Mould forces Massey students out of Wellington halls

Friday, 6 February 2026

Nearly 100 Massey University students about to start their first semester have been relocated from their hall of residence because the building was riddled with mould.

Communication from the Wellington campus alerted 95 students on Wednesday evening that Kāinga Rua hall of residence on Taranaki St had been deemed unsafe for residents.

Madison Clark, who had her heart set on the $355 per week halls of residence, said she and her family were in a state of shock, with only 10 days to find a new place to stay.

“For first-year students, it’s hard enough getting everything sorted, and then so late before classes start we have to quickly figure it out,” she said.

Massey student accommodation offered her a place at The Cube, giving her the option to accept the relocation or cancel her Residential Agreement.

“If they hadn’t offered me anything, I would’ve been a lot more scared. At least they’re moving me right next door.”

Despite the setback, the former Solway College student from Masterton remained passionate about art and was still excited to begin a Bachelor of Fine Arts this year.

A Massey University statement said swift action had been taken to prioritise the health and safety of students by deciding not to occupy any part of the complex.

Twenty-six students were offered places at The Cube which was managed by Massey, and 69 students were offered a transfer to Capital Hall, operated by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, on Willis St.

“A small number of staff who had moved into the complex last week to prepare for arrivals have been relocated.”

The campus offered all impacted residents alternative accommodation with no increase in fees, and in the case of a move to The Cube opposite Kāinga Rua, a slight reduction.

Massey confirmed via email to students that the “potential health and safety concern” was discovered last week and had been under further investigation.

“Earlier this week we received preliminary findings from this investigation that would indicate that the Kāinga Rua complex should not house new residents,” the email said.

“Mould has been identified on the external gib linings on a corner of the complex as part of recent construction works and was only observed once exterior cladding had been removed.

“Further testing found mould levels that exceed accepted safety guidelines and we will not put our students or staff at risk.”

The university said students would not be liable for any accommodation fees and would receive a full refund of any payments made to date.

Students had also been informed that the decision had not been made lightly, and the university apologised for the “disappointing and unsettling” news.

“We are unable to comment at this stage on whether Kāinga Rua may be available for occupation later in the year.

“No students were living in affected areas at any time, and no health concerns have been reported.”

The complex was owned by an external party and leased by the university for student housing.

“The university has notified the landlord of the findings and will continue discussions as further information becomes available.”

While New Zealand didn’t have formal exposure standards for airborne fungal spores, results were compared against the Australian Mould Guidelines, and reference data from Biodet Laboratory, the University said.

Kāinga Rua typically housed students aged 17–20 in either three or five bedroom apartments, located about a five minute walk from campus.

The site featured standard single or large rooms, each with a private ensuite bathroom, fully furnished and self-catered, with shared lounges, kitchens, and an outdoor courtyard.