Our Impact

Te Oraka is a circular, community-powered space that makes sustainable living second nature on campus. From affordable pre-loved gear and refill essentials to creative workshops, bike grabs, and community events, everything we do is designed with students, for students—and for Papatūānuku.

This Semester One report captures how 4,290+ students jumped behind our mahi and helped us grow a community that's good for your wallet, your mates, and our whenua.

Our very first Semester One Impact Report for 2025 is now available to download.

Ko te amorāngi ki mua

the most precious things are carried forward

grateful for our tāngata

We want to give a special thanks to everyone who engaged with Te Oraka—whether you’ve been a regular in our space or popped in for a one-off event that caught your eye.

To our volunteers: thank you for giving your time and energy to ensure every student who visited had the best possible experience.

o Southern Youth Development (SYD): thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment to helping students access affordable bikes. Your support makes this partnership not only impactful, but also a joy to nurture.

To our Tētēkura: thank you for embracing Te Oraka as your own and caring for the space with such dedication.

To Anne at University Flats, Tim at the Recycling Centre, and Garreth at E-Rescue: your ongoing support and willingness to think creatively about how to strengthen our mahi shows what great internal collaboration looks like.

To the students who show up and bring Te Oraka to life: there would be nothing to report without you. Your involvement is what make this space thrive.

Te Oraka’s success belongs to many. This report is a celebration of your efforts, your energy, and your aroha.

Ngā mihi maioha

He waka eke noa

A canoe which we are all in with no exception

  • Rosie Eckl – Semester One Volunteer

    It has been so rewarding volunteering at Te Oraka this semester - I loved it! Being part of the team was great, and I think having a space like Te Oraka on campus is so critical for influencing how students feel about sustainability. I’m taking this idea back to the University of Edinburgh to see if they’ll create the same thing!

  • Phoebe Wood – Te Oraka Tētēkura

    I have been at Te Oraka for three years now, and each year has been different! This impact report is a great opportunity to reflect on how Te Oraka has evolved. Despite spatial changes, Te Oraka’s purpose has stayed the same - to create a welcoming and sustainable space for students. Coffee is always brewing, heat pumps on and students can connect through our Social Club. While not always easy to quantify, the community aspect of Te Oraka is core to our kaupapa and an important part of our impact.

  • Emily Cambridge – SYD Bikes Co-Ordinator

    Te Oraka is such a cool space for promoting sustainable living to students. We love running our bike grab events on campus with the Te Oraka crew and have had an awesome time being part of the community. It’s been great meeting students, sharing some bike tips, and helping them get rolling on two wheels.

  • Francesca Bryant-Brown -Student Business

    I absolutely love Te Oraka, it’s so supportive of me and my jewellery. It’s awesome to bring sustainability to the campus in such a fun way.

  • Amie Fleming – Crafty Club Workshop Facilitator

    Being part of the Te Oraka workshops this semester has been such a cool experience. I loved running the sewing workshop, it was so fun seeing everyone create their own laptop cases and add their own style. It was an awesome way to connect with others and just have a good time together.