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Studying at Taruna
The following information will help you prepare to get to Taruna, and arrange your personal lifestyle needs. For specific information click on the following links:
Where is Taruna?
Getting to Taruna
Getting around while at Taruna
Accomodation
Other important stuff!
Location
Taruna College, on the semi-rural edge of Havelock North village, 33 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North, on a sunny ridge below the famous 'giant' Te Mata Peak looks north to the fertile Heretaunga plains covered with fruit orchards, vineyards and the city of Hastings.
Three rivers emerge from the rolling sheep-covered hills and the Ruahine mountains to the west and meander over boulder strewn beds to the coast to the east where the sun rises out of the Pacific ocean. There is a choice of nearby stony beaches or a little further away (20km) long golden sandy beaches with rolling surf.
The clear and unpolluted atmosphere of New Zealand enables us to see myriad sparkling stars and the 'milky way' at night.
Near the entrance to Taruna College, opposite the bright red flowering eucalyptus trees is our self-service hostel - a short stroll from the classrooms. The veranda catches the morning sun and keen gardeners can grow vegetables in the garden, or pick flowers or gather citrus fruit from the trees.
The hostel has a cosmopolitan air, giving preference to international students, who have come, in the past, from around the globe: USA, Canada, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Rumania, Czech Republic, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Papua-New Guinea and Australia.
Being small town and semi-rural, one doesn't have the busy anonymity of city life - you can expect to be greeted by passers-by on the footpath. Public transport is 2 km away. Most students acquire a car for local travel, or use the several bicycles available from the hostel. The centre of Havelock North village is about 2km or 30 minutes walk away.
Arrival.
When flying into NZ you will probably arrive at either Auckland or Wellington International Airports. There are two ways to get to Taruna College from there:
1) Fly with Air New Zealand to Napier. www.airnz.co.nz (Note: if you fly with AirNZ (or member of the Star Alliance) into Auckland you can get the extension to Napier at a much reduced price when you book it with your main flight.)
Let us know by e-mail admin@taruna.ac.nz your arrival time and we may be able to pick you up
- OR - get an airport shuttle (about $25) to Taruna College, 33 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North.
2) Coach to Hastings. You will need to get an airport shuttle to the Intercity Coaches terminal - allow at least an hour, depending on the time of day. check times carefully as there are only 3 coaches to Hastings daily:
From Auckland (or about 15 minutes later from Manakau City) 8:00am arriving Hastings 3:35pm, 9:15am arriving 5:15pm, 1:00pm arriving 8:15pm.
http://www.intercitycoach.co.nz/timetables/akl-hst.asp
From Wellington 7:45am arriving Hastings 12:40pm, 12:15pm arriving 5:15pm, 4:00pm (3:15pm from airport only if prebooked) arriving 9:10pm.
http://www.intercitycoach.co.nz/timetables/wlg-gis.asp
Let us know by e-mail admin@taruna.ac.nz your arrival time and we will pick you up
- OR - get a taxi (about $10) to Taruna College, 33 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North.
Transport
Local Transport
The bus from Havelock North to Hastings leaves Simla Avenue at 7:10am, 7:55am, 8:30am and then runs about hourly until the last ones at 4:20pm and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Return from Hastings from 8:15am to last 6:05pm.
The Nimons' bus-stop is a 15 minute walk from Taruna to the bottom of Simla Avenue. For the timetable see: (http://www.nimons.co.nz/Routes_%20Havelock.html ).
Cars
Because we are located near a small village it is easier for you to have your own transport. Our main mode of travel is by car. NZ's low population density does not warrant a sophisticated public transport system (as you can see above). We drive on the left-hand side of the road (as do Britain, Japan and Australia) but the roads are not too crowded. Our climate allows for bikes all year round.
Obtaining an International Drivers Licence before leaving one’s home country is a wise precaution. An International driving permit (IDP) is an internationally-recognised translation of your current driver licence. It is not a driver licence in its own right, and must be accompanied by your driver licence when you travel. See http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/idp.html
For new residents and visitors - driving in New Zealand - a factsheet
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html
Our road rules or code may be different so check out the New Zealand situation:
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/
For buying a car you can get some information from:
Compare popular models for safety, reliability, fuel economy & more! www.consumer.org.nz
For local car sales places:
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/quick/search?cat=431&lkey=Hastings&view=cat&page=search&loc=514&key=car&sort=name
Find car buying with Trade & Exchange online www.trade-exchange.co.nz
Petrol prices have fluctuated a lot recently (May 2006) from $1.50 to $1.70 per litre.
Bicycles
There are several bicycles available at the hostel that students may borrow.
Accomodation
Hostel
On Taruna College campus is our self-service hostel. We give preference to international students. For more details see Hostel.
Board
We have a number of families who offer board, sometimes with reductions for help with child-care, or sleep-out rooms with cooking facilities, etc. Ask our office for a list of names: secretary@taruna.ac.nz
Rental
Rental accommodation is available. Come early, stay in a backpackers or motel while you look.
Some initial contacts:
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/quick/search?key=accommodation+rental&lkey=Hastings&search.x=15&search.y=16
Backpackers:
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/quick/search?page=search&view=&key=backpacker&stype=standard&lkey=Hastings&search.x=14&search.y=20
Other useful information
Climate
Hawke's Bay has a temperate, oceanic climate. The prevailing wind is a warm westerly. The rainfall on the east coast is light compared to the much wetter west coast. The temperature ranges from nippy frosts in winter, but no snow - except on the western hills, to summer highs in low 30s ºC [86+ ºF]. The most noticeable thing is that the weather can be changeable. Every 10 to 14 days about, a high-pressure weather system approaches from the west over the Tasman Sea. In the days preceding this there can be strong, cold southerlies that are distinctly chilly. As the system passes overhead the weather is balmy and pleasant. When it reaches the Pacific, the winds may change to easterly, bringing rain and cold fronts - it is like the four seasons every ten days! Check the local weather forecast at http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=farmhawkesbay&mt_typ=9060?source=g_rural/?q=hawkes%20bay%20weather&gclid=CIa0htCWmpMCFSG7iQod_3Y6sQ
Clothing
Because of the changeable weather, layers of clothes are recommended. There are many second-hand clothing stores or Opportunity shops - see Glynis, our caretaker for help with this.
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/quick/search?cat=517&lkey=Hastings&page=search&key=second-hand+clothing
Food
Organic food:
Cornucopia The Organic Shop 221 Heretaunga St East Hastings 876 6248
Chantal Organic Wholesalers Ltd 1 Northe St Napier 835 7898
EarthFood Organic (NZ) 13 Northe St Napier 835 5787
Hohepa Farm (Biodynamic vegetables, dairy) Main Road Clive 870 0426
as well as an Organic Farmers market every weekend in both Hastings and Havelock North.
International Food
There are speciality shops selling Asian food.
Antonia's Asian Food Market 73 Dalton Street Napier 835 0190
Budgeting
Students need to budget carefully for their year, particularly if they are coming from overseas.
Firstly you need to have your Tuition Fees ready to pay on the first day of your course. In addition to Tuition Fees there may be a Sundries charge for materials used by you during your course payable at the beginning of the course. There may also be certain pre-requisites and course books/texts that you need to purchase before the course begins. See Course Leaflets for details.
Accommodation costs can vary considerable depending on the degree of independence you want and/or the amounts of sharing you are prepared to do. Full board with a family including your own room, full food, heating, laundry, use of phone (but not tolls) and other family facilities including some transport is about $120 per week.
Hostel room rates (see leaflet for current fees) of about $95 per week paid fortnightly (or $85 per week when paid fully in advance) include power, heating and phone but not tolls. Allow for your share of food, groceries and cleaning materials; say $40 to $60 per week.
You should give yourself a Clothing and Entertainment allowance for the year. Although it does not snow in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand weather can be very changeable and the winter southerly winds are chilly and cold. The best arrangement is to have many thin layers that can be added or peeled as weather changes, rather than massive thick coats, jerseys, etc. There are many excellent used clothing stores whereby you can outfit yourself at a very reasonable cost.
Travel: If you have a car, allow for petrol, tires, repairs, insurance, and registration for the year. Otherwise you need to allow for public transport costs, particularly to go on sections, practicums or practical work.
Student ID Card
A Taruna College Student ID Card: is provided to students enrolled on theDiploma in Rudolf Steiner Educatiuon, Art of Health, Graduate Diploma in Anthroposophical Nursing and the Certificate in Applied Organics and Biodynamics. This which will entitle you to student discounts at certain outlets. Students are eligible for the more expensive International Student Identity Card [ISIC], which you may present to receive international travel discounts.
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