edition of Whītiki for 2022. We’ll be back in the second half of Trimester 3, with our first edition of 2023.  

Whītiki

As a student, we want you to feel connected with your Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington community. Whītiki is a Māori word that is often used in a phrase heard at the University: 'Whītiki mai tō waka ki te wharenui nei, ki Te Tumu Herenga Waka'—'tie or bind your canoe to this meeting house, to the hitching post of canoes'.