Manawa Ora - Student Wellbeing
The start of uni—whether first or fifth year—can be kind of overwhelming (especially in a global pandemic).
Perhaps you’re reading this between hall orientation activities, or during the excitement of moving flats, or having quit your hospo job of the last four years and making the leap to come to uni, and you’re thinking, “Dude, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m fine. This is a blast.”
To that, I say: I bet you are. Genuinely. Those first few weeks are a whirlwind, with all the adrenaline rushes of a new phase of life. Soak up every second. But at some point, the assignment rush hits, the homesickness, the ache for inside jokes with high school friends and whatever expensive laundry detergent your mum used. Fresher flu (not limited to freshers, turns out) is kicking your butt and you just want someone to tell you how to get your life together and also tell you it’s fine, you’re fine, and most students are in the same boat.
Turns out, there’s actually a student service full of people whose entire job it is to do exactly that.
While Mauri Ora acts as a medical and counselling service (which you can access through their website), Manawa Ora—Student Wellbeing takes a preventative and holistic approach to your wellbeing. We know uni isn’t just about burying yourself in assignments and readings. Manawa Ora offers peer support groups to facilitate connections between students in environments outside of classes and halls. In 2022, these services are:
The Bubble—a hangout space in the Student Union Building (with far more comfortable seating options than the Hub) with free tea, coffee, fruit and a kitchen on offer, and Bubble leaders milling around if you’re in need of peer support.
Storycraft—a student-run writing group that brings creative minds together in a safe, uncompetitive, and supportive environment.
Cultural Coffee Club—a student-led group providing a place where international and refugee-background students can discuss mental health through a cultural lens and uplift each other to succeed.
Canine Friends—saving the pups for last but not even remotely last, the Canine Friends Pet Therapy dogs regularly visit the university. Manawa Ora’s best pal Wolfie is at the Bubble on Tuesdays from 11 a.m.–12 p.m., so come along and get some Dachshund cuddles.
Manawa Ora is here, (some of us are) queer, and have a Rainbow and Inclusion service to answer questions about the rainbow community or help with issues affecting study, such as updating legal and preferred names. We also provide official services for students from refugee backgrounds for any difficulties or issues they may face studying at Te Herenga Waka.
Throughout the year, Manawa Ora runs Wellbeing Workshops that cover a range of issues and situations students encounter:
Making friends
Maintaining balanced habits and a healthy diet
Imposter syndrome
Procrastination
Burnout
Basically, anything you need to ease the whirling chaos of uni so it’s manageable long-term. More info about these, and other online wellbeing resources on offer, can be found on our Instagram and Facebook pages, or you can register for the workshops running from week two to week six on Careerhub now.
Nobody expects you to have it all together, not in week two, not in tri two week eleven, even third year. University will be equal parts rewarding and challenging, but you deserve all the opportunities and resources to be able to thrive. So come on down to Student Union and say hi, whether you need help, just want to see what we’re about, or of course, want some puppy cuddles. We’ll be here all year!
Website: wgtn.ac.nz/wellbeing
Instagram: @manawaorastudentwellbeing
Facebook: Manawa Ora Wgtn Uni