Loved learning about NZ’s Maori culture, diverse landscape, & political system! July 04, 2025

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time in New Zealand, and at the University of Otago. I loved to get to know some of my professors, especially those two I had for my Pacific studies and Indigenous studies courses. I also loved exploring the land/mountains/fiords/lakes/etc. and learning about the Māori and Pasifika people of Aoteroa. It was truly special to immerse myself in classroom spaces and subjects I wouldn't otherwise have had the chance to take here in the United States.

On-site administration of your program

Overall, the University of Otago did a great job at communicating with us international students in our time visiting New Zealand. Emails were frequent but clear and helpful, as well as there were regular events for international students and uniflat residents that fostered a good community.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I really enjoyed the people I was living with, as we all clashed really really well. I hung out with them a lot, which was wonderful. The housing accommodation was also nice for what we paid for. The area was safe and the community was fun to be surrounded by. I would say the only downfall with this was that the community was not as close-knit as I expected. A great appreciation for a smaller school like Middlebury.

Generally, the food in New Zealand was not too much different from our food here in the United States, so comparatively, it was not too difficult to adjust to the food. However, the chocolate, kumaras (sweet potatoes), kiwis, real fruit ice cream, brie (and other cheeses), fish, and coffee were some highlights from New Zealand cuisine. Also, Dunedin had a wide variety of options for different types of food, which was nice and accessible living so close to downtown Dunedin.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although I wish I was able to immerse myself in the culture within New Zealand more, I was super grateful for the moments where I did. I think inherently it was more difficult to be immersed when living near mostly international and specifically American students. However, during my time in Aotearoa, I was able to engage meaningfully with students in my Indigenous, Pacific, and Māori studies classes, attend some Māori Waiata and Pasifika poetry performances, and learn as much as I could about cultural expression and identity within New Zealand and how that is influenced by the Treaty Principles Bill prevalent in political and social discourse at the moment. Additionally, it was fun to engage with a lot of law students in my Indigenous studies classes who are actively involved and learning how to fight for Māori and other Pacific rights within Aotearoa. It constantly made me question and evaluate my place and what my role can be in this fight. Additionally, I truly enjoyed taking these courses and learning about the various communities in the Pacific that all experience climate change in different ways. This, in combination with my professors sharing their experiences with having family members on the very islands that are sinking, helped me understand and empathize in a deep way for the people and their place in climate change as opposed to my place in the climate crisis.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did have to use the healthcare services on campus, but the process was super easy, accessible and quick, as I was on the student health insurance plan for the semester. When I used the services, it took around a total of 30 minutes total to go online and book an appointment, go to the clinic, sign in, see both the on-site nurse and MD, and go retrieve a prescription they prescribed me. Overall, that process was a lot easier than I expected.

Much like Middlebury, I felt quite safe in and around Dunedin and generally everywhere in the South Island of New Zealand. However, if you have a bike on campus and around Dunedin, you must make sure you lock it and keep it secure and in a good location, otherwise it will get stolen. Other than that, transportation via the buses around Dunedin felt very safe and walking around in the night was safe. Generally, Dunedin, as a university city, was quite safe to live in and visit.

If I could do it all over again, I would not necessarily choose New Zealand again. I would rather choose a place and program with a smaller, close-knit community and one far more different than the US in terms of the culture and social environment. I think I would want to go somewhere where there is an academic focus tying to the cultural setting, I live with a host family, and that I would be able to speak another language. Not to say, however, that I did not love and appreciate New Zealand and my time there - I did really appreciate seeing such a beautiful country!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Other

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• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• people, especially professors and flatmates
• papers and cultural events
• diverse landscapes to explore

• Communication about various cultural events around Dunedin
• Living with locals/kiwis
• Warnings about the grading system at Otago and taking higher level cultural classes

The Avid Adventurer