The Local - Mt VictoriaStudents against grime
A Mount Victoria-based student start up is determined to prove that students are capable of more than low paid hospitality jobs.
Tana Hakaraia started the water blasting and house washing business Students Against Grime to help university students earn some decent money but he hopes it can achieve more than that – helping change perceptions about the standard of student work, and getting the university itself on board as an employer.
The idea started while he was washing a driveway over summer, and thinking about how students needed higher paid jobs to get by.
“I want it to be a high quality service and with that, change the narrative around student work and the value student work can bring. I think I can speak for a lot of students when I say we don’t want to be paid a bare minimum to do an average job – why not come in and do an awesome job?”
A major driver is the cost of living in Wellington.
“Wellington has become too expensive. It’s not sustainable to be a student when you have to pay close to $300 a week in rent.”
He put his idea into action and employed some of his friends. Now they are set up with the professional washing gear they need, and although resident in Mount Victoria, they are doing jobs all over Wellington.
But it’s the university where Hakaraia hopes Students Against Grime will find a home.
“There is an opportunity for the uni to show they’re in touch with the issues in the city, to think: how can we do more than just educate our students? How can we give them a livelihood while they study? And it’s on campus – it’s really accessible work.”
Hakaraia also believes that showing students – including prospective students – that there is work available on campus would give them hope that they can fit a job alongside studies, and make them more inclined to stay in Wellington.
“And it’s good for the students to manaaki – take care of - the campus.”
Hakaraia points out the university has many properties that need cleaning, with three large campus areas and over one hundred other buildings in its portfolio. But the dream of a symbiotic relationship has come up against the university’s existing procurement arrangements.
Approached for comment, a spokesperson for Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, said its contractors had to meet a range of criteria to be considered as a supplier, ‘including having the relevant insurance in place and being appropriately accredited’.
“Our current cleaning service agreements were awarded to suppliers after a competitive tender process.
“Although we celebrate the initiative of students who are creating jobs for themselves and others, unfortunately, we do not currently require any further services in this area.”
Nevertheless, Hakaraia is still hopeful, and believes Students Against Grime can meet the university’s contracting requirements.
“We’re still talking.”
Meanwhile, if you have a house or driveway that needs a clean – you know who to call.
OTHER STORIES
... loading ...
