Program Overview & Description

Life is about experiences, and New Zealand is the epicentre of the "extreme" experience. Commercial bungy jumping started here, and Kiwis are continually searching for new ways get their adrenaline going. It is a country of small business and entrepreneurs. We will show you all of that and make sure you learn as much as possible during the process—how to do the haka, a traditional war dance; why Franz Josef glacier is expanding despite global warming; and how the strength of the New Zealand dollar affects tourism and the economy.

Our program spends 4 days in Christchurch, followed by a 7-day field study throughout the South Island of New Zealand. We will expose you to the culture, history, and social nuances of the country and take you to the tourist "hot spots" so that when people ask you can say "been there, done that." We will teach you the finer points of New Zealand English and make sure you meet the locals. By the time you leave, you will even know what "that punter left his jandals and togs in the loo" means. It will also be very clear why students say that New Zealand is the greatest place on earth.

During your trip, you will stay in comfortable hostel-style accommodation (similar to nice dorm rooms) with other students in the group. Accommodation varies, but typically rooms are shared by 2-4 students. We provide all meals throughout the program and all in-country transportation.

This program can be combined with the 11-day program in Fiji (June 7 - 17) for an additional 3 credits.

Some Past Activities:

• Hike Franz Josef Glacier
• Shear a sheep
• Take a boat ride on the Milford Sound
• Walk in a rainforest, Fiordland National Park
• Watch a live Canterbury Crusaders Super 14 rugby game
• AJ Hackett Bungy, Queenstown
• Hold a kiwi
• Learn the haka, a traditional Maori war dance
• Ride the steepest gondola in the Southern Hemisphere

Examples of Previous Speakers

• Vernon Andrews
  -Owner, Uncle Vernon's Hot Sauce
• Peter Bucher
  -Owner, Subway Franchises
• Graham Whorsky
  -General Manager, AJ Hackett Bungy
• Coen Lammers
  -Sports Editor, The Press newspaper
• Ian Graham
  -Owner, Argent Financial Services
• Dr. John Watson
  -Owner, Canterbury Rams basketball team
• Dr. Katie Pickles
  -History, University of Canterbury
• Dr. Therese Arseneaux
  -Political Science, University of Canterbury