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Weather related campus impacts

As of tomorrow (Wednesday 2 June) ALL Ara campuses will be OPEN.

While our campuses have come through this weather event well, the biggest impact has been on safe travel due to transport network disruptions.

Supporting our students: If you are unable to get to your campus, or your learning is otherwise disrupted, please be assured that you will not be disadvantaged. Keep in contact so Ara can continue to work with you.

Important travel information:

  • Staff should not travel between Christchurch, Ashburton, and Timaru campuses until the roads reopen.
  • Staff  unable to travel safely to their campus should keep in touch with their HOD and keep impacted students up to date.
  • For students/staff who take Pearsons buses to Timaru campus:
    • Ashburton to Timaru bus WILL NOT be running Wed 2nd to Friday 4th June.
    • Oamaru to Timaru bus WILL BE operating as per usual.

Important: Our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff who may be impacted in different ways over coming days.

Next Update: Unless there is a significant change in status, there will be no further updates via this channel.

Darren Mitchell
Acting Chief Executive


Tuesday 1 June, 7am: An update on decisions:

Confirming that no changes were made overnight to the decisions of Monday 31 May, 3pm:

  • Timaru campus – is OPEN Tuesday 1 June.
  • Ashburton campus – is CLOSED on Tuesday 1 June.
  • All other campuses – remain OPEN Tuesday 1 June.

Please scroll down to the Monday 31 May, 3pm update for full details and instructions around safe travel, and supporting students and staff at this time.

Important: Our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff who may be impacted in different ways over coming days.


Monday 31 May, 3pm: An update on decisions:

Following the Ara Incident Management Team (IMT) team meeting this afternoon, the following is planned for tomorrow (Tuesday 1 June) based on current weather/road information:

  • Timaru campus – will be OPEN Tuesday 1 June.
  • Ashburton campus – will remain CLOSED on Tuesday 1 June.
  • All other campuses – remain OPEN Tuesday 1 June.

Important information:

Travel – please don’t travel if it is not safe to do so. As the situation can change quickly, check nzta.govt.nz before you travel:

  • Staff should not travel between campuses until advised otherwise.
  • Pearsons buses to Timaru campus:
    • Ashburton to Timaru bus WILL NOT be operating.
    • Oamaru to Timaru bus WILL BE operating as per usual.

Supporting our students:

  • Students will be contacted directly if their class is not going ahead due to weather impacts.
  • For any student not able to attend a class (in person or via zoom), please be reassured that Ara will work with you to ensure you are not disadvantaged in any way.

Ara teaching staff - please advise your HOD if you won’t be able to deliver learning so your students can be advised. 

All Ara staff – stay in touch with your leaders if you are unable to work and need support.

Our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students who may be impacted in different ways over coming days.

Next Update: this information will be updated around 7am Tuesday 1 June.


Monday 31 May, 9am: An update on decisions:

Following the Ara Incident Management Team (IMT) team meeting this morning:

  • Timaru campus – no change to the decisions advised 1pm, Sunday 30 May (see below)
  • Ashburton campus – no change to the decisions advised 1pm, Sunday 30 May (see below)
  • All other campuses – remain open as per decisions advised 1pm, Sunday 30 May (see below)
  • NEW: Teaching staff – if learning will be disrupted due to weather events, please advise your HOD in the first instance. Students will then be advised if alternative arrangements can’t be made.

Important: please keep checking back on this channel in case there are changes in the open/close status of our campuses.

Please take care and keep in contact if you need support from your manager or tutor.

Next Update: the IMT is meeting 2pm this afternoon (Monday 31 May) with an update to be communicated following that meeting.


Sunday 30 May, 1pm: Due to this weather event the following decisions have been made:

Timaru campus – CLOSED Monday 31 May to all staff and students – until further notice

  • Staff are please asked to work from home.
  • Students are asked not to travel into campus – we will work with you to ensure this disruption does not impact on your learning

Ashburton campus – CLOSED Monday 31 May to all staff and students – until further notice

  • Staff are please asked to work from home.
  • Students are asked not to travel into campus – we will work with you to ensure this disruption does not impact on your learning

All other campuses – OPEN at this time, but staff and students are asked not to travel to campus if you feel it is not safe to do so

  • Staff – contact your line manager if you are unable to travel in on Monday.
  • Teaching staff – please advise any learner groups if their learning on Monday will be disrupted by the unavailability of any tutorial staff.
  • Students – please contact your tutor if unable to travel to undertake course requirements on Monday.

Important: please keep checking back on this channel in case there are changes in the open/close status of our campuses.

Thank you for your support and patience.

Please take care and keep in contact if you need support from your manager or tutor.

Darren Mitchell
Acting Chief Executive