1. No category

MORE CULTURE. LESS SHOCK.
SEMESTER 2/2010 • NUMBER 2
48 Hours:
Abel
Tasman
Morning Tea
On & Off
the Beaten
Track
in OZ
Alter Ego:
Sam Judd,
eco-warrior
Cooking
with NZ’s
domestic
goddess
• GETTING AROUND • ENTERTAINMENT • STUDY ADVICE • QUESTIONS & ANSWERS • QUESTIONNAIRES • RECREATION • POSTCARDS FROM HOME • ACCOMMODATION • EVENT NEWS • CONTACTS • MAORI CULTURE
• ACADEMICS • INSPIRATION • BOOK REVIEWS • SPORT AND FITNESS • USEFUL WEBSITES • TRANSPORTATION • REFERENCES • TRAVEL NEWS • STUDENT INTERVIEWS • NZ CULTURE • NZ MOVIE & MUSIC REVIEWS
• NEWS AND REVIEWS • PROFILES • ANTICS • SAFETY TIPS • FACTS & FIGURES • TRAVEL BIOS • STAFF NEWS • STUDY PROGRAMS • NEWZ IN BRIEF
IFSA-BUTLER INFORMATION • HEALTH & SAFETY • TRAVEL ADVICE • NZ STAFF TOP TEN • REMINDERS • HEALTH NOTICES • PUB-LESS QUIZ CONTINUES •
From the Editor
K
ia ora tatou! We don’t really know each other, but
I’ve sure heard heaps of great stuff from Kate,
Alex, and your SSCs. I’m so pleased you’re off and
running around our fair isles and making the most of
your semester adventure. I’ve been having an adventure
of my own - becoming a mum. You might have heard
about the wee Ruby, who is now five months and
the star of the show. It’s been a bit of an adjustment
returning to work, but with Ruby in tow, I think the
office ladies rather enjoy the hours I put in.
W
e always say you’ll only get out of your study
abroad experience what you put in. But I’m
sure the Cantabrians never imagined they’d be sitting
squarely over one of the most unstable parts of the
country! Aotearoa is a small place and the Christchurch
earthquake has rocked us all in some way. If you
didn’t feel it yourself, you know someone who did. It
will take some time for things to return to normal, but
you’ve got to admire the Kiwi hospitality, ingenuity and
resourcefulness that is getting folks through to the other
side.
T
he cover photos provide a sneak preview of some
of the snaps entered in the Iconic Images contest.
Thanks to Susan Molzon, Kyle Broach and Katherine
Taylor for submitting some of the unique images
you see here (sorry if I’ve missed anyone!). We’ll be
reviewing all of the entries for both contests using our
I
can’t take any credit for the fab content this issue.
Kate set up all of our reviews and even left an article
as a parting gift. Naturally, it is flavoured with Kate’s
fave pastime - food! We can only hope the tasty French
fare doesn’t catch up with her too quickly! Guy seems
to know just about every young ‘who’s who’ in New
Zealand. In this issue’s Alter Ego he introduces his
mate Sam Judd, who has followed his passion - surfing
- around the world. Add one part entrepreneurial spirit
and one part environmentalist and now Sam and his
eco-warrior mates are working hard to clean up the
coastlines of NZ. I maximised a personal catch up with
Will Tregidga, who was the UOT SSC in a former life.
Read about his life after IFSA-Butler in Morning Tea.
And for those of you who are saving the big Aussie
trip for the end of your semester, glean first-hand tips
from our colleagues over the ditch in On & Off the
Beaten Track. A big thanks to my colleague Anne who
performed her magic on the contents of this issue and
has helped on publications for the last two semesters.
Kia ora, Anne!
Y
Contents
Remember that some of the web links in your handbook
are incorrect. Please use the following link for the Rush
Transcript form, Change of Status form, and Change of
Accommodation form: http://newzealand.ifsa-butler.org/
forms/. To log your travel details please use the following
link: http://newzealand.ifsa-butler.org/travel-form/
very democratic approach, and
winners will be announced via email
soon.
ou are in the final stretch. Study hard, play harder.
C
ara Jacoby, Editor
6
On & Off the Beaten Track:
in Australia
8
Alter Ego: Sam Judd, eco-warrior
10 Review:
3
Morning Tea &
NewZ in Brief
4
48 Hours in Abel Tasman
5
Fill in the _____.
Kiwi Books &
Cooking
12 Haere mai ki te kai:
Cooking with NZ’s
domestic goddess
IFSA-Butler NZ
PO Box 1461
Wellington
Website: http://newzealand.ifsa-butler.org/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (04) 471-0145
Fax: (04) 471-0146
The IFSA-Butler NZ Office is working to reduce our environmental impact. This issue of NEWZealand has been printed locally at Valley Print
on sustainably sourced paper. Please pass this publication on or recycle when you have finished enjoying its contents.
2
Morning Tea
Life after IFSA-Butler can take many shapes and forms. For Will Tregidga,
former UOT SSC, this has meant a move up to the North Island and a role in
international marketing and recruitment at Massey University. Cara Jacoby,
Assistant Director, caught up with Will in Welly when he was down for an open
day at the university.
Fave morning bevvie:
Peppermint tea.
CJ: What did you enjoy most
CJ: Take us back, Will, & connect
WT: Seeing students come to NZ
and learn so much about this country
and themselves. And of course the
trips to Doubtful Sound, great kai and
orientation! I have developed so many
friendships through IFSA, with the
great staff members and also with so
many of the awesome IFSA alumni.
the dots. How did you first get
involved with IFSA-Butler?
WT: I am a small town boy from
Westport. For all current IFSA
students, a West Coast road trip is
a must during your time here!! At 17
I went on a high school exchange to
Ontario, Canada. I caught the travel
bug so in my second year of university
I studied in Finland at the University
of Oulu. The friendship and support
from the Finns at the university really
enriched my time there.
When I came back I wanted to show
the same hospitality to International
Students here. While I was completing
my BSc Geology & Geography at
Otago (big shout out to the Otago
IFSA geology students!), I became a
volunteer with the International Office
and after a few months they employed
me part-time to coordinate their
International Mentor Programme. After
graduation I spent a couple of years
teaching in Japan and then came
back to Otago for my Masters degree.
A few months before this I saw an
ad for an IFSA student support staff
member at Otago. I thought it would
be a fun role with good responsibility.
I had an interview with Alex and was
offered the position of SSC - that was
nearly three years ago now!
Devin Pond & Kyle Broach made TV
1 News after being caught in treacherous
weather on Mt Hutt & spending the night
on the mountain with over 1000 others! At
least they’ll go home with tales!
‘Urban foraging’ is an eco-trend that
involves gathering edible ‘weeds’ and other
about your SSC role?
CJ: You’ve changed your
weekends, all within two hours drive
of here. Weekend trips planned for
this summer are canoeing down the
Whanganui River, climbing Mt Taranaki
and hiking the Tongariro Crossing. The
mountains for snowboarding/skiing are
just a couple of hours up the road too.
allegiances and moved to the
North Island. What do you miss
most about Dunners?
CJ: You’ve changed islands, &
WT: I miss my mates, the beautiful
WT: Yeah last year I was dragged
coastline and the waves I used to surf
so often. I also miss being an SSC!
CJ: What new social activities
have you found in Palmy - how do
you spend your free time?
WT: There is an awesome Farmer’s
Market on Saturday morning. Pretty
good shopping for a small city as well,
the redeveloped plaza is always good,
plus Wellington is just two hours away.
I have also been surprised by how
multi-cultural Palmerston North is.
There is such a diverse immigrant
community here and that means
some cool cultural events and an
awesome amount of restaurants
serving authentic foods from
around the world! Palmy is also well
located for surfing and hiking at the
flora where you live. This is a cool website
showing you how to do it safely in NZ:
http://urbanforaging.manukadesign.co.nz/
And the staff would like to acknowledge
Debbie Campbell, our Office
Administrator / Academic Affairs Coordinator, for all her hard work managing
you’re no longer a student. What’s
your professional role at Massey?
away from my student life to take
up an International Marketing and
Recruitment role at Massey University.
It’s a brilliant job which includes about
three months of the year travelling the
world on the student recruitment trail,
I love encouraging students to come
and study in the best country in the
world!
CJ: What are some of the selling
points for Massey that we might
not otherwise think of?
Well the university has three different
campuses in three locations with
vastly different cultures, Auckland,
Palmerston North and Wellington.
Wellington is a national leader in
communications, health science
Continued on page 15
the office accounts & CRFs. There have
been numerous changes to our systems
lately & Debbie has been a trouper staying
current and being sure the CRF details are
submitted correctly. This process ensures
that your transcripts reach you in a timely
manner after you’ve returned home.
3
48 Hours:
Abel Tasman
Emily Hotz, UAK, spent two days in gorgeous Abel Tasman
National Park, home to stunning beaches, birds with
Mohawks, and roosters that don’t know when to shut up...
Tuesday 8:30 am: Two vans pull into
Old MacDonald’s Farm & 19 of us pack
in. A short ride to a small beach and
we climbed onto a catamaran. Free
coffee and tea was down below and
we motored out far enough to set sail.
The sun was the warmest any of us had
seen since we arrived in New Zealand –
a choice day to spend on the water.
11:30 am: We were dropped at Te
Puketea Bay in Abel Tasman National
Park. Wandered through an enchanted
forest, up & around a mountain to some
amazing views of the golden sand
beaches below. Nature got the best of
me and I decided to go barefoot, mud
squishing and all.
3:30ish pm: Saw lazy sun bathing
seals & some funky birds with
Mohawks. Some girls figured out why
you aren’t supposed to lay down on the
netting of a catamaran - soaked!
5:00 pm: I made the call to go skydiving
in the AM, using a pay phone as
Vodafone’s service bars are lacking in
the South Island.
Abel
Tasman
Wednesday 6:00 am: The roosters
on Old MacDonald’s Farm decide it is
in their best interest to wake us up by
crowing on our porch and pecking at
our trash.
4
12:30 pm: The sky dive
van arrived and a short
drive later we got to the
Sky Dive Abel Tasman
base. We paid, watched
a short DVD, and got
suited up.
...then she went skydiving!!
1:00 pm: Me, Liz, our tandem jumpers,
and our cameramen sardined into an
airplane not nearly big enough. How did
this happen so fast?? The plane was
already taking off and I didn’t even have
time to process the fact that skydiving is
way over-priced!
1:20 pm: We got a 20-minute scenic
ride overlooking great mountains, two
national parks, the Motueka River,
golden beaches, and not only the
South, but also the North Island! Then
the doors opened and in front of my
eyes Liz was gone in an instant. A deep
breath, a wave to the camera and there
I was being suspended over 13,000 feet
of New Zealand air.
1:21 pm: Pushed out by the tandem
jumper hooked to my back, I was free
falling! Looking around at the most
amazing views. I felt as if I were floating,
falling, and flying all at the same time. An
indescribable feeling with an adrenaline
rush to boot.
Abel Tasman National Park is NZ’s smallest
national park, but what it lacks in size, it
makes up in sheer gorgeousness. It’s one of
a few locations in NZ that gives you a ‘close
to a tropical island’ experience - we’re talking
warm golden sand, lush native vegetation
and sparkling turquoise water. The 54 km
Coast Track, an easy three to four ‘tramp’,
is world famous and classed as one of NZ’s
‘Great Walks’. Do it the easy way by parking
at Marahau or Kaiteriteri and catching water
taxis to beaches along the way, or kayaking
along the coast. No charge for day walks.
1:26 pm: I didn’t want it to end, but
finally I scooted across a field on my
bottom for a smooth, no-broken-leg
landing. This was by far the most epic
thing I have ever done.
Tip: Golden sand beaches really are
as cool as they sound. Roosters in NZ
do not understand the time and may
or may not crow anytime they think is
appropriate, which may or may not be
an appropriate time for you.
Do: go to the beach in the winter, take a
hike barefoot, keep your camera handy
at all times, and admire the stars in the
absence of civilization.
Don’t: leave without sand fly repellant,
sit in the middle of a catamaran on
rough water, leave your garbage on
the porch on a farm, leave any part of
New Zealand unexplored, and most of
all don’t do any homework during midsemester break.
Fun Fact: My grandfather now wants to
skydive with me for his 80th! EH
STAY: There are ‘huts’ along the Coast
Walk but this word doesn’t do them justice.
You won’t miss the ensuite when you have
a beach to die for outside your window.
Sleeping under the stars is even better. See
www.abeltasmannationalpark.co.nz.
EAT: ‘Rough it’ on the beach with a bottle of
worldclass Marlborough wine, & deli treats
from Nelson’s weekend Farmer’s Market.
EXPLORE: Water taxis are the way to go if
you want your ‘slice of heaven’ at the Park
but are pushed for time. Several options but
www.aquataxi.co.nz has luscious pics.
Fill in the____
With Canterbury student Devin Pond...
Keas are fat cheeky parrots that will eat anything
Other than the awesome IFSA staff a highlight of my trip
has been the road trip with Drew, Meghan and Josh that went
from Christchurch to Dunedin, Invercargill, Te Anau, Milford
Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef and
back home again!
The last thing I watched
off the Hub was True
Blood.
Engineering students
are keen to think that they
are dirty hot, when really most of them are just dirty!
If I am running out of funds I survive by selling my goods.
Canterbury causes my bank account to empty.
No matter how low the funds are getting one food I
cannot live without is...eggs!
Occasionally I like to take a stroll through the woods and find
a good rock to sit on. DP
Many of you will be going back to the States pretty
soon, so we decided to ask our 110 students for
their ‘must-see’ places in New Zealand to put on
your list before you go. See page 6 for top picks in
Australia.
If I could recommend one spot to visit in NZ, I would
have to say Bruce Bay, but remember to bring bug spray
because there are about a million sand flies there.
Lisa Petrakis
If I could recommend a place for students to go, I would
say EVERYWHERE! But If I only had to choose one, I
think I would say Wellington. A really cool city vibe, and
it has Te Papa (the National Museum)! You can chill by
the pier, go to the Botanic Garden, visit the Weta cave,
and possibly catch a glimpse of a NZ celebrity. Also,
with most places in NZ, it doesn’t take too long to travel
out of the city and into some really stunning landscape.
Kapiti coast is beautiful, and Taupo is only a few hours
north! Katie Wright
My recommendation isn’t one spot, but rather
an experience: take a train. I took the train from
Christchurch to Picton and ferried over to Wellington and
then from Wellington to Auckland. I really enjoyed the
pace of travel and got to see lots more than I might have
otherwise. Mat Cowlin
Some favorite NZ places of mine were Mueller Hut, Abel
Tasman; everywhere on the West Coast; the Mt Aspiring
area; any hike from the Raspberry Flat parking lot i.e.
Rob Roy Track (about an hour west of Wanaka, and
don’t be afraid of the dodgy road). Hope all is well in the
southern hemisphere! Peri Sasnett
They have to do a west coast roady...Charleston to
Haast was awesome. And if they climb, they have have
have to make it up to Charleston. Leah Langdale
I studied at Otago Feb-June 2010. I loved Dunedin for its
abundant life and vibrant community, but before I left for
the States, I visited the Mt John Observatory, in Twizel,
inear Mt Cook. I am a geology major with intentions of
going into planetary geology and this visit was one of the
best experiences of my life! I would highly recommend it
to any stargazer, amateurs and experts.
Jennifer Boswell
If I had to recommend only one place for students to
visit, I would say they should visit Abel Tasman National
Park. Afton Geil
The cafe on the
top of the hill
on the way to
Akaroa, by far.
Amazing view.
Damon
Vinciguerra
Haast Pass!
Amazing scenery
and I’m sure
some great hikes.
Matt De Leon
Mt Cook!
Kate Philbrick
If I could visit one
place it would be
Stewart Island.
Adam Reczek
Photo: Caroline Roe
On & Off the Beaten Track...
I would recommend that people go to the Blue Pools on
the South Island; it’s absolutely magical to see water that
blue! Tasha Lovell
Pictured above is Afton Geil’s fave The Abel Tasman National Park
5
On & Off the Beaten Track:
Top spots in Australia
Thinking about heading to Aussie for a bit of warm weather and exploration? The Australian SSCs have already
worked out the best places for you to visit – both in town and out bush.
Sydney
On the beaten
track: Harbour
Bridge Climb
The Harbour Bridge
Climb is Sydney’s
ultimate tourist thrill.
Climb along catwalks,
up ladders, steadily to
the summit. Conquer the upper arch while taking in the city
surrounds, the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House,
the harbour and the bridge itself beneath your feet.www.
bridgeclimb.com.au & www.pylonlookout.com.au
Off the beaten track: Old Fitzroy Hotel
If you enjoy meeting locals, theatre, eating Thai food, and a
good ale on a budget, then The Old Fitzroy Hotel is for you.
It’s just a short taxi ride from central Sydney to the corner
of Cathedral and Dowling Streets, Woolloomooloo (practise
saying this aloud first!). www.oldfitzroy.com.au
Melbourne
On the beaten track: Federation Square
Visit Federation Square on the Yarra River, where it’s all
happening. The Square was finished in 2001 to mark
the centennial celebration of the federation of the states
of Australia in 1901. Great restaurants include Japanese
noodle house The Chocolate Buddha. Check out the
National Gallery of Victoria Ian Potter Centre, with its large
section of Aboriginal art, and the Australian Centre for the
Moving Image. www.federationsquare.com.au
Off the beaten track: St Kilda
Visit on Sunday and you will find a fantastic craft market
with lots of excellent handmade, well-priced goods. Don’t
miss the amazing cake shops on Acland Street. Enjoy a
coffee on this busy, trendy street. www.melbourne.com.au/
stkilda.htm
Adelaide
On the beaten track: The Pancake House
This iconic eatery that hasn’t closed its doors in over 30
years. Tucked away in Gilbert Place in the city, it’s been
serving up the best pancakes in Adelaide since 1965.
www.theoriginalpancakekitchen.com.au
6
Off the beaten track: Elephant Walk Café
A rare gem in Adelaide—a late-night café with an eclectic
style and intimate atmosphere perfect for a romantic
rendezvous. The narrow fairy-lit facade led you into a bizarre
mish-mash of kitsch trinkets and bamboo screens dividing
each cosy nook.
Perth
On the beaten track: King’s Park
Cycling around Kings Park gives superb views across the
city and river, native bush and botanical gardens. Hire a bike
from $18 a day from Koala Bike Hire (located in the park).
In spring, there’s a display of Western Australia’s famed
wildflowers. Kings Park is also a great place for a picnic or
BBQ (BBQs are free - just bring food!).
www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling/1930.asp
Off the beaten track: Margaret River
As well as sporting some of the most beautiful surfing
beaches you could ever come upon, Margaret River is also
a stone’s throw from one of the most ancient and beautiful
native forests in Australia. A system of caves runs under the
region, which can
be explored for a
Rainforest near
small fee. ‘Margs’ is
Margaret River
also one of the top
four wine regions
in Australia. www.
margaretriver.com
Northern
Queensland
On the beaten
track: The Great
Barrier Reef
Spend a day on
tropical waters off Cairns exploring the Great Barrier Reef
and surrounding islands. Try diving or snorkelling. www.
great-barrierreef.com
Off the beaten track: Hinchinbrook Island hike
Hinchinbrook Island is the world’s largest national park island
and is surrounded by protected marine habitats. The island
supports rainforested slopes and winding mangrove-lined
creeks. The hike is approx 35 km long so you will need three
to four days. Get a boat transfer from
Cardwell, (200 km south of Cairns).
Book your island permit before you go.
www.hinchinbrookferries.com.au
Southern Queensland
On the beaten track:
Noosa Heads
A small resort style town a couple of
hours from Brisbane, with a national
park forest that meets the ocean.
Great wildlife viewing while strolling
from beach to beach in the national
park. Noosa is not far from the glitz
and glamour of the Gold and Sunshine
Coasts, but has a more relaxed feel.
Springbrook National Park is a must,
with some great hikes to waterfalls,
rock pools and stunning vistas.
Off the beaten track:
The Pig House Flicks &
Buddha Bar
A five-minute walk from town, located
in a building that was once an old
pig abattoir. Set among lush tropical
gardens, it is home to Byron Lounge
Cinema, The Buddha Gardens Day
Spa, the Garden Burées, exotic
Balinese Bungalows and the funky
Arts Factory Lodge - you can even
stay in a tee pee! The cinema has
really comfy seats to lie around on
while you watch new releases, cult and
arthouse movies (check out the cheap
movie/meal deals for around $12).
Afterwards, enjoy the funky gigs on at
the Buddha Bar.
The world’s third largest
sand island is waiting for you
just over an hour’s ferry ride
from Brisbane. With beautiful
swimming beaches, huge
sand dunes and coral-covered
shipwrecks to snorkel on,
this island is rated as one of
Brisbane’s best adventures.
Stay at Tangalooma Resort,
where you can hand feed
dolphins, or for a real
adventure, do an all-inclusive
4WD tour (camping) for two
days. www.moretonisland.
com.au
On the beaten track:
Cape Byron Lighthouse
Take a walk to the lighthouse, on
the easternmost point of Australia’s
mainland. It’s a 6.5 km round trip from
Byron town centre and crosses a
couple of beaches. You are bound to
see dolphins, whales and sometimes
stingrays from various vantage points
along the way. The Visitor’s Info Centre
at the lighthouse gives a great history
of the area (including information
about Aboriginal sacred sights and the
whaling that took place not so long
ago). www.visitbyronbay.com
On the beaten track:
Amigos Mexican restaurant
Amigos was opened in 1973 and is
Australia’s oldest Mexican restaurant.
The small rooms, cluttered hallways
and old-world charm create the
perfect atmosphere for eating
Mexican, a mixture of Aztec and
Spanish cuisines.
www.amigosmexican.com.au
Off the beaten track:
Symbio Zoo
Symbio is Wollongong’s awardwinning, family-owned zoo. Set in 16
acres of bush parkland, it is famous
for providing genuine hands-on
encounters with the most
fascinating creatures from
Australia’s beaches are legendary
Australia and around the
world. www.symbiozoo.
com.au
Off the beaten track:
Moreton Island
Northern
New South Wales
Wollongong
Tasmania
On the beaten track:
Mt Wellington bike
ride
Canberra
On the beaten track:
National Museum of Australia
Explore Australia’s land, country and
people. Located at Lawson Crescent,
Acton and general admission is free.
www.nma.gov.au
Off the beaten track:
Balloon flights
See Canberra in a unique way. Take
off from six locations on the east coast
of Australia. Board a flight at dawn
and drift silently over the sights of
Canberra. www.balloonaloft.com.au
The mountain
bike ride from the top of
Mt Wellington down to
the city of Hobart is a
low-cost must . For about
$50 you can delight in
the beautiful views of
Hobart and surrounds,
and enjoy an exhilarating
three hour ride down to
the docks. Take this trip
on a Saturday morning, and you’ll
end up in Salamanca market, Tassie’s
best art and craft market. www.
islandcycletours.com
Off the beaten track:
Maria Island
Scenic Maria Island on the East
Coast offers camping or hostel
accommodation, an abundance
of wildlife and fabulous walks
and beaches. Take a ferry from
Triabunna, and you can either bus
there or hire a car. www.parks.tas.
gov.au
7
Alter Ego: Sam Judd
surfer & eco-warrior
Sam Judd is co founder of the award-winning NZ charity Sustainable Coastlines. Whilst an exchange student in
Chile, he and friends dreamt up the charity, having witnessed native animals in the Galápagos Islands choked to
death by plastic rubbish. A graduate of University of Otago, he talks to Otago SSC Guy Ferguson.
Photo: Chris Jordan, www.chrisjordan.com
Since
returning
from
that lifechanging
trip, Sam
has been
key in
launching
the idea
of largescale
community coastal cleanups,
combined with education about
marine debris, and the design of
waste management strategies for
small island states in the South
Pacific. Over two years, he has
directed events with over 6000
volunteers, removing more than
75 tonnes of waste from coastal
areas, and countless others have
been inspired to look after our
coastlines. Sam, you spent up to a
year in Mexico on exchange from
Otago University - how was that?
Mexico was an incredible experience
that really opened my eyes to a
different way of life. I was the first
Otago student to turn up there with
zero Spanish language ability, then
pass final year law papers, in Spanish,
in the second semester. This really is
a tribute to the kindness, patience and
selflessness of the Mexican people
who taught me. I also learned first hand
about the difference between State
and private universities (a distinction
that doesn’t exist in New Zealand), got
the best waves of my life and learned
how to climb coconut trees! Student
exchange is a great way to learn and
interact with people around the world.
People respect the fact that you are
there making an effort to learn their
language, history and culture, so they
treat you differently from a tourist.
8
This trip had a big effect on me in terms
of seeing environmental degradation at
the hands of plastic manufacturing.
Mexico consumes more bottled water
and soft drinks than any other country,
and the plastic pollution on beaches,
highways and around settlements
was intense. It is quite telling that a
number of the fellow Kiwis that also
went to Mexico that year (2005) are
now working with me at Sustainable
Coastlines.
What is the background to
Sustainable Coastlines?
On San Cristóbal Island in the
Galápagos Islands while recovering
from a shark attack, and staying in a
house made out of volcanic boulders
that was infested with stink beetles,
James Bailey, Mark Pinkney and I had a
shot of tequila and founded Sustainable
Coastlines.
Where have you traveled and
surfed, and what’s your favourite
place?
Dunedin, Fiordland, the North Island,
Australia, and in 2005, the entire Pacific
mainland coast of Mexico. On my
second exchange I surfed Argentina,
Chile, Peru and The Galápagos Islands.
Sailing home I surfed Tahiti, Moorea,
Rarotonga, Tongatapu, Ha’apai Islands
of Tonga and Fiji. Since then I returned
to Tonga and surfed the northern
islands (Vava’u). For waves it’s a
toss-up between Teahupoo in Tahiti,
Pichilemu in Chile, and Dunedin! For
lifestyle Colima in Mexico wins handsdown: Mexican people are classic. For
culture, the Palenque ruins in Chiapas,
Mexico was epic. My favourite city is
probably Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Have you spent time in the US?
I haven’t been to the US since I was
12, where I participated in the World
Future Problem Solving championships
in Rhode Island. We also visited Florida,
New York and Dallas. We were there
for about a month and we had the
opportunity to connect with young
creative thinkers from all over the world.
In the end we placed tenth in the world.
One of the shocking sights
that motivated Sam & his mates
This was after spending eight days on
an old fishing boat and picking up 1.6
tonnes of trash between five of us. The
National Park approached us to help
with a cleanup on the island where we
were living. We wanted to shoot a film
so here was some real subject matter
- three months of full-time volunteer
work in which we coordinated over 300
people to remove over seven tonnes of
rubbish from San Cristóbal Island - the
first time in history that all organisations
on the island had worked together on a
project.
We have always worked education
into our events and have just started
taking an interactive roadshow through
NZ schools this year. We are currently
designing resources based around
marine debris and event management
for NZ schools, which will be used for
events in December. Next year we will
Volunteers get results at
Motutapu Island, near Auckland
How to get involved:
First: USE LESS PLASTIC and dispose
of it correctly. And South Island-based
students can get on board with a Road
Trip starting in Christchurch on 8 Dec.
Drive to Dunedin for the 9 Dec cleanup
(see box below), take a day to explore
the incredible country ads you make
your way towards the West Coast to
get ready for 11 Dec, then go anywhere
on the coast to help out with the 11
Dec cleanup. Then wind up with a big
party at the Monteiths Brewery- Yes!
Upcoming events:
Rangitoto Island, Auckland
Mon 6 December: Join 1500 school
students for a cleanup.
broaden our resources to include development of social entrepreneurship ideas so
as to offer them to governments, university research programs and the worldwide
volunteer community.
How do your typical events run?
We run large-scale coastal cleanup events, smaller scale corporate teambuilding
events, and collaborative projects helping other organisations. We usually focus on
big numbers of participants working for a common cause on one day. Sometimes,
we split up an event taking school children the first day, then adult volunteers who
work the challenging coastal areas on foot, in kayaks and boats the next. Then we
have a party to celebrate our collective effort.
What has been your most rewarding project so far?
We did a huge cleanup at the Ha’apai Islands of Tonga, last year. Through
intense, unpaid work in a difficult environment, we motivated over 3,000 of the
total population of 4,500 people on Foa and Lifuka Islands to remove more than
50 tonnes of rubbish from the coastline. We packed this into eight shipping
containers, exemplifying how a waste management system could work for a
small island state where landfill is not an option. Our research results motivated
a big corporate who we partnered with last year to collaborate with the Tongan
Government and implement a waste management system that will change about
6,000 people’s lives and protect that incredible marine environment, which is a
breeding ground for humpback whales.
Wellington Harbour & South Coast
Tues 7 December: 1800-4000 people
cleaning up the entire area.
Avon & Heathcote Rivers, Estuary &
New Brighton Beach
Weds 8 December: 1800-4000 people
expected.
St Kilda Beach, Dunedin & Balckhead Beach-Kaikorai Estuary, plus
Harbour
Thurs 9 December: 1000-3000
expected at cleanup.
West Coast, South Island
Sat 11 December
The huge area is to be split up amongst
communities who will “adopt a beach.”
This is a snapshot of where the Love
Your Coast movement will be heading
in 2011. It will all finish with a bang, with
a finale party for organisers at the Monteiths Brewery in Greymouth.
The Galapagos cleanup
What are the organisation’s goals for the next few years?
Photos: Sustainable Coastlines
We have consistently grown since we began and can only see this continuing.
The reason is that we make looking after our coastlines fun, and this makes the
activity sustainable in the communities we work with. Our key goals are to build
coastline protection into the mainstream New Zealand curriculum and develop our
successful formula to the point where it can be shared throughout the world and
rolled out by community groups everywhere.
We have recently affiliated with the US Algalita Foundation (www.algalita.org);
Ocean Conservancy (www.oceanconservancy.org); The Surfrider Foundation
(www.surfrider.org), and Project Aware (www.projectaware.org), as we are hoping
to develop a universal auditing system for coastal cleanups across the world.
9
&
In Review
Kiwi Books & Cooking
Dreamboat Dad
by Alan Duff
Christal Johnson, UAK
When I started reading Dreamboat
Dad I was afraid that it was going
to be one of those books told
from a child’s perspective, of
a dysfunctional family in which
his real father is unknown and long gone, his stepfather is cold and distant, and his mother is loving but
misunderstood by the community.
Such stories can be sweet or tragic, but there is
rarely anything truly original and compelling in them.
Fortunately Dreamboat Dad is only such a book for
the first 50 or so pages. This first
section felt like a slightly repetitive
and unsubtle introduction to a clichéd
set of characters and motives. But
after this, the book gains speed
and goes in new and surprising
directions. Rather than themes of
childhood and rejection, the story
moves into themes of race, selfdiscovery, music, war, and right
and wrong. The child Yank grows
into a confident young man and
finds that his real father is not the rich and dashing
John Wayne figure he had imagined, but a poor black
man living in hate-filled Mississippi in the 1960s. Yank’s
mother, who stayed by her abusive husband in the first
part of the book, learns that she can escape and find real
happiness. Yank’s step-father realizes that he was too
proud and makes an effort to mend his ways. And his
best friend grows from a boy beset by alcoholic parents
to a delinquent to a man following his dreams. Not all
is well in the end, but every piece of plot is wrapped
up well enough to make the ending satisfying, and the
story and characters are both simple enough to be easily
understood and complicated enough to be interesting.
The Man in
the Shed
by Lloyd Jones
Mandy Thompson, UAK
The Man in the Shed is made up
of 14 different short stories, each
with its own unique way of depicting
Kiwi culture and family life within
10
that culture. All of the stories take the life of regular family
living and puts a twist on it. The book starts off with a
story of about a boy who is watching his pregnant mom
cheat on his father with the man
who has been living in their shed.
His sister is also pregnant and
goes to live in a caravan with her
boyfriend. Other stories include a
man who does not come home
one night to find out he had gotten
too drunk to find his way home
and ended up sleeping in bushes
near the Auckland Museum. All
of the stories end without actually
saying what eventually happened
but point the reader in the direction of where the story
may go next. Some of the stories, more than others, leave
the reader with questions and leaves the reader to make
their own conclusions which can be a little annoying yet
mysterious. Lloyd Jones plays with the possibilities of
miscommunication and cheating and adds some twisted
perspectives. An interesting perspective on family life.
Dishing Up Wellington New Zealand
Alex Soffron, Danielle Bonneau & Emily Ralen, VUW
I’ve always been a cusinastically challenged cook and at 21, I
can no longer claim it’s due to lack of practice. The root of the
problem is my uncanny ability to always mess up one key part
of the recipe so that the whole dish becomes almost inedible.
One memorable example is when I added over half a pack of
chili powder to a bowl of America style chili for three people. My
flat mates wouldn’t touch it, the sane thing to do because it put
any spicy food to shame, but I could not let the food to go to
waste. I ate chili for three days straight and wasn’t able to taste
anything properly for up to a week after that. I spent at least half
an hour each day brushing me teeth so I wouldn’t knock people
out - in hindsight it probably wasn’t worth it.
So when the opportunity arose to
make some recipes from of Dishing
Up Wellington (a cookbook put
together by the Wellington Free
Ambulance Service), some other
students and I jumped at the chance.
I could learn some good recipes
with people who would be able to
keep my mistakes in check. The
cookbook is made up of short
bios about famous Wellingtonians
paired with their favorite recipes. All of the recipes
are easy to make and not terribly expensive if you split the
Alex’s friend Angus, Natalie & Dani
price up between three or more people (if someone comes
late make them buy wine). Some of our favorites were Mark
Blumsky’s Chicken and Pesto Fettuccine, Justin du Fresne’s
Arroz con Pollo, and Rocket Risotto by Megan from the
Wellington Ukulele Orchestra. The Fettuccine was so good
none of us talked at the table and everyone had seconds (I
had thirds!). The same thing happened with the Arroz con
Pollo, but that was probably because it took months to
cook and by 9.30pm we were all so hungry we would have
eaten anything. The risotto was great too. If your brain works
like mine you may be tempted to spice it up a bit with chili
powder etc. but be careful if you do – if I’ve learned anything
it’s that you can always add more later.
For dessert Polly Gillespie’s Most Dangerous Cake In the
World was… dangerous “Because now we’re all only five
mins away from chocolate cake at any time of the day
or night!” It’s basically a very simple cake batter that you
microwave in a cup – very good, very easy, very cheap,
but the stuff at the bottom of the cup doesn’t always cook
so well, which can make for messy clean up. Also the cup
tends to overflow, so just put a plate underneath. Have
some ice cream with it too. Lastly, if you try Shihad’s Betty
Boops (great name) make sure you have all the ingredients,
and especially the icing. Otherwise they’re more of a Betty
Crunch which needs to be smothered – once again – in
some great ice cream. Turn to page 12 for Megan’s Rocket
Risotto.
Edmonds Best of Baking
Hannah Gensheimer, Megan Hurster, Kelly
Riggins, Brittany Richardson, Susan Molzon,
UOT
Our first creation was Melting Moments yummy cookies mainly composed of butter
and icing sugar. The recipe first calls for
baking the cookies and cooling. Then, make
sandwiches using the icing filling. The recipe yields heaps
of cookies for us girls and even extras for Kelly’s flatmates!
The recipe was easy to follow and prepare and only required
basic ingredients. The next baking endeavor was Ginger
Crunch. This makes a delicious slice. Once the ingredients
are mixed, just knead the dough (Megan’s job), spread it out
on the pan, and place in the oven. Then combine ginger icing
ingredients in a saucepan and heat over the stove. Brittany
was in charge of the stirring while Hannah poured in the
golden syrup. Baking is a great way to catch up with friends
and have a bit of girl-talk. It was helpful to choose a recipe
before hand and then everyone can bring one ingredient and
you’re baking in no time!
“This tastes great and it’s good for the sinuses, too!”
Hannah, Megan, Kelly,
Brittany & Susan
11
Haere mai ki te kai!
Worried about your grocery bills? Well have no fear, Mother is here - no, not Kate
Davidson, we mean Alison Holst, the pioneer of New Zealand baking and cooking
arts. She’s a household name in Kiwi kitchens, and Kate is one of her biggest fans!
In 1965 Alison was one of the
first cooks to grace our recently
introduced television screens. Since
then she has published over 75
books and written for numerous
magazine, newspaper columns,
made radio presentations and live
demonstrations.
These days as you browse over recipe books by popular
chefs it seems like you could probably manage to make a
couple of recipes without going bankrupt or failing miserably.
Well my dears, time to switch to ‘Mother Alison’. Alison
Holst is loved by homemakers for making cooking practical
and achievable, using local ingredients and working within
realistic budgets. Her focus has always been on everyday
food encouraging us to learn to cook interesting, delicious,
varied and healthy meals. That in itself is pretty amazing
but on top of this she has also managed to do so without
depleting bank accounts.
These two recipes use simple, economical ingredients and
translate into hearty meals that will feed a sizeable group
of people. You can find more recipes by our homegrown
domestic goddess at www.holst.co.nz and
www.alisonspantry.co.nz
Sausage & Potato Pie
This was entered in a competition
that Alison judged some years ago.
It proved so popular that it emerged
a clear winner. This variation uses
sausage meat because it is easier to
manage than the sausages used in the
original recipe.
For 4-6 servings:
6 medium potatoes, 2 medium onions
1 kg sausage meat or sausages
2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 Tbsp flour
2 tsp curry powder
1 x 400g can apples or 1 x 400g can
Mexican, Italian or savoury tomatoes
1 Tbsp butter, freshly ground black
pepper, 1/2 cup milk,
1 cup grated cheese
* Preheat the oven to 180°C. Peel the
potatoes, cut into small pieces, and cook
in a pot of lightly salted water.
* Cut the onions into thin wedges.
Sprinkle about half the onion in a
roasting pan or a large shallow baking
dish. Using wet hands, form the sausage
meat into walnut-sized pieces and place
on a sheet of cling film.
* Mix together the brown sugar, flour
and curry powder and sprinkle over the
sausage meat, turning the pieces to coat
all sides. Arrange the coated sausage
meat in a layer over the onion in the
baking dish.
* Top with the rest of the onion. Spread
the apples or tomatoes evenly over the
sausage and onion layer.
Our own
domestic
goddess,
circa 1966,
and today
* Drain the cooked potatoes and mash
them with the butter, pepper and milk. Spread the mash evenly over the sausages,
swirl or roughen the top attractively,
then sprinkle with the grated cheese.
Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour.
NOTE: If using whole sausages, cut the
skins lengthwise, then one at a time hold
them under running cold water so the
skins will peel off easily.
If canned apples seem dry, add 1/4-1/2
cup of fruit juice, wine or beer.
12
Meat Loaf
You may be surprised to find how
well your slow cooker will cook
meat loaves. The carrot and zucchini
hidden in this meat loaf add extra
nutrients and give it a light texture
that often appeals to young children.
Delicious with a spicy plum sauce.
For 6-8 servings:
500g minced beef
500g sausage meat
1 large carrot, grated
2 medium zucchini, grated
1 x 45g packet tomato and onion soup mix
* Cut steak into medallions, 6cm by 6cm,
salt and pepper, then fry in a hot pan.
* Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and coat
the bowl with non-stick spray.
* Put all the ingredients into a large
mixing bowl, then using wet hands,
mix everything together (or put all
the ingredients together in a large,
unpunctured plastic bag and knead or
squish the bag until well mixed).
Megan’s Rocket Risotto (from
Dishing up Wellington New Zealand,
reviewed on page 10)
For Serves 6
2 large cloves of garlic – chopped
chunkily
1 large onion chopped a little finer than
the garlic
a knob of butter
nice olive oil (not the mean stuff)
400g Aroborio rice
approx. 1 litre vegetable stock
115g of Parmigiano
half cup toasted pine nuts
bag of rocket
sea salt and black pepper
* Sauté the garlic and onion with the
butter till soft. Add 400g/14oz Arborio
rice and sauté till lightly brown.
After a minute it will look slightly
translucent.
* You can douse this mixture with
splashes of Riesling or Dry Martini/
Noily Prat for a dryer tasting option
(up to two glasses if you are feeling
generous).
* Shape the mixture into a loaf or ball
that will fit in your slow cooker. For a
browner loaf, brush the top and sides
with dark soy sauce.
* Next, heat 1.1 litres of certified
organic vegetable stock and add
gradually, a cupful at a time. Turn down
the heat to a simmer so the rice doesn’t
cook to quickly on the outside.
* Tear off a strip of baking paper, about
10cm longer than twice the height of
the bowl, and fold it in half lengthwise
(or use a Teflon line)r. Put the loaf
crosswise on the centre of the baking
paper strip or liner and, holding the
ends, lower it into the prepared cooker.
* Carry on adding stock until the rice
is soft but with a slight bite. This will
take about 15 mins. You want it to be
smooth, creamy and oozy, not thick and
stodgy. Add small quantities of boiling
water if these quantities don’t give you
that result.
* Cover and cook on HIGH for 4-6 hours.
Serve with mashed potatoes and lightly
cooked vegetables or coleslaw. Serve
leftovers reheated or cold.
* When the rice is al dente, stir in
115g of Parmigiano. Then throw in a bag
of organic, washed rocket (arugula if
you live in North America).
Add half a
cup of toasted pine nuts and stir well.
Place a lid on the pan and allow to sit
for 2 mins.
NOTE: To check whether the centre
of a loaf is cooked, lift it onto a
board and cut it in half crosswise. If
the centre looks as if it needs more
cooking, replace the loaf in the slow
cooker, turning each half 180° so the cut
surfaces touch the sides of the cooker.
Cook for 30 minutes longer.
* Drizzle with fennel oil, season with
sea salt & fresh ground black pepper…
of course!
Serve to a tired and hungry
band of mates, with wine, a lightly
dressed salad, grilled asparagus
and crusty bread. Then amaze the
recording engineers by doing the dishes
afterwards, whilst practicing your
harmonies for ‘Blue Smoke’...
13
B
Heading Home:
Reflections...
On Endings and Beginnings
By Andrew Shepherd, former UAK SSC and IFSA-Butler orientation staffer
Departing - Ending Well
It is important to recognise the various emotions that can
arise with the end of the semester and the promise of home.
One way to assist yourself through the emotions associated
with ending is to ask yourself some basic questions:
1) What are you most looking forward to about going home?
2) What are you most fearing about going home?
3) What are you most going to miss about New Zealand?
One of the requirements for emotional processing is the
need for personal space. This personal space often gets
crowded out in the frenetic activity of the end of semester,
but it’s worthwhile trying to set aside time, finding a quiet
location to do so. If you journal or blog it may be beneficial
to take some time to think about these questions and to
write down some of the emotions that you are feeling. Other
options may include conversations with friends or others
who can provide a listening ear.
Homecoming - Beginnings
Arriving home brings with it new challenges… So, how does
one move through any reverse culture-shock and make the
transition into this new-old world that you are re-entering,
and more than this, communicate with others some of
the changes that have taken place within you as a result
of the study-abroad experience? Here are a few simple
suggestions:
1) Look after yourself
• Get some physical space and catch-up on sleep.
• Have a doctor’s check-up if after a few days back you’re
still not feeling 100%.
• One of the strategies for coping with cultural adjustment
is to have a gradual, controlled transition - hence the reason
you had a week-long Orientation in New Zealand before
arriving at your respective universities. Apply this same
principle for your return home.
• Don’t binge on people, friends/family, food, music, TV, but
instead gradually wean yourself back onto these.
• Take the time to look and listen (observe) before speaking.
• Have a support network. Think of the people who can
help you through the tensions and different emotions you
are experiencing on returning home. Other IFSA-Butler
14
students may play
a valuable role
here.
2) Convey your Experience
• Be prepared for the question ‘How was New Zealand?’
and others about your time in NZ. Use the personal space
both prior to departure and on arrival back in the States to
reflect upon the highlights, lowlights and key elements of the
semester. Work out what is the key theme/idea you want to
communicate about your experience.
• Ask yourself, how much does the person asking the
question really want to know? Will a simple ‘New Zealand
was ____ .’ suffice? Or is the questioner genuinely
interested in the complexity of your time in NZ (eg the whole
experience – ‘warts and all’)?
• Be creative in the way you communicate your experience
- both for your sake and for those you are communicating
with. Some ideas:
v Small photo albums - the best 20-30 shots, instead of
600 photos – and/or multi-media slide-show/video.
v Host a NZ party for friends and family with NZ music (Tiki
Taane, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Boh & Bic Runga, Ladyhawke...)
and NZ food (try making a pavlova!).
v Write an article about your semester experience for the
school newspaper or your community/church newsletter.
3) Moving into the Future
One of the key aspects about study-abroad programmes
is that they provide environments for transformational
education. When we study in an overseas setting, outside of
our usual context, our perspective about ourselves, others
and the world is challenged and enriched. The result of
studying overseas may have led to changes in the way you
think and behave, and altered your values and plans for
the future. Reflect on the changes within yourself and think
about what actions you want to take that flow from these
changes. Take proactive steps and set goals to make these
planned changes a reality as you move into the future.
All the best with your endings and beginnings.
Kia kaha! AS
Read Andrew’s story in its entirety in any of the Issue 2
newsletters on our website.
End of Semester Check List:
o Check and double check the time, date and location of your finals.
DO NOT miss your final, but if you do for any medical or emergency
reasons, make sure you document the reason why immediately with your
host university international office and with us.
o Remember, IFSA-Butler does not support any variations to your
set examination timetables except in urgent medical or bereavement
circumstances.
o Check your final grades (on your university website) and get in touch
with us immediately if you think you will need to query them! If you can’t
access them before you leave, make sure you take home evidence of all of
your coursework just in case you need to query your grades from America.
Be aware of the query deadlines and rules set by your host university.
o Rush Transcript Requests need to be in to the NZ office before you
leave for home. Find the form on the IFSA-Butler NZ website.
o Make sure all of your bills and any incurred fines, from library to speeding,
are paid. If you leave a fine at your university, your transcript will be
withheld until it is paid!
o If you have to leave your flat before a final bill arrives, ensure you leave your
fellow flat mates with some funds to cover your part of the bill.
o If you have an individual internet connection, phone line, or any other rental
in your name, cancel the account before you leave. Students who
have tried to do this from America have had months of hassle and bills in
the meantime.
o If you bought a car and are selling it on, check that the new owner’s
name is registered as the car owner and your name is off the
documentation.
o Clean your room/flat to standards set by your accommodation provider.
Some providers hire a cleaner no matter what, but if not, make sure you
don’t get a chunk taken out of your housing deposit because you left blue
tack on the wall.
oYour accommodation has a specific ‘check out’ procedure. Follow it!
oPack ahead of time so you don’t have any last minute surprises. The
airlines are strict on weight restrictions so consider shipping a box
home in advance.
oIf you are keen to ship a bag or a box, or even a guitar, Seven Seas
Worldwide has a good reputation. Go to www.sevenseasworldwide.com
for a free quote. It can be costly, but they ship door-to-door from NZ to
the USA via sea-economy which takes up to 3 months. The NZ Post is
another option. Inquire at your local branch for rates.
Continued from page 3:
and design. Palmerston North is
traditionally strong for the sciences,
and our Auckland campus has
become a real leader in business
studies.
Mind you this is just to scratch the
surface of all the great programmes
here, the university has 35,000
students and of this about 3,500 are
International Students from over 100
different countries!
CJ: What new places have you
had the opportunity to visit while
on the road with Massey?
WT: So many, but I have to say Saudi
Arabia is the most different place I
have been. One of our students in
Saudi Arabia invited me to his house
for a traditional Saudi feast. I’m so
thankful I have a job where I get the
opportunity to have so many fantastic
experiences.
CJ: What has been the most
challenging situation you’ve found
yourself in while on the road?
WT: When I was on holiday in
Canada a few years back I got
appendicitis, and I needed a big
operation. My insurance was pretty
poor so I ended up footing a $4000
bill!.
In my current job, overseas you
can work 21 days straight talking to
hundreds of potential students and
university partners – it requires a
huge amount of planning and working
out the logistics of it all. My toughest
moments are usually upset stomachs
from crazy foods, taxi drivers without a
clue where they are going and missing
out on important family events at home
in New Zealand.
oHave extra stuff that still has life in it? Organise a collection of
household goods. Talk to your SSC for local options.
CJ: What do you like most
o Be sure you have arranged your transport to Auckland to catch your
international flight home. Confirm your flights a few days before
departure.
WT: Seeing students in the position
oWondering what’s next? If you’ve found that living abroad is something
you’d like to try again in the future, there still some options out there. Consider
a working holiday visa - www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/
workingholiday/. BUNAC provides work, volunteer and teaching
opportunities - www.bunac.org/. Continue your education by returning
for a graduate program... Join the IFSA-Butler alumni network www.ifsa-butler.org/for-alumni.html
about a career in international
education?
I was once in, planning to head
overseas for studies and all the
excitement that goes along with that.
To all the current and future IFSA
students, make the most of your time
here in Aotearoa. I hope you have the
best adventures and really take home
some great friendships and awesome
memories of your time here with us!
15
NewZealand is edited and distributed by the NZ Office, Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University, for IFSA-Butler Students and Staff only.
Articles and ideas are welcome! Email: [email protected] © IFSA-Butler New Zealand 2010
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