Phoebe Robertson

Students will elect one of their two representatives on the University Council when voting opens on Monday, 10 August. The Council is Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s highest governing body, responsible for overseeing the institution’s strategy, finances, leadership, and long-term direction. Electronic voting will close at 5pm on Friday, 14 August. All students are eligible to vote, and the election will use first-past-the-post, meaning the candidate with the most votes...

New tenancy rules make it harder for landlords to reject pets without explanation, but students wanting a pet may still face added costs, shared liability, and restrictions based on where they live. Since 1 December 2025, tenants have been able to ask their landlord for permission to keep a pet under changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a request. However, tenants must receive permission before bringing the animal into the property, unless the pet is...

At the tail end of Trimester One, something unusual appeared in the Hub. For the first time in recent memory, a piano was placed in one of Te Herenga Waka’s busiest communal spaces. Out of thin air? Out of Te Kōkī—New Zealand School of Music? Salient investigates. In a statement attributed to Vice-Chancellor Bryony James, the University said the piano was installed “as a way to bring people together through music and create a stronger sense of community across the University.” James said the...