Student safety
Keeping our students safe
For many students, the transition to university can be a time of increased freedom but also new responsibilities. We’re committed to ensuring our students can enjoy their time at the University of Waikato in an environment of safety and respect. This includes holding our staff, students and visitors to high standards of personal behaviour and academic integrity, and providing safe ways for students to let us know if another student or staff member has breached those standards.
We do not tolerate bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment) or discrimination, aggression, violence (including sexual violence) or threatening behaviour. Students and staff are expected to act honestly, conscientiously, reasonably and in good faith at all times.
If you feel unsafe, or need advice or support, check out the range of options available to you below:
Hamilton campus
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24/7 security service: 4444 or
Our security service is on call for reports of any suspicious behaviour, or whenever you’re feeling unsafe. After dark, you can request a ‘safe walk’ escort to walk you to your car or residential hall.
Most campus doors are locked after business hours, meaning you won’t be able to enter buildings without a card. If you've left your card at home stop in and see Security.
The main path through campus is marked by blue stickers on the lamp posts and the blue light phones. The path is well lit and monitored by security cameras, and will lead you to the main car parks.
Campus patrols and monitoring
As well as offering ‘safe walk’ services after dark, security staff carry-out foot patrols around campus, regular safety checks of computer labs and courtesy calls to people working late in University buildings. There are CCTV cameras in operation 24/7 across the campus.
Hamilton student halls
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Access to the halls of residence is controlled by swipe card. Residential Life Managers and residential staff are available 24/7. From Wednesday to Saturday, security staff are assigned to the student halls.
At the start of each year, residents receive orientation from Police, covering subjects including sexual contact and the law, and safety in the community and Hamilton city.
All residential staff in the halls have two weeks of training, including sessions addressing sexual relationships and negotiating consent, University security protocols, mental health and wellbeing. In addition, staff are trained in the management of critical incidents (such as sexual assault) and how to give appropriate support and referrals.
Residential staff are required to monitor student safety and have a duty to act if they feel that a resident is at risk.
Tauranga campus
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Security
Security systems are in operation at both Windermere and Bongard campuses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure your personal safety and the protection of your property. In the evenings' security officers can provide a ‘safe walk’ escort to your car.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence
In an emergency situation phone
If you have experienced sexual harassment or violence, or know someone who wants support, please contact our confidential 24/7 Student Crisis Hotline:
We will respond to your immediate needs and work with you on a confidential basis to:
- Listen and provide non-judgemental support
- Provide referrals to the Student Counselling Service, the Student Health Service and other specialised external support services as required
- Coordinate other practical support (academic special considerations, emergency housing, financial aid etc)
- Talk through options and processes for reporting an incident if you choose to do so.
Members of the University of Waikato community who have received a disclosure of sexual harassment or sexual violence witnessed sexual harassment or sexual violence or are supporting someone who has experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence can also contact the University of Waikato Student Crisis Hotline on
Support Services
- Rape Crisis Centre:
0800 88 33 00
Waikato
- Rape & Sexual Abuse Healing Centre:
0800 839 4433 - Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust:
0800 677 289
Bay of Plenty
- Bay of Plenty Sexual Assault Support Services:
07 577 0512
Mental health and wellbeing
In an emergency situation phone
If you or a friend or classmate is feeling depressed, anxious or stressed and you aren’t sure where to get help, please contact our confidential 24/7 Student Crisis Hotline:
We will respond to your immediate needs and work with you on a confidential basis to:
- Listen and provide non-judgemental support
- Provide referrals to the Student Counselling Service, the Student Health Service and other specialised external support services as required
- Coordinate other practical support (academic special considerations, emergency housing, financial aid etc)
- Talk through options and processes for managing mental health and wellbeing.
Members of the University of Waikato community who are concerned about a student’s mental health or wellbeing can also contact the University of Waikato Student Crisis Hotline on
Support Services
- Lifeline:
0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) - For more information and other support services, see the Mental Health Foundation
On-campus support services
Counselling service
The Student Counselling Service is free to all students. The University will also work with you and other support services as needed.
Counselling services are available to Tauranga-based students through Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology health centre.
Student health
Student Health - provides Hamilton-based students with access to comprehensive health care. Cost depends on whether you are an international or domestic student, and whether you enrol with Student Health as your primary health provider (fees will be waived when a student is in crisis). Tauranga-based students have access to a Health Centre at both the Windermere and Bongard campuses.
Waikato Students' Union (WSU) student support
WSU Student Support - This service is free for all students to access, regardless of whether you are a member of the WSU. Provides advice, support and advocacy.
Other support services
If it is an emergency and you or someone you know is at risk, call 111 .
Nationwide
- Victim Support:
0800 842 846 - Women's Refuge:
0800 733 843 - ACC counselling assistance:
0800 735 566 - Gender Minorities Aotearoa
- You, Me, Us
How to make a complaint
Student discipline regulations
If you would like to make a formal complaint about another student’s behaviour, academic or otherwise, the Student Discipline Regulations set out the procedures. A complaint of misconduct can be made by a staff member, student, or member of the public, and will be investigated and heard by the University’s Student Discipline Committee. A tikanga process is available to resolve complaints of a tikanga nature.
Discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, are prohibited under the Student Discipline Regulations. Sexual harassment is defined as “verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature that is unwelcome, uninvited and unwarranted.”
Where a complaint of misconduct, discrimination, harassment or violence is upheld by the Committee, students can be excluded from all or part of the University, or have their enrolment suspended or cancelled.
Student complaints procedures
If you want to make a complaint about something that isn’t covered by the Student Discipline Regulations, the Student Complaints Procedures set out a range of options for informal or more formal resolution of your concern.
If you're an international student, you can download our step by step International Complaints Procedure Guide.
If you aren’t sure how to make a complaint or need some assistance in putting your complaint together, the University Student Information Centre staff can help, as can WSU Students’ Support.