This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On September 26, 2019, a disturbing incident came to light at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, where a 19-year-old student had been dead in his dorm room for up to two months.
The student's body was discovered after fellow residents complained about the smell, and specialist investigators were brought in to identify the remains.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins expressed his shock and disappointment, stating, "Clearly there's been quite a big failure here." He added that if necessary, regulations governing student accommodation would be reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The student, who has not been publicly identified, was described by friends as a "good and confident guy" who would sometimes go off the grid for a week or so.
He had begun his undergraduate course in July, opting to live in the university's leafy campus in Christchurch, where single rooms cost NZ$17,000 (US$10,000) a year.
The halls of residence where the student's body was found are run by Campus Living Villages (CLV), a company that operates student accommodation in several countries.
CLV's managing director, John Schroder, expressed his concern, saying, "The thing that haunts me is how did we miss him?" He acknowledged that the incident was a failing on their part and promised to adjust their processes and systems.
Local media reported that the student's stepfather had raised concerns with police after being unable to contact the student via friends.
Canterbury University vice-chancellor Cheryl de la Rey described the incident as an "extremely distressing time" for students and staff, adding that an independent investigation would be launched.
