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If you’re coming to New Zealand on one of AUIP’s Wintermester programs here’s a few ‘choice’ phrases that will help you get by and avoid those truly baffling moments when a kiwi (the colloquial name for someone from New Zealand) starts talking to you about eating pineapple lumps in a bach. We have been scouring the web for translations and…
Continue readingDr. Jess Ponting, pictured left, one of AUIP’s newest faculty to come on board with our programs, has been busy opening The Center for Surf Research at San Diego State University. The Center, which is said to be the first of its kind in the world, launched in September at San Diego State University. The focus, initially, will be studying the impact of…
Continue readingCredit cards are a mandatory item for any AUIP program. They are invaluable in emergencies, for cash advances (although there are usually high interest charges for cash advances) and you will often need them for checking into hotels and for buying things online (like a new airline ticket as you won’t want to leave the South Pacific!) Most major credit…
Continue readingIt doesn’t seem like six weeks ago that the team at AUIP were eagerly anticipating the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony and the beginning of the biggest competition ever to be held in New Zealand. Now here we are approaching finals weekend and our very own All Blacks are in the final against our old rugby foes, France! Since securing the spot in the final by beating…
Continue readingVisitors to New Zealand generally find it a bit strange that we call whitebait a delicacy. The uncooked whitebait are slimy and transparent so it is no surprise that foreigners react with disgust at the thought of eating these tiny fish. Catching the “white gold” is also a tricky business. The most common method of catching whitebait is to use…
Continue readingOn a recent trip to Auckland, AUIP’s Sheena visited the West Coast beach of Muriwai. Muriwai is approximately 45 minutes north-west of Auckland city centre but it feels like a different world. It is a 60km beach with rolling black sand dunes and a roaring surf which has keen surfers dotting the water. The real treat though wasn’t the dramatic…
Continue readingIf you have been on one of AUIP’s New Zealand or Australia programs then you will have undoubtedly come across Tim Tams. For those of you that have not had the pleasure, Tim Tam’s are a brand of chocolate cookie currently manufactured by Arnott’s in Australia. A Tim Tam is made up of two layers of chocolate malted cookie, traditionally separated by a light chocolate…
Continue readingHigh in the skies of the South Pacific there has been a wondrous sight over the past few weeks. Check out this video that shows the stunning view of the aurora australis which was taken on September 11 as the International Space Station descended over eastern Australia, then changed direction to pass just east of New Zealand. It was created from…
Continue readingAUIP’s destination for this year’s staff retreat has had some Antarctic visitors this week. Several large southern right whales have taken a liking to Akaroa Harbour, sticking around rather than heading north as part of their annual migration. The whales moved into the harbour on Monday and have been sited regularly by the lucky passengers on the Black Cat Cruises…
Continue readingWe at AUIP are always on the lookout for interesting blogs and last week we came across the New Zealand’s Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Blog. For those of you who have not been to New Zealand, DOC is a state sector organization which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. The blog has a number of categories that were of interest…
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