Tim Calder

Willowbank Quarter is the largest single accommodation facility that I manage. With 31 apartments, 104 double rooms and executive suites this complex has been no easy feat to lease single handily. The University Flat List has been responsible for the bulk of traffic directed my way with Trademe providing a significant portion of the rest. I am grateful for the support from the Otago Language Centre for displaying one of our banners and for the previous tenants for passing on positive feedback which has helped create excellent word of mouth referrals. It took right to the 30th of December but now I can say that Willowbank Quarter is completely 100% tenanted!!

One of the other applications that I thought I would try is the Facebook Group feature. I used this feature to create a Willowbank Quarter ‘Neighborhood’ group where I invited all my signed up tenants. Once they joined I have been able to send them notifications of tenancy updates, and display contact and other information. It has been encouraging to see that members of this group have also used the notice board feature to speak to other group members e.g. trying to find missing mail, email problems, etc. I am hoping as the year goes on that this group will also be a sounding board for problems that tenants may be facing that I am unaware of. I am also hoping that this Facebook group will also help promote this relatively unknown complex to the wider student community.

I have to count myself as very lucky to have been brought up on a farm in Pikowai as I have later found, since leaving for Dunedin, that the lifestyle cannot be beaten. Set on the coast of Bay of Plenty, Pikowai is located half way between Tauranga and Whakatane on State Highway 2. The relatively steep terrain and bush/forestry setting makes for beautiful scenery and creates an ideal environment for wild Pheasants, Turkeys, Peacocks, Quail, Deer and Pigs to reside.

Our family farm has many operations and activities:

• Sheep (Romney Coopworth cross)
• Cattle (Hereford)
• Deer (Elk, Wapiti & Red)
• Dairy grazing
• Forestry (20year old)
• Equestrian (Race horse pre-training, Dessage & Eventing facilities)
• Bull leasing (Angus, Hereford, Jersey, Friesian) 
• Cropping (Turnips, Chickery)
• Lucerne, Red Clover, and Meadow hay production and sales