First Half of Semester Two = Done!

Friday 28th August 2026

It’s hard to believe that another university term has been and gone! In between a bit of study, our residents have managed to pack an incredible amount into Term 2, with plenty of fun, competition, community spirit and memorable moments along the way.

One of the highlights was our first snow day of the year, with some residents experiencing snow for the very first time. While most were quick to embrace the unexpected day off, a few dedicated residents braved the conditions and turned up to class, only to discover that University had been cancelled… well, for some anyway!

Re-O Week

Another highlight and a great opportunity to have everyone back together again after the break. We kicked things off with magician extraordinaire Jonathan Usher, whose crazy antics left plenty of us wondering exactly what we had just witnessed. Paint and Sip gave residents the chance to showcase some impressive and perhaps slightly questionable artistic talents, while Pass the Parcel allowed everyone to be eight years old again and compete for some cool prizes. Karaoke, brought to us by Gina and Epeli, provided plenty of entertainment, while Mocktails with Jackson and Josef were a huge success. A special thank you must go to our kitchen team for the fantastic suppers throughout Re-O Week and for helping make the mocktail evening such a success. Movies, facemasks and PJ night provided the perfect way to wind down before Semester Two classes got properly underway.

The Intercollege Competition (ICC)

continues to bring its usual mix of highs, lows and plenty of Salmond spirit. Our two basketball and volleyball teams have been holding their own on the courts, and we wait to see whether they can secure finals spots over the next few weeks. Pickleball is a new addition to the competition this year, with Salmond entering six doubles teams. We currently have one pair sitting in second place, so watch this space!

We also had fantastic success in the 48-Hour Film Festival. Congratulations to Ollie, Rowi, Jay, Seth, Elisabeth, Lizzie, Aimee, Evan, Danielle, Poppy and Lindsay for creating a brilliantly funny and entertaining film and coming away with an impressive third place.

Our debating team were on fire this semester, making it all the way through to the final, where they debated the moot “You are a middle-aged person who has been in a committed monogamous relationship for over 15 years. You have sworn to love each other for better or for worse. Your partner is suddenly turned into a worm with their mind completely intact. This house would stay in a committed, monogamous relationship with the worm.”  It wasn’t quite our night, but it was an entertaining final and an outstanding effort from the team. We are incredibly proud of them for finishing second overall.

With only a limited number of ICC places available for pool and table tennis, we decided to run our own competitions at Salmond to find our number-one players. There were no podium finishes for us this year, but there was certainly plenty of fun along the way!

Christmas also came early to Salmond,

with our postponed Mid-Winter Christmas Dinner finally taking place last week. The food was amazing, and we were kept entertained by Elisabeth, Jay, James D and Anika, keeping everyone in great spirits throughout the evening. We even had a very special guest make an appearance – Santa! Entry to the dinner was a donation, making the evening even more special as we were able to pass the donated items on to the Dunedin Night Shelter. It was a great opportunity to combine a fun Salmond tradition with supporting an organisation that does so much for our wider community.

Our awesome Kaiawhina

have continued to keep their floors connected and entertained, organising events including ice skating, laser tag, ice creams and movie nights, with a few more still to come before the year is out.

Foundation Awards:

We celebrated the Foundation Awards, where it was wonderful to recognise residents who received scholarships and to celebrate having them as part of the Mond community.

And there is certainly no slowing down yet! Coming up in the ICC calendar, we have laser tag, Big Sing, Battle of the Bands, the Football Festival and Amazing Race. We also have the Salmond Garden Party to look forward to.

Somewhere amongst all of that, there will apparently be some study too!

Term 2 has once again shown what makes life at the Mond so much more than simply somewhere to live. From snow days and karaoke to debating finals, sport, community service and Christmas in August, it has been another term full of opportunities to get involved, laugh, support one another and make some great memories.

Bring on the rest of Semester Two!

Moments That Made the Semester

Friday 15th May 2026

The second half of Semester One has been an awesome display of fun, connection, and community spirit here at Salmond. It has certainly been a busy few weeks, but it has been incredible to see so many of our residents representing the college with pride, enthusiasm, and energy across such a wide range of events and activities.

TALANOA:

One highlight was our first Talanoa session at the college. It was amazing to see so many residents come along, eager to learn about Talanoa and what it represents. We learned that Talanoa is a space for storytelling, listening, relationship-building, and connection, as well as sharing and trying Kava together. A huge thank you goes to Patrick, Rafi, Epeli, and Pio for guiding us and leading such a meaningful session. It was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen community and cultural understanding within the college.

FUNDRAISING-Cancer Society

We also had a hugely successful fundraising campaign supporting the Cancer Society. Lindsay, Gina, and the Student Executive organised the Great Salmond Quiz, which included the auctioning of some fantastic prizes, including highly sought-after Kaiāwhina van rides to destinations of choice! Following the quiz, residents had the opportunity to dunk Kaiāwhina and senior staff with ice water, sponges, and whipped cream in exchange for donations. Spirits were high, laughter was everywhere, and nearly $100 was raised during the event alone — make sure to check out the TikTok video for some of the highlights!

Relay for Life was another incredible show of support and teamwork from our residents. It was fantastic to see so many people stepping up throughout the day and night to participate and support one another. A special shout-out goes to Luc and Cayla for their impressive non-stop running efforts. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the enthusiasm of everyone involved, Salmond raised nearly $1500 for the Cancer Society. A fantastic effort and a wonderful example of the community spirit that exists within the college.

INTERCOLLEGE COMPETITION:

It was also a busy and successful weekend for our Intercollege teams. First up was Waka Ama, and we want to congratulate all of our competitors – Jia Jia, Rowi, Danny, Sahas and Ollie, who not only performed strongly on the day, but also committed themselves to the early morning trainings in the weeks leading up to the event. We are incredibly proud of your effort and dedication.

On the same day, we also had the Love Lock Relays. Despite the heat, our runners rose to the challenge and delivered an exciting performance, finishing in an outstanding second place in an incredibly close race. Congratulations to Lucas, Chanel, Grace, and Jaxon, what an effort and what a result! Goooo Salmond!

The night before also saw our games and puzzle stars in action. Luc and Lizzie took on the Scrabble competition, while our puzzling team of Aimee, Evan, Danielle, and Ashley put together an outstanding performance to beat all other competitors and take first place. What an incredible achievement and such a fun evening for everyone involved.

Our six-week Intercollege competitions in Netball, Futsal, and Badminton have also brought plenty of excitement, highs, lows, and great displays of teamwork and spirit. A special mention must go to everyone who dragged themselves out of bed for those early Sunday morning games. We absolutely see and appreciate your commitment! Congratulations to our Salmond Women’s Netball team and the Women’s Futsal team’s for finishing third overall in the competition. We are also eagerly awaiting the Badminton final tonight, featuring Emily and Pujani. We are right behind you!

A huge shout-out to Brandon for representing Salmond on the Dance Stage with his solo performance. What an incredible effort and an amazing showcase of both talent and bravery to get up and perform in front of such a large crowd. It was also fantastic to see so many residents come along to support and cheer him on. You did an awesome job, Brandon, we are incredibly proud of you!

Coming up on the ICC calendar are the Cook Off and the Culture performances. We are looking forward to seeing our Salmond superstars on the stage in a few weeks.

OPEN DAYS:

Following all of this excitement, we then welcomed University Open Days. A huge number of residents volunteered to help by taking tours, preparing their rooms, and representing the college to prospective students and families. We simply could not have done it without you. The effort, enthusiasm, and pride you showed in Salmond were outstanding and reflected the supportive culture that makes this community so special. Showing up, helping out, and supporting one another, even on busy weekends and Sunday mornings, has been fantastic to see.

SALMOND BALL:

The Salmond Ball was held last Saturday and, while there was a small hiccup with the venue changing just three days out, the evening was still an incredible success. Residents embraced the change with positivity and enthusiasm, and it turned into a fantastic night full of great memories, dancing, laughter, and celebration. A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising the event, especially the Student Executive, and to all residents who attended and made it such a special evening. Nick was impressed with the level of dress and standards, and it was a lot of fun to see you all in your fancy outfits the next morning at Bubbly Brunch.

ANNUAL DINNER:

The fun has not stopped yet, with our Annual Dinner coming up on Friday, 22nd May. This is always a special event on the Salmond calendar, and we are looking forward to another fantastic evening together as a community. We are about to be treated to performances from the incredibly talented musicians within the college, alongside what is always an outstanding meal prepared by our wonderful kitchen team. We are also very fortunate to welcome our guest speaker, David McKenzie from the Dunedin Night Shelter, who will speak about the important work they do within the Dunedin community and the relationship Salmond has developed with the organisation over time.

STUDY ZONE:

As we move forward, we are also preparing to head into Study Zone as residents begin focusing on examinations and the culmination of a full semester of study at the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic. While this time of year can be challenging, it is also a great opportunity for residents to support one another, build positive study habits, and reflect on everything they have achieved so far this semester. We know the hard work, resilience, and determination shown by our residents throughout Semester One will continue as we head into this important period of the academic year.

Intercollege Events Round-Up: A Strong Start for Salmond

Tuesday 17th March 2026

It’s been an exciting start to the intercollege calendar, with Salmond students getting involved across a range of events and achieving some fantastic results along the way.

First up was Ki o Rahi, where many students had the opportunity to learn and play a new game. Salmond entered two teams who embraced the challenge and represented the college with enthusiasm. Our competitive team set themselves the goal of not finishing last and exceeded expectations by securing an impressive 7^th place. Meanwhile, our social team also performed strongly, finishing 4th after a closely contested 3rd/4th playoff.

Our Quiz Night teams then showcased their knowledge against strong competition from across the halls, with a total of 44 teams competing. Salmond achieved an outstanding result, taking home 1st and 3rd place. Congratulations to Salmond Sexy Beasts for their winning performance, and to Salmond Senpais for their 3rd place finish. Highlights included impressive knowledge in the Aotearoa round, plenty of energy fuelled by Te Rangihiroa wedges, and a memorable (and slightly concerning) display of niche expertise. Special mention to Michael, who knew exactly whose lips were in the picture!

The Touch Festival brought energy and excitement to a Sunday morning, with Salmond fielding teams in the men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions. The men faced tough competition, while the women delivered an outstanding performance to earn 2nd place and some well-deserved bragging rights. The mixed team had an eventful day, learning plenty along the way, and secured a strong 3rd place finish.

Looking ahead, our 6-week competitions are now underway, with strong participation, and our residents showing a sense of community and connection across:

• Badminton – 11 teams

• Netball – 4 teams

• Futsal – 2 teams

We’re looking forward to seeing how these competitions unfold and celebrating more successes in the weeks to come.

Up the Mond!

Life at Salmond College: Four Weeks In and Already Full of Stories.

Monday 16th March 2026

Life at Salmond College: Four Weeks In and Already Full of Stories

Move-in day already feels like a distant memory, yet it has only been four weeks since residents first arrived at Salmond College. In that short time we have packed an incredible amount into our days and evenings, balancing the excitement of settling into classes with social events and opportunities to connect as a community.

The start of the year is always a special moment as we welcome new residents and their whānau to Salmond. One of the highlights of the opening week was our Mihi Whakatau, where we formally welcomed residents to the college and to the year ahead. It was a meaningful occasion that set the tone for the supportive and inclusive community we hope to continue building throughout 2026.

O Week Highlights

Monday saw the college head out together for a walk to Baldwin Street, where the brave (and slightly crazy!) took on the challenge of racing up the steepest street in the world. The reward? Bragging rights and a place in Salmond legend.

Congratulations to our Baldwin Street champions:

Women
1st – Grace Brydges
2nd – Chanel Gao
3rd – Jess Baverstock

Men
1st – Jaxon Hogg
2nd – Lukas Wallis
3rd – James Hay

Later that evening we hosted the first of our hall only parties, where residents came dressed as something beginning with the first letter of their name. From creative costumes to plenty of laughter, it proved to be a great way for residents to meet new people, build friendships, and start learning names. 

Tuesday’s Intercollege Sports Day unfortunately fell to the wet weather that had been forecasted. However, with a quick turnaround we were able to offer a range of alternative activities including bowling, ice skating, mini golf, and laser tag. The change of plans turned into a fantastic day out across the city and ensured the fun continued despite the rain.

Wednesday brought another hall-only event, this time with a cowboy and cowgirl theme. With “Bucky” the mechanical bull in residence, residents had the chance to test their bull-riding skills. There were plenty of laughs, some impressive rides, and a lot of enthusiastic spectators cheering from the sidelines.

Our top bull riders were:

Women
1st – Emily Cooney
2nd – Aria Ameka
3rd – Isla Stewart

Men
1st – Lucas Beck
2nd – Eli Palmer
3rd – Aston Redgewell

Thursday afternoon shifted the focus from socialising to giving back to the community. Our volunteering afternoon saw nearly 70 residents sign up for a range of opportunities. From pest control initiatives around campus, to helping the community orchard with riparian planting, to baking for the Dunedin Night Shelter and children’s organisations across the city, it was fantastic to see residents eager to contribute their time and energy to the wider Dunedin community.

Later that evening was the much-anticipated Toga Night. Residents swapped a can of food for a toga sheet, and through this initiative we were able to donate more than 200 cans of food to the Dunedin Night Shelter. While some residents braved the cold to attend the event, others chose to stay in and enjoy a more relaxed evening back at the college making slime together.

By Saturday, the weather had finally cleared just in time for our first Salmond Garden Party. Residents gathered outside to enjoy the sunshine and some fantastic live music from our very own talented performers. A huge shout-out goes to Noah, Lucas, Hunni, Nia, Molly, and Jay for sharing their music and helping create such a great atmosphere. For some residents the evening continued with their first experience of the famous student section, “The Zoo,” at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Looking Ahead

Four weeks in, it is already clear that Salmond College is buzzing with energy. With friendships forming, classes underway, and a strong sense of community developing, it has been wonderful to see residents settling into university life.

We are excited to see what the rest of the year will bring.

Salmond Ball 2025

Saturday 10th May 2025

A brilliant evening of pure joy. The Pre-Ball was at the 'Mond, followed by the main event at Errick's, a perfect venue. The outfits, the music, the dancing, the food, the fun - it was a brilliant evening for the Salmond community, and a night all will remember. The photos here are a sample of the fun.