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Quinovic property management talk with year 13s

Andrew from Quinovic very kindly gave up his time to come and speak with some year 13s last week about rental contracts. His experiences have seen young people get caught out by lack of understanding of what the contracts mean when taking on their first rental. A few of the key points were:

• Contracts: periodic or fixed and the pros and cons of each as well as breaking a contract means you could still be liable for rental for the entire period.
• Communication: always communicate with the landlord or property manager, don’t hide damage or issues you may not be liable for costs, general wear and tear relative to the rental period is acceptable.
• Excess: check out the owner's excess amount on their insurance before signing the lease, as this is the maximum contribution amount you would pay for damage. Renter's insurance is an option too.
• Tribunal: he explained how a mediator or tenancy tribunal will help with disputes.
• No contract in place: still means the rules apply.
• List everyone on the tenancy agreement: if living in a flat share, always list everyone otherwise the person on the agreement is liable for any costs.

For more advice check out the Tenancy services website.

ENI Engineering trip

Last Monday, six learners visited ENI Engineering to learn more about the trades side of engineering. We were given a tour and shown the different machinery they use to create products like clips for rockets used by Dawn Aerospace to bus stops. Our learners learnt a lot from the visit. Thank you to Grant from Competenz for organising this trip.

Connections competition

This week, some of our learners attended the annual Connections competition, an event for linesmen and cable jointers, which showcases the power supply industry. Learners watched some of the linesman competitions, met different vendors and participated in activities. It was a fantastic experience!

Take Charge Expo

This council-run expo takes place on the first weekend of November. Visit the Christchurch City Council website for more information.

Ara application event

Ara Institute is holding a 3-day application event to help students get set for 2026.

Summer is already busy, full of beach days, summer jobs, and family celebrations, instead of adding application forms into the mix – get set and sorted in a few hours, and feel confident, study-ready and organised for next year.

At our Trades campus on Tuesday 2 December, and at our City Campus on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December, we will be running activities and info sessions dedicated to helping prospective learners get everything set for study in 2026.

From application assistance, ID verification, and campus tours to student life hacks and Studylink, we will have everything you need in one place.

Register online here.