OPEN DAY | Rā Tōmene
FRIDAY 28 AUGUST 2026
Principal: Jo Morrow
Keynote: Ashby House - Dining Room
11:00am & 2:00pm
Registrations for the University of Canterbury Open Day 2026 are now open.
Open Day is a wonderful opportunity to visit our campus and discover what life is like at Rochester and Rutherford Hall. We will be open from 9.00am to 4.30pm, giving you plenty of time to explore our community, meet our people, and learn more about residential life.
Our tutors and staff will be available throughout the day to answer your questions and provide information about our facilities, student support, and the hall experience.
Principal's Presentation:
Our Principal, Jo Morrow, will present two information sessions during the day. These presentations are designed for prospective students and their families/whānau and will provide valuable insight into life at Rochester and Rutherford Hall.
Our community culture and values
Expectations of residents
Student support and wellbeing
The application process
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
Presentation Times:
11.00am (view a room 11.30 - 12.00pm)
2.00pm (view a room 2.30pm - 3.00pm)
Location: Ashby House Dining Room
Explore Our Facilities:
Following each presentation, guests are invited to explore the hall grounds, view a student room (times stated above), and learn more about our facilities and the residential experience at Rochester and Rutherford Hall.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the Rochester and Rutherford Hall Open Day experience with you and your family/whānau.
Matthew Brett
Hall President 2024
The most common reflection from others who had attended R&R, was about the people. It was described as a close community where you make excellent contacts with students from all over New Zealand. While it's a competitive hall to get into, I'm glad I backed myself for the process of selection, and now getting the opportunity to see it for myself.
Hall Applications for 2027 are here, and we could not be more excited.
From 1 August 2026, students can begin the enrolment process. This is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a time filled with uncertainty and questions.
As you prepare your application, we want to help you put your best foot forward. Our goal is to give you some helpful guidance so you can present yourself with confidence and make the most of this opportunity.
At Rochester and Rutherford Hall, we want to learn more about who you are, what matters to you, and how you would contribute to our community. Our Principal personally reads every application we receive and has shared the following tips to help you craft a strong and authentic application:
Brief run down on you and your family (Community)
Someone who has inspired you to be who you are today (Respect)
What you enjoy doing with your downtime (Balance)
What do you enjoy with learning and extra-curricular (Opportunities)
Community service and other contributions outside of learning (Support)
Some further considerations for your application are the following:
Your Choice: Consider listing Rochester and Rutherford Hall as your hall of choice for 2027. Please note, once offers are made changing your preference will not be possible.
Tap into Past Residents' Experiences: Reach out to former residents for valuable insights into hall life.
Make the Most of Open Days and Tours: Attend events and tours to immerse yourself in the hall's environment and atmosphere.
To learn more please watch the video and have a click through our website to learn more about Rochester and Rutherford Hall. This may help you decide if we are the right fit for you. We are not the only ones making decisions - you are too!