Affordable Eats at Te Aro: What Are Students Paying For?

Part two of a three-part opinion series exploring affordable food options on campus at Te Herenga Waka

This week, I continued my search for affordable eats, heading into the world of stressed-out architecture students perpetually behind on an assignment. That's right, dear readers—I hit the streets. The street of Vivian, that is. The goal: to see what fuels Te Aro Campus and, more importantly, whether it’s actually affordable.

Te Aro is unique in one key way: it’s the only campus without any on-site cafés or food options. That being said, this hasn’t stopped a large number of students from spreading out across the lawn, armed with a myriad of nearby Cuba Street offerings.

What immediately stood out was the number of Scopa pizza boxes in circulation. For a moment, I wondered if they were being repurposed into first-year chair projects. When I asked, one student set me straight: “Scopa’s Margherita Tuesdays! Only $10!”

From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Tuesday, Scopa offers $10 Margherita pizzas, and Te Aro students have clearly embraced the deal with open arms (and empty wallets).

Outside of Scopa, however, the sentiment echoed what I heard over at Pipitea—Cuba Street is expensive. 

“It’s too expensive, so I just bring food from home,” one student told me. 

Another admitted they simply “suck it up and eat before or after being on campus.” 

Not exactly inspiring.

Still, there are a few relative bright spots. Students pointed to Subway across the road as a reliable option, with a $7.50 sub of day. St Pierre's Sushi also came up frequently as a go-to for something quick—if not always cheap. Best Ugly Bagels was mentioned as an occasional treat, though at $9 for a simple cream cheese bagel, it’s hardly a budget staple. 

Following a tip-off from a kind third-year architecture student, I was told that the best value could be found at Babylon Kebabs—where I decided to have lunch. With snack kebabs coming in at $11 and regulars at $13, I wasn’t expecting much. But when my kebab arrived, it was easily twice the size of a Best Ugly Bagels order and far more filling, making it one of the better-value options I’d come across around Te Aro.

So what’s the verdict? Te Aro students are resourceful—but it comes at a cost. The lack of on-campus options pushes students into one of three camps: deal hunters, occasional spenders, or dedicated meal-preppers. Yes, there are more affordable food options here than at Pipitea—but once again, students are largely left to fend for themselves.