Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand, the Land of the Long White Cloud, is breathtakingly beautiful. According to Maori legend, a Polynesian demigod named Maui discovered New Zealand on a fishing trip. He felt a strong tug on his line, and brought to the surface New Zealand’s North Island. Maui’s brothers, each wanting his fair share of the catch, began hacking at it with their weapons. From the fierce fight resulted the rugged mountainous landscape of present-day New Zealand
Whether New Zealand indeed owes its awe-inspiring existence to lore or natural law is irrelevant—the fact that it exists is enough. The North Island—home to the capital Wellington and New Zealand’s largest city Auckland—houses about three-quarters of New Zealand’s total population of just over four million people. The even-more mountainous and craggy South Island is home to almost any landscape one can imagine—from glaciers to rainforests in only a few hours travel. It is not, however, a deserted island by any means. The South Island boasts its largest city, Christchurch, as well New Zealand’s oldest city, the college-town of Dunedin.
New Zealand boasts what many consider to be one of the world’s best day hikes in the Tongariro Crossing. This twelve-mile hike offers up close and personal views of three neighboring mountains: Mount Tongariro, Mount Ruapehu, and Mount Ngauruhoe. You may better know the latter by the role it played in the Lord of the Rings films as Mount Doom. The cinema version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel was shot at various locations throughout New Zealand. Whatever else may be said about New Zealand’s landscape, it is sure to inspire the inner poet within us all.
In chapter 1 of The Whale Rider, a book by the well-known New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera, the Land of the Long White Cloud is described as follows:
The mountains were like a stairway to heaven,
and the lush green rainforest was a rippling cloak of many colors.
The sky was iridescent, swirling with patterns of winds and clouds;
sometimes it reflected the prisms of rainbow or southern aurora.
The sea was ever-changing, shimmering and seamless to the sky.
This was the well at the bottom of the world, and when you looked into it
you felt you could see to the end of forever.
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington is considered to be one of—if not the—best universities in all New Zealand. Victoria offers courses in all the major fields of study, as well as courses specific to New Zealand—such as Maori Science and New Zealand Literature. Students interested in pursuing their creative writing outside of the classroom can attend Vic Writers’ Club, a fairly informal club, open to all.
The prestigious International Institute of Modern Letters operates out of Victoria University as well. This institute claims not to simply teach the motions of writing, but to develop the “imaginative capacity” of individual writers. The director of this institute is the esteemed Bill Manhire—a man who many claim to be the most influential person in current New Zealand literature. He has won numerous awards and published various bestselling poetry anthologies such as 100 New Zealand Poems and a collection of short stories by various authors titled Six by Six. Similarly impressive are Mandrake’s colleagues, all of whom are publishing writers and award winners. All creative writing courses are taught by tenured professors.Students interested in creative should make sure to inquire early regarding portfolios as they are the basis upon which students enter into the creative writing courses. Additionally, the University sponsors a number of readings that attract international writers like Jane Smiley and Richard Ford, among many, many others.
The higher education system of New Zealand will be familiar with in many ways, though it also has noteworthy differences. There are lectures a few times a week, as is our custom. However, in addition to the lectures, students attend small tutorials of no more than 15 students which meet once a week. These tutorials, or “tutes,” are a great place to meet classmates and ask questions on the material. Although it is a studious atmosphere it is also laid back, which is standard operating procedure in New Zealand. Most classes have a few papers throughout the semester, and a comprehensive exam at the end. However, many of the English classes will end in a final paper rather than an exam. Students are graded on a more lenient scale than American students may be used to. For example, in many classes anything above a 50% is passing, and anything above an 80 is an “A.” That being said, the academic life is rigorous. Though the scale seems more lenient, the actual grading of papers is not.
Wellington
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is also its second largest city. Victoria University of Wellington sits atop a small mountain overlooking the vibrant downtown and the strikingly blue Pacific Ocean. Twenty minutes of walking will bring you to Oriental Bay, a popular beach just out of downtown. In fact, twenty minutes of walking will get you practically anywhere in Wellington. One could spend a sunny Saturday at the beach, enjoy the great night life Wellington has to offer on Cuba Street and Courtenay Plaza, and be back to one’s flat without spending more than an hour walking through the lovely streets. These streets also feature a variety of ethnic restaurants and small shops. Wellington also has an incredibly efficient public transportation system. The Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra also reside in the heart of Wellington. The Ballet began with only three days and a pianist, and has become the most prestigious ballet group in New Zealand. This is iconic not only of the growth of New Zealand in general, but also of the growth of Wellington in cultural capital. The national museum, “Te Papa,” sits proudly on Wellington’s waterfront. The museum consists of six stories containing exhibitions as well as places to get souvenirs and cafes. “Te Papa” was built in 1998, and attempts to be balanced in its portrayal of all aspects of New Zealand culture. Finally, one cannot forget that Wellington was home to the woman who was probably New Zealand’s most important early writer of short stories, Katherine Mansfield. She was incredibly prolific—publishing nearly 20 collections of short stories—and is considered to have put New Zealand on the literary map.
Housing and Meals
Victoria University offers multiple housing options depending on one’s preferences. Some student housing locations have the option of a meal plan, while others do not. Wai-Te-Ata flats, for example, are located on top of the mountain directly beneath the universitY’s recreation and fitness center. These flats are exclusively for international students. Another option is Victoria Central, a large apartment complex located closer to town, about 10 minutes from campus. Aside from the meal plan options, plenty of reasonably priced eaters are located on and around campus. The student union building also houses a small restaurant and pub where students often meet and socialize between classes.
Daily Life
Daily life in Wellington is truly what you make of it. After classes, one could meander down to Lambton Quay (or take the cable car, if one was so inclined) and spend the afternoon shopping. The stores in this shopping district are seemingly endless. Unlike many busy public areas we might be used to in the States, however, the streets are nearly devoid of any litter. Next, one might head to the Queen’s Wharf to enjoy a latte while overlooking sailboats in the bay. Or, if one preferred to avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown Wellington, there is a botanical garden complete with planetarium located a bit further up the mountain from the university. While in the gardens, one’s inner child might be inspired to take a run on the 50 foot zip-line located at the playground in the garden—New Zealanders love to play outside. Overall, Kiwis approach their daily lives at a slower pace than we are accustomed to. While studying at Victoria University, you may find yourself walking a bit slower than usual. This may be due to the relaxed atmosphere of New Zealand—then again, it may just be due to the fact that you do not want to miss the scenery.
