Massey University’s Auckland campus student accommodation has received a five-star rating for the fourth year running and, for the first time, a Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award.
Te Ohanga Village received the award, having been judged in the categories of economic, environment and culture, social and people, and health and safety.
The latest accreditation report made particular reference to the village’s improvement in the environment category due to the implementation of several initiatives, including the promotion of sustainable practices to students at the beginning of the academic year. Other initiatives include an effort to reduce the amount of printed material, the reuse of shopping bags, the introduction of a clothing recycling programme, promotion of permanent coffee cups over single-use takeaway cups and the re-invigoration of the campus’ community garden.
The village first achieved a Qualmark five-star rating in 2015, its opening year, and remains the first and only student accommodation village to get such a rating and is now the only village to hold a Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award.
Qualmark is New Zealand Tourism’s official mark of quality, offering ratings on accommodation from luxury hotels, family motel units, backpackers and bed and breakfasts.