khassandraI Heart NZ
July 10th 2007 14:27
Ah, New Zealand. Now I know that there's a lot of Australian activity on this blog, and I don't need to go into travel to Australia because one of my favorite blogs, Australian Traveler, probably knows a whole lot more about that, but let's take a minute to explore the reasons to travel to New Zealand.
I've just started a PhD program in Social Foundations of Education-- I know you are wondering, "Cool, what does that mean?" Social Foundations explores school reform issues, and my program in particular focuses on international comparative reform, looking at post-colonial education systems and how policy compares with practice. (I impress even myself with all of this terminology 
.) For me, then, New Zealand is a cultural wonderland where Moari-Pakeha (white) relations in the government and elsewhere are model quality for other post-colonial nations of all levels of development, including the U.S. I'd like to do a comparative study between NZ and Hawaii, which I think could really benefit from NZ's policies, since Hawaii has a lot of problems with Hawaiians being forced into tourism jobs and are gradually becoming unable to afford the real estate of their own home all because Dole pineapple farms wanted to own Hawaii. But that is neither here nor there-- the point is, I'm VERY interested in NZ for a lot of reasons, but really advocate it as a travel destination for others.
The time I spent in New Zealand was on a study abroad through the University of Georgia, and we did field studies in geology, ecology, forestry, and anthropology. New Zealand is PERFECT for this, because there are all kinds of things to study, from indigenous flora and fauna (think kiwi) to glacial rock and water formations, to Moari studies. But even if you're not actively involved in an educational pursuit while in NZ, you'll get a great education while you're there if you visit the right stuff. The beauty of NZ, the south island in particular, is that you can be in the mountains skiing one day and, if you get tired of that, you can be at the beach on a dolphin boat tour the next. It's just small enough and so varied and versatile. Christchurch on the south island is a great city, where you can easily spend more than just a few days-- I enjoyed the botanical gardens, the art museum, the art cinema, the main square's cathedral, and a match of Christchurch's rugby team, the Crusaders. All very fun, very worth spending a while in Christchurch, where there's a convenient hotel and fun hostel, as well as some good restaurants, right on the main square.
Outside of Christchurch there's a lot to visit, too-- you should be able to find tourist information galore in the city and plan from there, but if you want a list of some of my favorite places, try these: Milford Sound (you can hike in a loop around the sound ina few days, or take a boat ride for a few hours), Fox Glacier (take a guided day hike to the glacier, they outfit you), Kaikora (lovely coastal town, where there's a freakish amount of marine life-- again, take a tour, it's worth it), Mt. Cook national park, and Abel Tasman national park (on the Tasman Sea). But don't limit yourself-- go skiing in Queenstown or just spend a few days at the beach. There's something to do no matter what you love in NZ, and in most cases a few somethings. That's why I heart it!
Share your NZ experience!!! (Or your experience in the South Pacific)
Fox Glacier
.) For me, then, New Zealand is a cultural wonderland where Moari-Pakeha (white) relations in the government and elsewhere are model quality for other post-colonial nations of all levels of development, including the U.S. I'd like to do a comparative study between NZ and Hawaii, which I think could really benefit from NZ's policies, since Hawaii has a lot of problems with Hawaiians being forced into tourism jobs and are gradually becoming unable to afford the real estate of their own home all because Dole pineapple farms wanted to own Hawaii. But that is neither here nor there-- the point is, I'm VERY interested in NZ for a lot of reasons, but really advocate it as a travel destination for others.
An estuary in Abel Tasman national park
The time I spent in New Zealand was on a study abroad through the University of Georgia, and we did field studies in geology, ecology, forestry, and anthropology. New Zealand is PERFECT for this, because there are all kinds of things to study, from indigenous flora and fauna (think kiwi) to glacial rock and water formations, to Moari studies. But even if you're not actively involved in an educational pursuit while in NZ, you'll get a great education while you're there if you visit the right stuff. The beauty of NZ, the south island in particular, is that you can be in the mountains skiing one day and, if you get tired of that, you can be at the beach on a dolphin boat tour the next. It's just small enough and so varied and versatile. Christchurch on the south island is a great city, where you can easily spend more than just a few days-- I enjoyed the botanical gardens, the art museum, the art cinema, the main square's cathedral, and a match of Christchurch's rugby team, the Crusaders. All very fun, very worth spending a while in Christchurch, where there's a convenient hotel and fun hostel, as well as some good restaurants, right on the main square.
Christchurch, New Zealand!
Outside of Christchurch there's a lot to visit, too-- you should be able to find tourist information galore in the city and plan from there, but if you want a list of some of my favorite places, try these: Milford Sound (you can hike in a loop around the sound ina few days, or take a boat ride for a few hours), Fox Glacier (take a guided day hike to the glacier, they outfit you), Kaikora (lovely coastal town, where there's a freakish amount of marine life-- again, take a tour, it's worth it), Mt. Cook national park, and Abel Tasman national park (on the Tasman Sea). But don't limit yourself-- go skiing in Queenstown or just spend a few days at the beach. There's something to do no matter what you love in NZ, and in most cases a few somethings. That's why I heart it!
Share your NZ experience!!! (Or your experience in the South Pacific)
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