The new University of Canterbury Students Association (UCSA) building Haere-roa, provides a vibrant hub for student life and activities and is a pivotal part of the student experience. Haere-roa includes student welfare and advocacy spaces, an outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the Ōtakaro Avon River, as well as club, meeting, hospitality, office and event spaces.
The Haere-roa building was newly constructed after the Christchurch earthquakes damaged the original UCSA building beyond repair.
The building’s name, Haere-roa, which translates to the longest stream or the long wanderer, recognises the UCSA building as a space that hosts and welcomes people. The name has been gifted to the UCSA by mana whenua, Ngāi Tūāhuriri and is linked to the Ōtākaro Avon River, which flows past the UCSA site.
A key feature of the building is the Ngaio Marsh Theatre and Performance Centre, a flexible space capable of hosting 300 people seated or 1,000 people standing. The theatre is used for student performances and concerts, and it provides a central meeting and event space for the UCSA’s 130 affiliated clubs and societies. The local community will also be able to enjoy the new Ngaio Marsh Theatre, whether it’s watching a show, attending a concert or using the space for a community event when students are not on campus.
