Where to Shop in Auckland - Men's Clothing

I'm stating the obvious when I write that New Zealand doesn't carry the local brands young Filipino men are fond of like Bench, Penshoppe, Memo and Onesimus, but they do have Kiwi counterparts. Here's my list:

Since both the Philippines and New Zealand both have them, first on this list is Cotton On. Auckland has many Cotton On stores scattered around the city. They have one on Queen street and in all major malls like Sylvia Park and St. Lukes. They contain pretty much the same so if you forgot to buy something at the local Cotton On in SM, don't worry 'coz they might have it in Auckland.

When I went to New Zealand for the first time I brought a suit. It took a lot of space in my bag and I ended up wearing it only once. So if you're not sure if you're going to need a suit for your studies, don't bring one. Instead, you can shop at Barkers. They make excellent ready-to-wear suits, shirts and jackets. For those staying near Auckland University, the nearest store would be on High Street, behind Queen Street.

Barkers is a bit expensive though. If you want something more affordable, then there's Hallenstein Brothers (or simply Hallensteins). They also sell suits, jackets and shirts, but not as well-made as Barkers. If you're not too concerned with how you look and just want something to wear to that cocktail party, then you can buy your evening clothes here. They have a store on Queen Street.

The last on this list of men's clothing in Auckland would be Bing, Harris & Co (pictured at the top of this post). It's a local brand and they sell jeans, chinos and tees and shirts. It's like Bench and Memo. The designs are up-to-date and the prices are easy on the pocket. I've actually bought a bunch of stuff here. Their nearest store to uni is on High Street.

I know, I know, men don't like shopping. But we can't wear the same thing everyday, right? So during your schooling, you will have to shop for clothes, just to put some variety in your wardrobe.

Happy shopping, guys!

5 Food Products Cheaper in New Zealand than in the Philippines

Yes, for the most part, it is expensive to eat in New Zealand. A typical Big Mac value meal at Mcdonald's will set you back around NZ$11 (or PhP 400). At the grocery and supermarket, fruits and vegetables are likewise expensive. So does that mean students receiving modest stipends will starve in New Zealand? Not necessarily. Because from my experience I know there are at least 5 food products cheaper in NZ than in the Philippines. In no particular order, they are:

Image from shop.countdown.co.nz

1. Steak

Given that there are more cows in NZ than there are people, one can expect for meat products to be cheaper than in the Philippines. I buy 2 pcs. of Countdown Angus beef sirloin steak for about NZ$10 (or only PhP 175 each). That's pretty cheap for Angus beef. So for my entire stay in Auckland I ended up eating steak at least once a week!

Image from chocablog.com

2. Chocolate

If steak is cheap, it follows that dairy products are cheap as well. This is true for chocolate. One big bar of Cadbury chocolate (220 g) can go as low as NZ$2 (or PhP 70). That's super cheap compared to how much they cost at Rustans or SM supermarket. Not only does New Zealand produce their own milk for the chocolate, they have a Cadbury manufacturing facility right in the South Island! 

Here's another thing about Cadbury. It's not even the high quality chocolate here. I feel they treat Cadbury like it was Goya. A better tasting chocolate brand is local favorite Whittaker's.

Image from mainland.com.au

3. Cheese

Let's go full circle with the cow thing. So I said that steak is cheap, and so is chocolate. Well whad'ya know, cheese is also cheap here in New Zealand. A block of Mainland brand Edam or Colby cheese (250 g), which could last you 2 weeks, is just NZ$4 (or PhP 140). That's cheap!

Image from thedailyspud.com

4. Wine

If you include cheese in your Kiwi diet, then you have to have wine. And luckily, wine is pretty cheap in New Zealand. I'm not a wine drinker, but if you're in New Zealand, you might as well start to be one. A bottle of Whale Point Sauvignon Blanc (750 g) is only NZ$7 (or PhP 245). And there's so much to choose from (unlike the very limited selection at our local supermarkets). In my time in NZ, I've tasted Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Rose, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Moscato, Brut, and Chardonnay. Now I'm still no expert, but once you drink New Zealand or Australian wine, you'll never go back to Novelino.

PS: New Zealand is more famous for its white wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling) than its red wines. 

Image from shopnewzealand.co.nz

5. Potato Chips

And finally, in what I believe should be in every person's diet, potato chips is cheap in New Zealand. It's cheap because they grow the potatoes and manufacture the chips right here. A bag of Lays potato chips (150 g) in Rustans can set you back around PhP 110. In Auckland, a bag of Bluebird potato chips (also 150 g) can go as low as NZ$1.5 (or PhP 50). 50 Pesos! Sobrang mura, which means I ate potato chips everyday here in New Zealand!

So there. If you like steak, chocolate, cheese, wine and potato chips, like me, then you will survive here in New Zealand on your stipend. You'll get fat, yes, but you won't break the bank.

Happy eating!

Working in NZ

My student visa allowed me to work for 20 hours a week (For 2014, I think the NZ government increased this to 40 hours a week!). And so for those of you interested to work while studying, you can do so.

But let me warn you, work is hard to find in New Zealand. There's a shortage of jobs. That's why a lot of young Kiwis move to Australia. Aside from the bigger pay, they also have a higher chance of landing a good job in Oz. I'm not saying that there is no job available in New Zealand. There are, but very limited. So you can't be choosy. Of the Filipino postgrad students in Auckland this year (2013), three were able to find work as transcriptionists, one landed a job as a teaching assistant and receptionist, another as a research assistant, one as admin. staff, and another as wait staff. 

It also depends on your background. If your skills are in demand in NZ, then all the better. I can tell you that students with experience in tourism and in the health services are in a much better position that, say, those in the legal profession, like myself. In fact, three of us in the batch are lawyers and none of us could find a job related to our field. Either there is an over-abundance of lawyers or there are not enough cases.

Anyway, let's say you're dead set in working here. What do you do?

Well, the first thing in your agenda should be to apply for an IRD number. This is the New Zealand equivalent for what we call back home as "TIN" (Tax Identification Number). Here are the steps: 

• Download and print the IR595 Form at www.ird.govt.nz. 
• Fill up the form. 
• Then submit the form, together with  photocopies of your 
• Passport information page, 
• NZ visa page, and 
• University ID, at the nearest Inland Revenue appointed verifier. 

In Auckland, the easiest verifier would either be the PostShop or KiwiBank. Don't worry, there are many branches in the CBD. Granting your form and supporting documents are in order, Inland Revenue will mail you your IRD number within 10 working days. And then you're good to go!

The next step is to look for a job in any of the following job search engines:

• Student Job Search
• Seek
• Trade Me

The three work just like JobStreet and JobsDB.

Well, that's it. Good luck in job hunting!

Healthcare in NZ

As you may know, New Zealand is a welfare state, which means citizens enjoy subsidized health care. But what does this affect international students?

Well, if you are in New Zealand on a regular student visa, unfortunately, you are not covered by the New Zealand health care system.

However, students under NZAID Development Assistance Programme (i.e. NZAS scholars) are considered NZ residents during their stay and enjoy this privilege. Here are your benefits:

• GP Care - includes funding for medicines and laboratory tests
• Hospital Care
• GP Referred Laboratory Tests, and
• GP Prescriptions

The University Clinic in Auckland Uni is at the Kate Edger Information Commons.

Kiwi Slang

Here's a short list of Kiwi slang to familiarize yourself before coming over. Words taken from the International Students' Orientation and some from personal experience.

1. Brekkie - Breakfast
2. Dunny - Toilet. (Please, do NOT use "CR" over here.)
3. Bugger Off - Go away
4. Piss Up - Social gathering with alcohol
5. Sweet As - Cool; Awesome; No worries
6. Pakeha - a white Kiwi
7. Yonks - A long time ago. As in, "I haven't seen in Yonks"
8. Tiki Tour - Scenic route

Others:

• Arvo - Afternoon
• Cheers - You're welcome
• Paper - Course; Subject. As in, "How many papers are you taking this term?"
• Serviette - Tissue; Napkin
• Tomato Sauce - Ketchup ("Toh-mah-toe Sauce")

Friendly Information from the International Office

I am reprinting what the University of Auckland International Office gives out to international students at the start of every academic year. You might as well know it a few months before, right?

Student Services Online (SSO)

• SSO allows you to apply for admission to the University, enrol in classes, view your timetable, update your details and much more.
• You can look up your NetID/UPI in the update personal details section.
• If you forget your password, email onelogon@auckland.ac.nz

EC Mail

• All enrolled students are provided with a free University student email account called EC Mail. Your university email address is one of the University's official means of communicating with you. University communication (e.g. information about your courses, classes, exams, library notices and fees) are sent to this email address and you must check your EC Mail regularly. It is recommended that you link your EC Mail to your personal email address.
• Your email address will be NetID/UPI@auckland.ac.nz.
• Immigration New Zealand will communicate with you through your student EC Mail.

Printing/photocopying

• Cost: black & white - 10 cents per page; color - 20 cents per page
• To print/copy, you need your Student ID card.
• You need your student ID card to add money to your print and copy balances.
• You can add money to your copy and print balances at any of the IC Helpdesks or by using one of the self-service ePOS stations located on campus.
• To transfer money between your copy and print balances, go to: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/cs-add-money
• If you don't have a student ID card, you can take your passport to IC Helpdesk on Level 2, Kate Edger Information Commons to add money to your copy and print balances.

Scanning

• Cost: Free
• Location: Level 0, 2, 3, 4 of Kate Edger Information Commons.

Internet Access

• Students have unlimited high speed access to all University websites and 10G data allowance for other websites.
• For wireless network, please visit www.auckland.ac.nz/wireless.

CECIL

• CECIL is the University's web-based Enterprise Learning Management System. All students enrolled in courses at the University of Auckland have access to CECIL automatically.
• You can use CECIL to:
• Access information and materials relevant to courses in which you are enrolled.
• Check course announcements, marks for coursework and exam times.
• Download learning resources.
• Complete online tests.
• Participate in online discussion/chat.

Student ID Card

• A student ID card can only be printed if:
• Your enrolment appears in SSO.
• You have a photo in SSO.
• Once you have both the above requirements, the card will take approximately 10 working days to print.
• You can collect your student ID card from the International Student Information Centre, G23 Old Choral Hall, 7 Symonds Street.
• In order to collect your student ID card from the International Student Information Centre, you will need to provide:
• A copy of your bio data page on your passport (photo page).
• A copy of your valid student visa to study at the University of Auckland.
• A completed contact information form (available at the International Office).

MAXX Tertiary ID Sticker

• MAXX Tertiary ID stickers give you up to 40% off selected bus, train and ferry fares. The discount applies to the one-way single adult fare when purchasing a tertiary 10-ride ticket of 7-day Northern Pass.
• You need to be a full-time tertiary student to be eligible for the MAXX ID sticker.
• You can request the sticker will be given to you when you collect your student ID card.

Banking in NZ

As a scholar, one of the first things you have to do when you arrive is open a bank account. Otherwise, you won't get your stipend. The University of Auckland has two banks in campus, ANZ and ASB. Most of us chose ANZ since the branch is in Kate Edger Information Commons, which is at the center of campus.

Normally, it'll cost NZ$10 to open a checking (or cheque) account, but since we are students, it is free. ANZ calls it a Freedom Account. To open it, you have to prepare the following:

• Photocopy of passport
• A residential address in Auckland, and
• Proof that you are a student (i.e. letter of acceptance)

That's it. The bank officer will open your checking account and give you your account number. You just have to wait for the university to deposit your stipend, and then you can start using it. 

Most banking transactions are done on-line here. I know we already have on-line banking in the Philippines, but I did not make use of it as much as I did in New Zealand. Probably because may bayad ang over-the-counter transactions dito. You read that right, the bank charges you a fee every time you withdraw or pay at the branch. So banks actually encourage you to withdraw and pay on-line. Don't worry, the user interface is very friendly. It's easy to transfer money from one account to another, and to pay a person or a bill. You just need the bank account number of the payee.

After a few days, you'll eventually receive your debit card (more commonly known as an EFTPOS card--short for electronic funds transfer at point of sale card) in the mail. Then you can start using it to pay for almost anything in New Zealand. Just don't forget your PIN code.

Happy banking in NZ!

What to Do in Auckland - Videoke

Have you ever heard of the saying, "All study and no play makes Jack stressed?" Me neither. But it might as well be a saying for postgraduate studies. Anyway, one of the ways we de-stress here is to sing at a karaoke (or videoke) bar. They have a number of them here in the CBD. I frequent two. One is Rock Bar located somewhere near the bottom of Queen Street. And the other is Every Sing located along Commerce Street. Both are owned and operated by Koreans and so their major market is their own. But don't worry. They stock on a lot of Filipino songs.

I like Every Sing over Rock Bar because the former has a cheap weekend promo. Only NZ$30 for 3 hours for 4 people. I don't know of a similar promo at Rock Bar--their standard rate is around NZ$35 per 1 hour. Also, between the two, Every Sing has a wider selection of Filipino music.

The karaoke bars serve alcohol, but they are very expensive. The style is to drink at home. Then when you're tipsy, that's when you go to the karaoke bars. Don't forget to bring your passport or NZ 18+ card. You may be asked to present proof of age.

Happy Singing!

Student IT Essentials

Auckland Uni Sign-In Page

I don't know how Ateneo or UP is now, but back when I was in undergrad and law school (more than 10 years ago), we didn't have this kind of IT service and support. So I don't know if what I'll discuss in this post is something new NZAS scholars would already know about prior to postgraduate study here in New Zealand. But for those of you uninformed about university electronic services, here is a rundown.

1. Free Internet Access

There are literally hundreds of PCs around campus. The most number of computers are located at Kate Edger Information Commons. That building has 4 floors of PCs, catering to all kinds of students. There's one ideal for groups, and so is very noisy. While there's another   that caters to individuals, and is expected to be quiet. All of those computers have internet access. All you have to do is enter your university user ID and password.

2. Universal File Storage

Forgot your USB? Don't worry. You can save your file on any of the computers using your personal university file storage. Just save your file on the home drive (H: [echome]) and you can access it anywhere. Cool, huh?

3. Free Wifi Access

If you have your own laptop or smart phone, you can access the internet anywhere in the University. Again, you just have to type in your user ID and password.

Library Search

4. On-Line Library

The on-line library of the University is unbelievable. It feels like UoA subscribed to every possible electronic academic database available in the world. There's just so many to choose from to do your research. And if ever the database you want is unavailable, just talk to your subject librarian, and he/she will find away to get your article. With the number of databases in the on-line library, searching gets so confusing sometimes that I just end up using Google Scholar.

CECIL

5. CECIL

CECIL is the University's learning management system. It is your link to your courses. Your instructor will post any announcement here, and upload the course syllabus, required readings and other articles. CECIL is also the platform you use to upload your assignments. Grades are also posted here. So technically speaking, you can opt to not attend class and just access everything on CECIL.

Well, those are the basics in IT services and support for the University of Auckland. For more information, check out: www.auckland.ac.nz/it-essentials 

Where to Shop in Auckland - Discount Superstores

K-mart is in Westfield St. Lukes Mall.

New Zealand is an expensive place to live in. Rent is expensive. So is transportation and food. But, there are places of refuge. Auckland has a number of discount superstores you can go to to get cheap clothes and small appliances for your flat. First you have K-mart, yes, the US' former retail giant. They have one store here in Auckland at the Westfield St. Lukes mall. It's pretty much like a typical K-mart in the US. Lots of cheap stuff. If you don't care with brands and labels, this is a good place to go to.

The Warehouse at Downtown Shopping Centre.

Next there is New Zealand's answer to K-mart--The Warehouse. The stores I go to are located at Downtown Shopping Centre next to Britomart, and at Sylvia Park Mall. To paint you a picture of what you can get from The Warehouse, I got my pillows, duvet, trash bin, bookshelf and clothes dryer stand there.

Briscoes in Panmure.

Last on my short list is Briscoes. This place has no clothes. Just houseware and appliances. The store I frequent is located at Panmure. This is where you should go for small home appliances. Do NOT buy small appliances at The Warehouse because although they are cheaper, they are poorly made and may get busted early. For home appliances, you should definitely go to Briscoes. Mas mahal than The Warehouse, pero may mga sale at specials naman. I bought my electric blanket, clothes hangers, toaster and rice cooker here.

So if you find New Zealand expensive. Don't worry. Just visit K-mart, The Warehouse or Briscoes and your wallet won't feel the pinch that much.

Mobile Phone Companies in NZ

There are a number of mobile phone companies servicing New Zealand. Three come to mind. First you have Vodafone, which I think is the biggest, with a presence all over the world.

Then there is Telecom, which I think it is a local phone company.

And then there's 2 Degrees, another local phone company. This is my provider simply because I got a free pre-paid SIM card from the international office last February. Been using it ever since. I load NZ$20 (PhP700) every month. Then I subscribe to their unlitext combo. It's unlimited text, 50 minutes of calls, and 500MB of internet. Not bad. I think all three companies have similar promos. Personally, I didn't feel the need to transfer to Vodafone or Telecom the whole time I was here. 2 Degrees was fine. Pare-pareho lang sila.

Classes at the Postgraduate Level

Health and Human Rights with Dr. Carmel Williams

Okay, enough about surviving and touring New Zealand for now. This is a postgraduate blog after all. So, how is postgraduate study here in Auckland University?

Policy Research with Dr. Julie MacArthur.

In addition to my undergraduate degree in Management, I have an LLB from the University of the Philippines, which for most in the Philippines is equivalent to postgraduate studies. But my experience in Malcolm Hall is nowhere near academic study here in New Zealand. For starters, the classes here in Auckland Uni are small. On the average, class size is about 12 to 15 people. Back in UP, my evening block was composed of almost 30 law students. 

Education Policy with Dr. Ritesh Shah.

Second, recitation is not graded here. Not even attendance. So one can actually be absent for most of the semester, and on days he attends, can just sit in the corner and stay quiet, and still pass the course. In UP Law, if you are unable to recite the case asked of you, the professor can give you a zero. If you are absent for more than three meetings, you are automatically dropped from class.

And speaking of professors, they are very informal here. Although they are PhDs, they don't want to be called Dr. and they don't "lord" over their students. In fact, I call all of my professors by their first name. Back in the Philippines, you don't do that. Law students have to address their professors "Atty." or "sir."

Next, postgraduate study is focused on research and writing. I did a lot of reading in law school. Dozens after dozens of Supreme Court cases. But I only had to read and understand them. My coursework was broken down to recitation, a midterm examination and a final examination. Here in Auckland, not only did I have to read a lot of articles, I had to write my own papers. And unlike in law school, where I only needed to cite one or two cases as stare decisis, for postgraduate research I had to cite 20 to 30 peer-reviewed articles. In law school, when I did my research paper, I could quote an entire paragraph of a case and it would be okay. If I did that here in Auckland Uni, I'd be charged with plagiarism. Speaking of which, they are very strict when it comes to plagiarism here. Some professors require their students to submit their papers through anti-plagiarism software like Turnitin.

Finally, their exams here are on the same level as the bar examinations. Some courses, like development studies and political studies, don't have final examinations. But there are others, like environment studies, that still conduct final examinations at the end of the semester. And when they do, the exams are administered by the university, not the instructor, which means there is little room to negotiate, if at all. You are only given the date of your examination, not the venue. So you don't know where your test will be. The university only releases the room assignments at 5pm the night before the exams. Apparently, this is to curb cheating. On exam day you aren't allowed to bring anything to your table other than your school ID and a pen. And you can only leave the room 15 minutes after the start, and only up to before 15 minutes from the end of the exam. It's crazy the way they administer exams here. Daig pa ang bar exam.

Okay, to summarize my class experience here in Auckland Uni:

1. Class size is small. So expect to talk a lot.
2. Recitation is not graded. So there's no need to make sipsip during class. 
3. Attendance is not graded. But you'll miss out if you don't come to class. Nag-postgrad ka pa.
4. Professors prefer to be called by their first names. No "Dr." or "Sir/Ma'am."
5. Expect to read a lot of journal articles.
6. Expect to write a lot. If you don't have a background in academic research (like myself), do attend the library seminars during the first week of classes.
7. Professors prefer that you cite peer-reviewed articles over books. 
8. They take plagiarism very seriously here, so do not copy and paste.
9. If you have exams, be mindful of the university rules.

Good luck!

Where to Shop in Auckland - Supermarkets

Countdown Supermarket on Quay Street.

Like any place, Auckland has different kinds of supermarkets to cater to different kinds of people. Here are the three main ones, plus two asian grocery stores.

Pak 'n Save in Sylvia Park Mall.

First on our list is Pak 'n Save. It is similar to warehouse supermarkets like Puregold and Shopwise back home. Items are cheap, but the selection is limited. Also, most of Pak 'n Save stores are located outside the CBD. The nearest from university would be the one in Sylvia Park. Roundtrip train ride would cost you about NZ$8. So only go there if you have a long grocery list.

Countdown on Victoria Street, CBD.

Next we have Countdown. Its equivalent in the Philippines would probably be SM Hypermart or Robinsons' Supermarket. They have a good variety of products, but not as cheap as Pak 'n Save. The good thing about Countdown though is that they have weekly specials. So what I do is wait for the items to go on sale, and that's when I buy. Also, I got their "suki" card called the One Card, and sometimes they have cheaper prices. The OneCard is free, so you might as well get one.

There are two Countdowns in the CBD. The one at the center is on Victoria Street, nearby the Auckland Sky Tower. But it's not as big as the other one on Quay Street. That branch is larger and open 24 hours.

New World in Wellington.

New World is the most expensive of the three. They say it's because it has the most variety, but if the items you wish to buy are in Pak 'n Save or Countdown, why even bother to pay a higher premium for the same things? New World is like Rustan's Fresh. Avoid at all cost. Only buy when there is no Pak 'n Save or Countdown in sight.

Tai Ping is on Beach Road.

The three main supermarkets don't carry everything Filipinos need (or want)--yes, not even New World. These western stores don't have Mang Tomas or Skyflakes or banana ketchup. For these items, I recommend you to go to the Asian grocery stores. On one end of the CBD, there is Tai Ping. This is located on Beach Road. They have some Filipino items here.

Lim Chour is located on K Road.

On the other end of the CBD, there is Lim Chour Supermarket. This place, in my opinion, has more variety of goods than Tai Ping. And it's cheaper too. They have a lot of Filipino products here. But I don't frequent this much since it's far from my flat. Lim Chour is located on Karanghape Road (K Road), at the end of Queen Street. If you stay in Grafton or Symonds, this is just walking distance.

So there. If you want the value for money, go to Pak 'n Save. For convenience, buy at Countdown. Avoid New World (although my friends tell me that on some days they do have specials). For Filipino or other Asian items not found in Pak 'n Save or Countdown, try Tai Ping or Lim Chour.

Happy shopping!

Must Have: the Water Bottle

Water is expensive here in New Zealand. A small bottle here can fetch as much as NZ$3.50 or PhP 120! Imagine you have to pay that amount every time you have a meal--your daily expenses will shoot up in no time.

So one of the first things you have to buy when you get here is a good water bottle. I got mine from Mountain Designs at Downtown Centre for about NZ$10 (PhP350), but you can really get them just about anywhere. 

You can fill it up from any drinking fountain or faucet in the city. My fraternity brod, who works for the water utility, swears on their water's cleanliness.

Mount Ngauruhoe and Taranaki Falls

On the Tongariro Northern Circuit with Mount Ngauruhoe on the background.

If hiking (or tramping) is your kind of thing, New Zealand is a great place to do that. One, the views are fantastic. Literally, every photo could be for a postcard. Two, the trails are well taken cared of. They're clean and there are directional signs. And third, there are practically no dangerous animals to harm you (no snakes, spiders, etc.).

Beautiful day to go hiking.

I went on a short and easy hike at the Tongariro Northern Circuit near Whakapapa during my ski trip last July. I went with my fellow international students. We took the Taranaki Falls 2-hour hike.

With my fellow international students.

We entered the track at Whapapa Visitor Center. Like I said, the trails are well maintained. I noticed there were no trash cans, but at the same time I didn't see any litter either. I guess trash cans are hard to maintain, and may attract small animals. Also, it seems hikers are presumed to be responsible enough to keep their trash with them until they get back to the village.

That's Mount Ruapehu

The easy hike provided us with great views of both Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe. Have I mentioned that both volcanoes were film locations of Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies?

We have lots of falls like this in my province of Ilocos Norte.

After an hour of hiking, we reached Taranaki Falls. Nothing really special with this falls as there are lots of them in the Philippines, but still nice to see. Anyway, if we had more time (and better dressed for outdoors), we could continue hiking around Mount Ngauruhoe, which would take the whole day. But we were in jeans and sneakers. From Taranaki Falls it was another hour to get back where we started.

If you take a trip to Mount Ruapehu to ski, and want to do something else while there, I suggest to take this short 2-hour hike of the Tongariro Northern Circuit at Whakapapa Village, just a 10-minute drive from Whakapapa Ski Area. It's another great way to enjoy the Kiwi outdoors.

Hobbiton in Matamata

You cannot leave New Zealand without visiting Hobbiton at Matamata--the movie set of "The Shire" in the Lord of the Rings series.

My friends and I visited Matamata back in March. It is 3 hours by car, south of Auckland. You can take the bus if you don't drive (either Inter-City or Naked Bus). Once you get to Matamata, you can park your car next to the iSite Visitor Center. You cannot miss it because it looks like an LOTR cabin.

You buy your ticket at the iSite (it costs NZ$75 for adults) and then you wait for the bus  that will take you to Hobbiton.

When you get to Hobbiton, your group will be led by a tour guide around the movie set. We're lucky that we visited at a time that they recently concluded shooting the Hobbit prequels as the "The Shire" was in good shape. I heard that a few years back, just after the first LOTR movies, the set was not well taken cared of. I guess Peter Jackson and the farm's owners (yes, the set is actually in the middle of an active sheep farm) soon realized the tourism potential of the area.

It's a really nice place. The Hobbit holes are well maintained. You can take as much pictures as you want (just respect the cordon). As much as you can, do try to plan your trip. It looks much better if the sky is clear and the sun is out. Makes it look bright and colorful.

After the tour, the tour guide will lead you to the Green Dragon Pub where you can enjoy a pint of beer on the house (well, it's part of the NZ$75, hehe).

From there you return to the Shires Rest Cafe, where LOTR fans can shop for souvenirs. Then you board another bus that will take you back to iSite in Matamata. 

Total tour time is 2 and 1/2 hours. Better check the Hobbiton Tours website for tour schedules. I think the last bus leaves Matamata at 3:30pm.

Where to Shop in Auckland - Daiso / Japanese Discount Stores

Just like in the Philippines they have Japanese Discount Stores here in Auckland. And they're very helpful when it comes to small household items like washing machine clothing bags, kitchen utensils, bathroom cleaners and even school supplies. Yun nga lang, hindi pa rin kasing mura tulad sa atin (PhP 88). They cost NZ$3.50 each, or about PhP 120. Still, mas mura pa rin compared sa regular shops dito.

So before you buy that item at the supermarket, pass by the Daiso shop first. Malay mo, mas mura.

Happy shopping!

Wellington

Gollum at the Wellington Airport.

When in New Zealand, don't forget to visit Wellington. It is the capital and is located at the bottom of North Island, which is an hour away by plane from Auckland. Here are the places I went to when I was there.

I went to Weta Cave. It's not really a cave, but a warehouse of the Weta Digital Studios, the creators of Lord of the Rings, Avatar and District 9 to name a few. They have a small museum at the side of the complex with props and other memorabilia from their films. Entrance is free.

Statue of Prime Minister Richard Seddon in front of Parliament building.

I also visited the New Zealand Parliament in downtown Wellington. I took the visitors tour with my friends. Unfortunately, taking photos was prohibited inside. Sayang, maganda pa naman sa loob. Naalala ko tuloy nung nag-tu-tourguide ako sa Batasan nuong nag-lo-law pa ako. Anyway, if you have the time, do take the tour. It's free, it's in downtown, and it's worth it.

Right across Parliament is Victoria University's Law School. This is where I would have gone to school had I chosen to take my LLM.

Just a few steps from the law school is the Wellington waterfront. Really nice harbour. Clear and calm waters.

Behind me is an enlarged version of the Treaty of Waitangi.

At the other end of the waterfront is New Zealand's largest museum, Te Papa Tongarewa. It's a really big museum with many exhibits on Maori (the indigenous people) and Pakeha (British colonizers) culture and history. It's also an art gallery. Entrance is free for the regular exhibits.

From its terminal in Lambton Quay, you can take the Wellington Cable Car up Kelburn Lookout where you can get a fantastic view of the city. It's like taking the funicular up Victoria Peak in Hongkong. One way is NZ$4.00, while a return ticket is NZ$7.00. I just got the one way ticket. And then from Kelburn Lookout I just walked down the Botanical Gardens. You'll end up in the vicinity of Parliament building.

Richard viewing the telescope at Zealandia.

My friends and I also visited Zealandia. It's a bird sanctuary in Karori, behind the CBD. If you like bird watching and nature, this is the place to go. It has nice trails for walking, and it's so peaceful you can hear the birds chirping. Entrance to the sanctuary valley is NZ$18.50.

Since Wellington is the capital, it goes without saying that all diplomatic posts are there. The Philippine Embassy is located in the quiet neighborhood of Thorndon. It's the quaintest and homiest embassy I've been to.

Ambassador Benavidez with Richard, Kristine and I at the Philippine Embassy in Wellington.

We were lucky that on our visit the Philippine Ambassador, Virginia Benavidez, was there to receive us. She was very friendly and even hosted lunch for us at her residence.

What's a visit to Wellington without ending it at Cuba Street. Here we are having coffee at Espressoholic with our hosts Arla and Norman. Cuba Street is the city's center for nightlife, music festivals and vintage shops. It's supposed to be the hippest area in Wellington.

I spent a total of three days in Wellington, which was just about right. My friends and I flew Jetstar and stayed at a bach (a vacation house for rent).