The Kaiāwhina Whare of Arana College 2025.
Back Row: Semisi Taungapeau, Sulieti Fakahau, Harrison Jones, Alfie Buxton, Tui-Aroha Fransen, Jalen Blake-Kaiwai
Front Row: Sky Mills, Verona Conole, Kalai Kukanenthiran, Izzy Dalley, Amadee Reynolds
Kaiāwhina Whare at Arana College live on a floor with the cohort of residents they directly care for. They are current students at the University of Otago and as a team they study various subject areas.
Our Kaiāwhina make up a small team that work directly within the Kaimahi Matua (Pastoral Care Team). Each Kaiāwhina at Arana will undertake rostered office duties, arrange events for the residents, show prospective students around, and most importantly provide care and support to the residents for the various day-to-day topics that arise.
Formally known as Sub-Wardens, or also known as Residential Assistants (RAs), our Kaiāwhina Whare undertake block course and ongoing training with their colleagues in areas including first aid, mental health and wellbeing, University services, and Fire Warden/emergency training.
“I decided to become a [Kaiāwhina Whare] at Arana College because it appealed to my passion for helping others, and it allowed me to give back to the hall I called home in first year.
Being a [Kaiāwhina] is fun and challenging. I have gotten to know many amazing people, staff and residents alike, and I have learnt skills that will be useful for the rest of my life.
From pastoral care to organising the men's rugby team, there's never a dull moment. And thanks to an incredible senior management team our roles as [Kaiāwhina Whare] are made much easier. Without a doubt, this is the best job I've ever had.”Alex Lister, Kaiāwhina Whare, 2018, 2019 and 2021