Last year on an early morning jog, where the mist hovered over the University pond, I looked across to the Village Green. It wasn’t much of a village. In the past week, it had been a ghost town. No one would have even noticed if a tumbleweed had blown past. I continued my jog up to S Block. Construction hid the main entrance and was far from welcoming. I expected more from the city dubbed ‘most beautiful’. I certainly expected a campus that was far more lively than it was. Instead, on this particular morning I saw a campus that needed changes and alterations. Somehow I knew I could change that. 

 

Crusty Cafeteria and Culture 

The University’s formative years included a cafeteria called Oranga. In its prime in the 70s, Oranga and the cafeteria slipped into the archives. It still has a presence on campus and is now occupied by Kahurangi and Sue’s Cafe. Most students describe the space as “crusty” or “smelly” but it’s more than that. If you look past the red and black chairs and crumb-ridden tables you will see a pair of chocolate-coloured couches. These couches are by far the most retro objects the building has to offer (minus the old ginger guy who makes the coffee). The couches remind me of what once was; a cafeteria flooded with students, a high social community and a university full of potential. The space still attracts attention; coffee addicts and the campus corgi but it’s hardly the same. 

 

Cancel Momento Cafe

Momento needs to go. We have three Momento Cafes on campus and one on Victoria Street. We can do better than sterile cafe chains. With The Pā opening next year there is an opportunity to reinvent the Momento space. To honour the stores beside Momento on the Village Green (Bongo Sushi and Rewind) I suggest Bongo rebuilds itself. Imagine this: A great sushi train stretched between the pharmacy and Rewind. The sushi train has a large entrance from the Village Green with a pink bamboo archway. It would serve as a new cafeteria space and would be open on Saturday’s with fish bowls too. Social spaces for students could be restored. 

 

The Secret Garden

I am honouring all former art hoes here when I say we need a plant store on campus. Did you know you have a tech store on campus? I didn’t, which is more the reason to replace it. Hundreds of small succulents and snake plants huddled around the Village Green are guaranteed to make our campus a communal space. Great vinyl would play in the background, probably something by The Cure but it fits the vibe. Moving towards a greener campus, a plant store is a place to start.