Arana College

Arana College is a residential college of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, founded in 1943 by the Rev. William Turner and the Stuart Residence Halls Council.[3] The name "Arana" is a Māori transliteration of "Allen", chosen to honour Sir James Allen, a former Vice Chancellor (1903–1909) and Chancellor (1909–1912) of the University of Otago. The current warden is Jamie Gilbertson.[4]

For more information on constituent colleges, see collegiate universities.

Arana College
University of Otago Residential College
University of Otago
LocationClyde St
MottoTakina te hoe kia rite (Māori)
Motto in EnglishWield the Paddles Together[1]
FounderStuart Halls Residence Council
Established1943[2]
WardenJamie Gilbertson
Undergraduates397 (approx.)
Websitewww.otago.ac.nz/arana/

The main administration areas of Arana are based in what was once Sir James Allen's Queen Anne-style mansion, with residents accommodated in 4 main buildings and 18 houses. The college is located immediately to the northeast of the central campus, at the top of a medium-sized but steep rise known as Piripi Hill (a corruption of "Botanic Hill", after the nearby first site of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens). It overlooks the Otago Campus only 200 metres from the Registry Clock Tower, a notable feature of the University campus. The University of Otago College of Education, Otago Polytechnic and the Dunedin Botanical Garden are all within easy walking distance.[5]

History

Originally, Arana housed 27 male residents[2] in a property purchased by the university but administered by the Stuart Residence Halls Council.[3] Accommodation initially consisted of Allen's former home but, under pressure for space, former World War II Nissen huts were soon erected.[6] Public subscriptions and government funding, as part of the Colombo Plan were used to build permanent buildings, the Colombo (opened in 1964 housing 56 residents) and Bates (opened in 1968 housing 48 residents) wings.[7] The international students brought to Arana as part of the Colombo Plan have added a distinctive international flavour. Throughout the college's history houses on surrounding Clyde,[8] Dundas,[8] Leith[7] and St David[9] Sts have been purchased in order to provide extra accommodation.

Arana has accepted female students since 1978.[10] The 1980s saw a downturn in numbers of new students at the university, and the College faced challenges in attracting sufficient residents. The college survived by temporarily converting surrounding houses to self-contained accommodation.[11] Luckily, by the late 1980s the University of Otago was again in a growth phase, and Arana College truly began to develop into a residential village.

In 1994 Turner Wing was opened, housing 27 residents. In 2005-2006 Arana College undertook a major upgrade of the central facilities and increased the number of rooms available to students by building two new accommodation blocks, Leith View housing 60 residents[12] and Rawiri (a transliteration of St David) housing 104 residents.[13] The college now houses approximately 397 residents in total between its main buildings and surrounding houses.

Coat of arms

Arana and Carrington, the two colleges at Otago that were created and originally administered by the Stuart Residence Halls Council, are now fully administered by the University of Otago. The arms of Arana come from the arms of the Stuart Residence Halls Council, whose motto is Non tantum aedificatio sed sodalitas (not only education but community), with the addition of a three-pointed label (as for an eldest son). The Arana motto is: Takina te hoe kia rite (wield the paddles together). The College colours are maroon and blue.[1]

World record attempts

In 2013, Arana College students Laurie Evans and Bryn Kerr attempted to break the world record for 'Most grapes caught in the mouth in one minute', at an event organised by the Otago University Student Association.[14] Since then, Arana has maintained a strong culture of record attempts, with Arana College warden Jamie Gilbertson encouraging residents to 'challenge yourself academically, socially, and gastronomically'.[15]

Notable alumni
Name Entered Notability Reference
Jon Gadsby 1972 Entertainment: Comedian
Prof. M.D. Holdaway 1951 Medicine: Child cancer researcher
Michael Laws 1976 Politics, Literature, Media: Mayor of Wanganui, radio host, author and columnist for The Sunday Star-Times
Garrick Tremain 1950s Media: Cartoonist
Nathan Cohen 2005 Sport: Rowing [16]
Paul Grant 2006 Sport: Rugby
Phillipa Gray 2007 Sport: Cycling [16]
Garrick Tremain
A student competes in a sack race at the 2014 Arana Carnival

References
Notes
  1. "Introduction to Arana College". Arana College. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  2. Turner, p. 8
  3. Turner, p. 14
  4. "Our People at Arana College". Arana College. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  5. "About Arana College". Arana College. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  6. Macaulay, p. 8
  7. Macaulay, p. 18
  8. Macaulay, p. 12
  9. Macaulay, p. 14
  10. Macaulay, p. 20
  11. Macaulay, p. 22
  12. "Leith View, Arana Hall of Residence, Dunedin". Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  13. "Arana St David Hall Residence, Dunedin". Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  14. "Most grapes caught in the mouth in one minute". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  15. "Fostering real independence". Otago Daily Times Online News. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  16. "News from Arana College". Arana College. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
Bibliography
  • Turner, Harold W. (1953). Halls of residence. New Zealand Council for Educational Research.
  • Macaulay, G.A. (1991). A Triumph Of Improvisation.

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