Hey, I went to TRH in 2019.
Rooms: brilliant. You get a queen bed, ensuite and a small kitchenette with a sink, cabinets, mini-fridge. Some rooms are bigger than others but I'd honestly say the worst Te Rangi room is better than the best rooms at some other halls (I mean the comfort of your own toilet, shower, being able to stock cold snacks and drinks, and a queen bed will make your year a breeze). It also makes transitioning into hall life easier, as you get to hold onto your privacy and own space.
Food: Pretty good, but got really sick of it by the end of the year. Hate the 'Momma Mia Meat Sauce' - basically the same meat sauce they use for a few meals but put it on spaghetti, with potato, in tacos and you will get sick of it. Also stay away from the Teriyaki chicken, as well as some of the pasta. I avoided dodgy meals luckily since the hall is very close to the mall and food places.
Though, the desserts are always good (sticky date pudding, icecream, loads of different slices, brownies, cake). My favourite meals were the Won Tons, classic burgers and fries nights, and I got a caffeine addiction thanks to the coffee machines that serve everything. There's also a pancakes night which is very popular.
By far the best thing about the food is we were able to poach our own eggs in a fancy little machine they had, so I was having eggs on toast most breakfasts
I loved it.
Atmosphere/Making friends: This is exactly what you make of it (this goes for pretty much any hall). Everyone is in the same boat, you will easily be able to find a group of people for you even with this hall being the smallest. There are 4 floors, and most of my friends were on the same floor as me. Oddly TRH has a reputation for being anti-social, though I found it to be quite the opposite. It isn't a sporty hall, but there's a theatre, there was a nintendo wii in the lounge, and we had dogs coming in to visit frequently. It's a fun year, and you're able to get involved in anything you like (e.g. we don't have many people participating in most things just due to being the smallest hall, so if you're interested you'll be welcomed with open arms - no try outs).
There's a neat study room on the bottom floor I spent a lot of time in throughout the year. This only gets busy before exams. If you're looking for somewhere comfortable and quiet to study, this is the place.
Getting used to surroundings/being away from home: Really just depends on the person. No matter what, you'll come out at the end of the year as a more independent person. Some people did stay holed up in their rooms, others were always hanging out in the common rooms, or going to craft nights. It really just depends on what you want to do. Office lady is lovely, she will always welcome everybody home.
Best of luck for 2020