Whānau Housing—Whare Hīnau: Kelburn Flats

Housing for Māori students who want to live in a home environment that supports te reo Māori (language) and tikanga (culture).

Self-catered

Students make their own meals.

Walking time to campuses

Kelburn—10 minutes
Pipitea—20 minutes
Te Aro—20 minutes

Housing style

Ten houses:
46 single rooms 
4 twin-share places

Single bedroom at Uni Hall Whanau. A single bed with a desk overlooking a residential area. A student studies at the desk.

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Whānau Housing is great for those who want to connect more with their taha Māori (Māori side) and for those who want to live in accommodation where tikanga (Māori cultural practices) and te reo Māori (Māori language) are part of everyday life.

Throughout the year, you’ll be encouraged to participate in marae activities, and also get involved and meet lots of people at the many inter-hall events. There are sports events, quiz nights, talent quests, film festival screening, and hall formals as well as in-hall activities.

There are options for any of the whānau houses to be alcohol free, and residents will work with the residential adviser to develop other house ‘rules’ annually.

About the houses

  • Whānau Housing is operated jointly by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and Whare Hīnau.
  • Popular with second-year and above students.
  • Houses are fully furnished and heated, and consist of single bedrooms and a few twin-share rooms. See the list of items provided in the student handbook pdf3.3MB
  • You can request to live in an alcohol-free space.
  • Residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and share responsibility for communal areas.
  • Wi-Fi is available.
  • A communal laundry is on site with washing machines and dryers.
  • On-street parking can be arranged through the Wellington City Council.
  • A tuakana-teina system operates where you all will be expected to support your peers academically, culturally, and holistically.

Fees

Per academic year (38 weeks) Per week

Single room

$9,994

 $263
Twin-share room $8,018 $211

The 2026 fees exclude electricity, heating and internet. These services are provided and the cost is an additional $15 per week. The rate will be confirmed when you receive your offer.

There may be an extra charge for heavy electricity and internet use.

One-trimester-only contracts may incur an additional fee of 10 percent.

Find out when you need to pay accommodation fees and other charges.

Supporting residents

We prioritise the wellbeing and safety of our resident community—with staff and students working together to ensure our halls are an enjoyable place to live.

Support available

Our commitment to pastoral care

The University has structures and processes in place to ensure students living in our halls experience a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.

Learn more

Visit our halls

Contact the hall directly to make an appointment to visit. If you wish to see more than one hall on the same day, make sure you allow at least 30–40 minutes to cover the tour and the time to travel to the next hall. You can book a hall tour during school holidays.