It would appear that the majority of students that will be assembling in New Plymouth in April this year have managed to secure accommodation, however up to 100 mollycoddled Massey University students have been left out in the cold.
What can our "brightest up-and-coming students" learn from this?
Firstly they should have thought ahead and booked accommodation months ago - those that sit back will often miss out. Secondly, publicly whinging will not help your cause - take some accountability and learn to sort it out for yourself. And thirdly life is tough - you will be judged by your past behavior and you must learn to suffer the consequences of your actions.
Long time Taranaki motel association president Deborah Tawa talks straight on behalf of her members "it is a pretty big risk to take when it's your livelihood."
We would suggest that the Massey University students stop moaning and start looking for a tent!
Manawatu Standard
24/03/2009
Up to 100 Massey University students are being forced to find their own accommodation for Taranaki's University Games after a team freeze-out by "scared" New Plymouth moteliers.
Massey's student team has been rejected by at least 50 moteliers, who say they do not want students on their premises after they ran amok in Rotorua last year, student representatives say.
Students who still want to compete will have to hunt for individual accommodation before the games begin on April 14.
At the 2008 University Games, Rotorua moteliers complained of hooliganism by some students.
They said rooms were trashed and covered in vomit, and 130 Victoria University students were evicted from two motels.
Massey Palmerston North student president Matt Poucher said it was unbelievable that all students were being judged on the behaviour of a minority.
"I think it's really unfortunate. I mean Taranaki bid for the games on a very 'we want them here' basis.
"Last year involved a very small number of students, from a very small number of associations. As one of our students, you feel like you are being persecuted for something you never did."
He had spoken to numerous accommodation providers. Many were receptive until the word "student" was mentioned.
"They are all good right up to the moment when I said Massey University Students' Association, and then it was an issue.
"These are our brightest up-and-coming students and sportsmen ... for a lot of people it's a stepping stone to bigger things. For sport in New Zealand, it's a really important thing."
Students would now have to take their own cars instead of Massey-provided vans, and it would be harder to muster team spirit, he said.
Taranaki motel association president Deborah Tawa said moteliers had been "scared off" by what happened last year.
"Unfortunately the whole Rotorua story, no matter how out of proportion it may have been blown, did a lot of damage to the University Games.
"Yes, they will have had a hard time, because most moteliers feel pretty strongly about not taking them on. I understand the whole thing was probably overpublicised, but it is a pretty big risk to take when it's your livelihood."
Massey Wellington student president Alex Sorensen said its team had just secured accommodation, but was feeling "dispirited" after months of searching.
University Sport New Zealand executive director Louise Burns said 1300 beds had been filled, and Massey Palmerston North was the only team without a place to stay.
Despite not having a university, Taranaki won hosting rights for the University Games over Palmerston North. It is only the second time since the games began in 1902 that a non-university town will host the games.
Palmerston North lost the bid last year after no council representatives showed up to promote the city in a selection panel's two-day visit. Mayor Jono Naylor was on holiday.
The games, from April 14 to 17, also known as Easter tournament, are the second-biggest annual multisport event in the country.
They are expected to attract 1500 competitors in 25 sports, and pump $1 million into the Taranaki economy.
Source: Click HERE
