VIDEO: How to Save Money in Auckland

This video from Hostelworld, shot in 2011, brings back good memories of my postgraduate life in Auckland. Colm Hanratty shares tips on how to save money in Auckland. Here they are:

1. Use the Citylink Bus to get around the city center for free. However, it is only free with a valid AT card.

2. You can bring your own drinks (i.e wine, beer, soda, etc.) in BYO restaurants.

3. Enjoy the parks in the city center, such as Albert Park and Auckland Domain.

4. Shop at the Victoria Park Market. Although Auckland is not really known for its bargain deals.

5. Check out the free museums, particularly the Auckland Art Gallery and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The video is so nostalgic. Especially the clip showing Albert Park--the park I crossed almost everyday during my stay.

Finished with my postgraduate degrees at the University of Auckland

I recently received my diploma for my master of public policy, capping off my two year academic stint in New Zealand. I can't believe time flew by so fast. It seemed like only yesterday when I applied for postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland and scholarship with the New Zealand Embassy. Today, I have my Post-Graduate Diploma in Arts with Merit on Development Studies and a Master of Public Policy with Second Class Honours First Division.

I'm thankful to my wife Ria and daughter Bea for allowing me to pursue postgraduate studies abroad. I am extremely lucky to have a partner who supported me 100% of the way and sacrificed so much by taking care of our daughter and running our household, all by herself. I hope I can return their love and affection. I am grateful as well to my mom Aileen and dad Roque for their support, and to the rest of my family for their encouragement. 

Thanks are also due to my policy professor, boss, and dissertation supervisor, Dr. Julie MacArthur, for her guidance and support. I really appreciate how she gave me the freedom to work on my dissertation at my own pace, and at the same time be there for me to check on my progress, review my drafts, and give sound advice on how to improve my paper.

Lastly, I am extremely grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and all who make up the New Zealand-ASEAN Scholarships Programme (NZAS) for giving me this great opportunity to obtain a post-graduate diploma and a master's degree at the University of Auckland. Rest assured that I will use all that I learned in New Zealand to help my home country of the Philippines.

My write-up in the University of Auckland website

If you are reading this post while taking your postgraduate studies in New Zealand, and feel depressed, burdened and/or stressed with all the academic obligations, let me reassure you that this too will pass. You can make it! Good luck and God bless!

#parasabayan #parasaPilipinas

Don't Forget to bring Vicks

Pag malamig ang panahon, napansin ko na mas madalas hindi naliligo ang mga ibang lahi dito. Alam ko kasi lumalakas ang baho at putok ang naamoy ko kapag winter. Lalong lalo na sa graduate computer lab namin. Pag summer o autumn, hindi ganun ka sama. Meron paminsan minsan may uupo sa tabi mo na may amoy, pero oks lang. Lipat ka lang ng computer. Pero talaga pag winter, yung buong lab mabaho. Kahit saan ka lumipat, amoy mo yung hindi pagkaligo, or worse, yung putok. Mahihilo ka ng di oras. Ang panangga mo sa B.O. ay Vicks vaporub. Pahid ka lang ng kaunti sa may ilong mo para hindi mo maamoy yung baho. 

Ayun lang. Payong kapatid. Don't forget to bring Vicks.

Part-Time Work as a Teaching Assistant

Finally, on the last semester of my two-year masters, I got a job as a teaching assistant in the university. As I've written before, international postgraduate students on valid student visas can work in New Zealand. But whether there's work for you, now that's the question. Those with health, science, engineering and tourism backgrounds will find it fairly easy to find work here (a co-scholar who was a nurse immediately got hired at a hospital, while another Filipino scholar with experience in the hotel industry found a job at a service apartment). As you know, I come from the legal sector in the Philippines, and I found it extremely difficult to look for a job in my industry. For one thing, the law I know is different from the law they practice here. And for another, even if I did know their law, there's just not enough legal jobs for lawyers, at least here in Auckland. Siguro mas may chance pa sa Wellington, where the national government is based, but I digress.

I got this job because I received an e-mail blast a few months ago from the department coordinator announcing openings for graduate teaching assistants. And having been a college instructor back home, I felt this was right up my alley. So I filled up the application form, attached my supporting documents, and submitted them to the department. You get hired either as a tutor or a marker. A tutor teaches part of the course, while a marker checks coursework and other assessments. I signed up and got hired as a marker, which is supposed to be easier of the two. Pero hindi rin kasi mahirap mag-check ng essay. Hahaha.

But I'm not complaining. The extra income is good as it can supplement my stipend, and I  get to save some money for home. It's also a nice diversion to do something other than your studies and/or research--a job breaks the monotony of academic life. 

I only wish I knew about the GTA programme earlier in my studies. I could have been a tutor or a marker last year pa. So my advice, if you're like me who can't find a job related to your line of work in the Philippines, you might want to consider being a GTA. When you get here in New Zealand, look for and approach your department coordinator. Ask if there's an opening for tutor or markers. The chances are you're too late for that semester (as they hire prior to the start of the sem), but you can ask to be put on the mailing list. That way, the moment they open applications for the next semester, you'll be the first to know.

So, good luck! Hope this post helped!

Where to Eat in Auckland Part 2

A few months ago I wrote about international fast food chains present in Auckland. I was supposed to follow it up with another post on local fast food chains, but other things kept me pre-occupied. So here finally is my second list of where to eat in Auckland. In no particular order:

  a. Burger Fuel
  b. Burger Wisconsin
  c. Mexicali
  d. Sal's
  e. Fritz's Wieners
  f.  St. Pierre's Sushi
  g. Tank
  h. Others: Hansan, Elliot Stables, Tony's

New Zealand has its own share of home-grown fast food joints. I frequent these when I am bored eating at Mcdonalds or Pizza Hut.

Burger Fuel

First on the list is Burger Fuel. It is a local hamburger fast food chain. Think of it as Brothers Burger back home in Manila. They're supposed to be designer burgers and therefore a bit more expensive than Mcdonalds and Burger King.

Nothing really special. Parang Brother Burger lang.

It is what it is. It tastes like a Brothers Burger burger. One thing different is that Kiwis like to put guacamole (AKA avocado) in almost anything, including burgers. So, go to Burger Fuel if you want to taste avocado in your burger.

They have Burger Fuel all over Auckland. They have one in Metro center on Queen Street, and another one along Customs Street near Britomart. A standard burger combo would set you back about NZ$12.

Burger Wisconsin

Another local burger with avocado. Wala naman lasa.

Interestingly, the other local burger chain is named after an American State. Burger Wisconsin is another hamburger fast food restaurant. It too is like Brothers Burger, but slightly 'more designer'--if there is such a term, and ergo more expensive.

Burger Wisconsin outlets are fewer than Burger Fuel. In fact, there is no Burger Wisconsin in the CBD. I had to take the bus to Ponsonby to sample their burger. The other closest store would be at Onehunga. Although the burgers taste better than Burger Fuel, it is not worth the effort (and the bus fare) to go to a Burger Wisconsin branch. Eat here only if you are in the area.

A standard burger combo will set you back around NZ$16.

Mexicali

There used to be two Tex-Mex fast food joints in the city, but California Burrito closed shop late 2013, leaving Mexicali the last man standing. I love tacos and burritos, and Mexicali does not disappoint. Meals are a bit more expensive than Mcdonalds value meals, but I eat here when I'm bored with burgers. The tacos  and burritos taste fresh. It's like Chihuahua in Greenbelt 3. The mini burrito costs NZ$9.95 while a regular burrito is NZ$12.99. The mini one is enough for me. Plus they have a frequent customer card that actually comes in handy. You earn points every time you buy and after some time you get enough to pay for a taco. And they award you with a free burrito on your birth month. Sweet deal if you ask me.

There are two Mexicalis in the CBD. One is located at the Viaduct center near Quay Street. While the other one is along K Road. Both are about a 10 minute walk from City Campus, but the trip is worth it.

Sal's Pizza

My friend Grace and Sal's Pepperoni and Cheese half-and-half pizza.

Above tacos and burritos, I love pizza. And Sal's makes delicious pizza. It's like Sbarro but better--much, much better. At a time when Shakey's and Pizza Hut scrimp on tomato sauce, Sal's does the opposite--smothering the pizza with lots of juicy and tangy tomato sauce before laying the cheese. And while Sbarro tends to undercook its pizzas, Sal's makes sure their pizzas are just right and crispy. 

A slice of Sal's cheese pizza is NZ$4, while a pepperoni would set you back NZ$5. If you're eating as a group, better order a whole pizza since it will come out cheaper.

Sal's began to spread like mushrooms in 2013. There's a Sal's across the Civic Centre on Queen Street. There's another on Commerce Street. And the one I frequent is near Parnell, just a 5 minute walk from Unilodge or Carlaw Park.

Fritz's Wieners

If you like sausages, then this is where Fritz's Wieners comes in. They serve European sausages in kiosks scattered around the city (there's one along Elliot Street, near the reverse bungee jump; and another along the viaduct centre).

They keep it really simple. There's a mild sausage and there's a spicy sausage. And you can ask them to put fried onions and/or sauerkraut to your sandwich. They retail for NZ$7. I have one when I'm in a hurry.

St. Pierre's Sushi

For some reason, Kiwis love sushi. They have independent mom & pop sushi stores all over the city. But there is a chain named St. Pierre, and I go here if I want to eat sushi. 

I have to say, even if they're only kiosks, they make good sushi--way, way better than the ones sold by their counterparts in Manila like Teriyaki Boy and the like. St. Pierre makes the sushi right in front of you, and I think with the freshest ingredients because the product tastes fresh. The cheapest value pack (4 rolls) will cost you NZ$4.99. My personal favorite is salmon and avocado. Mmmmm, yummy. Just thinking about it makes me want to hop on a plane back to Auckland. For those who don't like their lunch in a seaweed roll, St. Pierre also sells Teriyaki Chicken on rice and Miso soup.

You won't have a problem looking for a St. Pierre shop around the city. Just look for the bright yellow sign.

Tank

Tank is not really fast food, but it is homegrown. It is the Kiwi's version of Jamba Juice or Big Chill. There's nothing else to say, really, except that the drinks are expensive. NZ$5 for a small cup?! Too expensive for juice. But if healthy is your thing, I'm just saying, they have Tank over here.

Other Local Restaurants

Hansan

Again, Hansan is not technically fast food, but I'll write about it since we are talking about where to eat in Auckland. It's like Pho Hoa or Pho 24. If you want to eat pho or vietnamese rice noodle soup, I recommend Hansan. They have big servings, which you can actually split in two if you want to. Tastes authentic, even though the operators are Korean and not Vietnamese. A bowl of piping hot raw beef pho will cost you NZ$12. There are other combinations. My favorite is the beef steak and pho combination because I only finish one steak and take home the other for dinner.

There is a Hansan branch on Kitchener Street just across Albert Park. It's very near City Campus.

Elliot Stables

Not fast food, but another alternative to eat in town is Elliot Stables. It's actually more of a food court than a restaurant. It's an upscale food court serving different types of food. They have artisanal pizza and european sausages to name a few. 

Tony's

New Zealand is famous for its meat. So you have a lot of steak houses around the city, but they are expensive. A standard steak meal will set you back around NZ$35. The cheapest set I found was a lunch special at Tony's Steak & Seafood on Wellesley Street. The special included rump steak, coleslaw and chips for NZ$16. Believe me this is the cheapest. Pretty good, but if I were you, you're better off cooking your own steak. You can buy two pieces of Angus rump steak for less than NZ$10 at Countdown, which could last you two dinners!

There are two Tony's Steak restaurants in the CBD. The lunch special I talked about is at the one located on Wellesley Street. The other Tony's is on Lorne Street.

So there's my list. If you cook at home, all the better. You will save a lot. But from time to time, do eat outside and sample what Auckland restaurants and fast food joints have to offer.

Happy Eating!

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!

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")

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 

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!

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.

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!

What to Bring to New Zealand - Top 5 Things

Some things are just crazy expensive here in New Zealand. If there's still some space in your bag, do not forget to bring the following items:

1. HIGHLIGHTERS. I couldn't believe they cost NZ$3.00 (PhP100.00) a piece here. Save yourself some money. Buy your highlighters at National Bookstore. And while you're at it, throw in some ballpens 

2. TEXTBOOKS. Halos mahulog ako sa silya ko nung nalaman ko NZ$100.00 (PhP3,450.00) yung isang textbook sa isang subject ko. Seryoso sila?! 3-5?! Ano yun, may kasamang e-reader?! 

If you get your course outline or syllabus early on, find out if they have the book available at Fully Booked or National and bring them with you to New Zealand. Dagdag mo na ilang mga notebooks.

3. POWER PLUG ADAPTER. An adapter can cost as much as NZ$12.00 (PhP400.00) at a convenience store here. But you can grab one (or two) at Ace Hardware or Handyman for only PhP90.00. Make sure it's AUS/NZ compatible though (image above).

4. UMBRELLA. Not only are umbrellas expensive here, they're poorly made. Mabilis masira yung meron dito. Isang malakas na hangin lang sira na kaagad. Better to bring the PhP200.00 umbrellas you can find at SM or Landmark.

5. OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES. Paracetamol and Loperamide might be over-the-counter medicines in the Philippines, but here in New Zealand, you won't be able to buy them without a doctor's prescription. So if I were you, I'd get some Biogesic and Diatabs from Mercury to bring with me to Auckland.

Where to Shop in Auckland - Shopping Malls

Back in Manila, we have shopping malls on every corner--as in, literally next to each other! Think Greenbelt and Glorietta; Megamall, Podium and Shangrila; and, SM Northe EDSA and Trinoma. 

Here in New Zealand, however, because of the way, way smaller consumer population, that's not the case. Malls are few and far between. The biggest is the entire country is Sylvia Park Mall located in the Auckland suburb of Mount Wellington.

I'd say Sylvia Park resembles Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa, with number of alfresco dining options.

The shopping mall itself is just 2 storeys, unlike Megamall's 6 level. So, way less number and variety of stores, but the essentials are there. They have movie theaters (Hoyts), electronic goods (Dick Smith), clothing stores (Cotton On, etc.), shoes (Hush Puppies, etc.), fashion accessories (Sunglass Hut, etc.), children's clothes (Baby Factory), fast food restaurants (Mcdonald's, Burger Fuel, etc.), cafes (Starbucks, Gloria Jeans), and supermarkets (Pak 'n Save and Countdown). Sylvia Park mall is 15 minutes away from the CBD by train. Board at Britomart station. One way fare is NZ$4.50.

Westfield Downtown Shopping Center

There is one mall in the CBD. It's Westfield Downtown Shopping Centre right across Britomart, and next to the Ferry Terminal. It's small. It's like the new Cash & Carry mall ,without the supermarket and the movie theaters. It just has a few shops, a food court, and one local superstore called The Warehouse (more on this in another post). The only reason I go to Westfield Downtown is to visit the Mountain Designs store.

Westfield is like their Ayala Malls here. It owns a number of malls around the country. It has a bunch of others in Auckland, but most of them are scattered around the suburbs. Westfield Newmarket is probably the nearest to the CBD, but if you ask me it's not worth going to since it's only slightly larger than Downtown. Bigger and better ang Westfield St. Lukes. Hindi nga lang walking distance from the CBD. You have to ride the bus to get there.

Then there's Dress Smart outlet shopping mall in Onehunga. It's only one storey, but has way more better selections and at outlet prices. The shops I go to here are Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Mountain Designs, Cotton On, and Bing & Harris. In fairness, you can get great deals here. Bought a Cotton On shirt for NZ$12.50 (PhP450.00) and Columbia hiking pants for NZ$40.00 (PhP1,400.00). Last season nga lang, but who cares?

There's a free shuttle to Dress Smart from the CBD every weekday. It picks up passengers at the bus stop in front of Langham Hotel on Symonds St. at 9:20, 10:50, 12:20 and 2:20. If you miss the shuttle or if it's full, then you can take the train from Britomart to Onehunga Station for NZ$4.50 one way.

They say shopping is expensive in New Zealand, and they're probably right for most shops here. But if you keep your eyes open for the sales, stay patient, and/or go to the outlet stores, shopping can be affordable and competitive.

What to Do in Auckland - Movies

Watching movies here is not cheap compared to Manila, but it can be cheap for NZ standards if you buy the ticket as a student. Regular ticket price is around NZ$17.00 (PhP PhP 550.00). But if you get the Student concession the ticket price will go down to NZ$10.00 (PhP340.00). All you have to do is apply at the counter, show your school ID and pay the NZ$10.00 application fee (it's worth it). The movies are up to date here in New Zealand. Since we're at the eastern edge of the international date line, meaning we're a day advanced than the US, we get movies ahead of schedule (to combat movie piracy).

I watch at Events Cinemas in Metro Centre on Queen Street. It's located between Aotea Square and the Civic Centre. You can't miss the big Events Cinemas/IMAX sign on the roof. The food court here is one of the places with free WIFI internet. FYI.

How to Keep Warm at Home during Winter

Panel Heater

It's August and spring is just around the corner. But before winter ends, let me share a few tips on how to keep warm in your flat during the cold months (June to August) here in New Zealand, especially if you'll study in the South Island (Christchurch, Dunedin, etc.).

Make sure your accommodation, whether it be in a house or an apartment building, is properly insulated. Without insulation, whatever contraption you have will not protect you from the elements. I only write this because some old houses around New Zealand were not fitted with insulation when they were constructed. So be careful if you choose to stay in a house. Luckily, most, if not all, apartment buildings here are insulated, so there's nothing to worry about.

The first line of defense would be your electric heater. Most apartment rooms have them installed. If not, then you can buy a portable column heater at Bricoes for around NZ$200.00 (PhP7,000.00). They're very easy to use. Just turn them on and rotate the thermostat to the desired temperature. The only drawback here is that heaters eat a lot of electricity. So if you leave them on the whole night every time, you might get a high electric bill. My suggestion is to turn it on for a short time, just to enough to warm up the room.

Dehumidifier

Although it doesn't snow here in Auckland, it does rain a lot. Now if rain and cold weather come together, well, that spells trouble. The windows frost, the walls dampen, sometimes you'll get molds in the bathroom, and it's hell of a chore to dry your clothes. What you need is a dehumidifier. You turn on that baby and it's going to suck out all the water molecules in the air. They don't usually come with the room. You either borrow from someone (which I did) or buy one. This is more expensive though. It's around NZ$300.00 (PhP10,000.00) brand new at Bricoes. Then again, you can probably get it cheaper second-hand over at TradeMe.

Electric Blanket

Of course I don't need to tell you to invest in thick blankets and comforters. But even then, during winter, your bed could be a very, very cold place to sleep in. That's why you may have to get an electric blanket. When I first heard about this, I thought it was like a blanket--one that covers you as you lie down. When I actually bought one, I found out that wasn't the case. An electric blanket is placed underneath your bed sheet. When you turn it on, it will warm up the bed. Again, since it's electric, you do not want to have it on the whole night, unless you're prepared to pay a high electric bill. That, and may be you don't want to be that guy who got electrocuted in his sleep. My suggestion is to turn this on 30 minutes before you go to sleep, to warm up the bed. Then turn it off just before you hit the sack. An electric blanket is probably the cheapest investment you'd make to stay warm. It just costs NZ$20.00 (PhP 700.00) at Briscoes or Warehouse.

Well, those are my tips. They worked for me this winter--I did not freeze to death. And I hope they will work for you!

How to Get Around in Auckland

Victoria Street from Kitchener Road.

When I was still choosing where to study in New Zealand, I took into consideration the terrain because I had planned to commute by bike. I read somewhere that Wellington was very hilly (and windy!), so even if I got accepted to the public policy program of Victoria University, I chose to study in Auckland instead. I assumed that the latter was flat and conducive to cycling. Well, as you can see in the above photo, Auckland CBD is NOT flat. It is hilly as well--at least within the vicinity of the University of Auckland-City Campus! 

You see, Auckland Uni sits on a hill alongside Albert Park, so any commute to or from the campus would require an uphill battle. If, for example, you'd like to go to Queen street, then you walk (or bike) down this street (Victoria Street). Want to get back to campus? Then you have to walk (or bike) back up. Going to Britomart? Same thing. Parnell? The same! Newmarket? Worse, you climb further up the street! I tried commuting by bike for a month and it just wasn't worth it. It was easier to walk.

Which brings me to the topic for this post, "How to get around in Auckland." The short answer is: WALK. Campus is near the central business district. It's just a 10 minute walk to Queen Street (750m). While Britomart is 15 minutes away (1 km). Malapit lang ang campus sa kainan, sinehan at supermarket. Walking is free, and you get to exercise.

Now if you have to go out of the CBD, then that's a different story. Here are your commuting alternatives:

BUS

If you wish to go to places a bit far to walk to (say, 3 to 5 kms away) like Ponsonby or Cornwall Park, then you could ride the bus. They're efficient and convenient. But let me caution you if you are used to bus travel in Manila. Buses here in Auckland drop and pick-up passengers only at designated bus stops. Which means hindi uubra yung pagpara kung saan saan. Magagalit yung tsuper. Trust me. It happened to me quite a few times. Also, buses here run on schedule. Sometimes every 10 minutes (during peak hours). Sometimes as long as 30 minutes or even up to an hour. You can get a printed timetable of your bus at Britomart. Bus stops also have their own timetables posted so you'd know when the next bus will arrive. The fares are kinda expensive here. NZ$1.90 (PhP65.00) for the Inner Link bus to go to Ponsonby. And NZ$3.40 (PhP115.00) for the Outer Link bus to go to Balmoral or Mount Eden. You pay in cash or HOP Card (pictured below).

Above is the HOP Card for buses. Below is the AT Card for trains and ferries.

I suggest you get a HOP card because you can apply for tertiary student discount. They're available at Britomart. The HOP card works like any public transport card, which you can load money into.

TRAIN

Train approaching the Sylvia Park Station

If you are travelling further out (more than 5kms away from the CBD) like Onehunga or Sylvia Park, then you can ride the train. The main train station is at Britomart, which is a 15 minute walk from campus. The trains here are like our LRT and MRT trains, only slower. They're supposed to be efficient and on time, but I find them to run a bit late. Also, recently (2013) they've been suspending train services during the weekends, which is a turn-off. Fares range between NZ$1.90 (PhP65.00) for a single trip to Newmarket (Stage 1) and NZ$4.50 (PhP$150) for a single trip to Onehunga (Stage 3). You can purchase train tickets at the station paying in cash or EFPOS, or use an AT Card. Like the one for buses, I recommend getting an AT Card because you can avail of the tertiary student discount. The NZ$1.90 fare becomes NZ$1.17, while the NZ$4.50 is reduced to NZ$2.92. Hey, a discount is a discount! 

For added convenience, Auckland Transport (AT) developed a journey planner App! Just type where you are and where you want to go, and the app will tell you what bus stop or train station to go to, the number of the bus or train, how long it will take, and calculate your fare. It's a great app! I wish we had one for Metro Manila.

AT Public Transport app. Downloadable at the App Store.

The only problem of the train system here in Auckland (aside from being a bit tardy) is its limited coverage. Konti pa lang kasi ang stations. For instance, there's no train service to the North Shore.

FERRY

Ferry Terminal at Devonport.

If you'd like to visit the North Shore, Devonport to be specific, which is across the harbour, then you can ride the ferry. Ferries here are clean and reliable. Plus they offer a great view of the CBD from the sea. A single trip to Devonport costs NZ$6.00 (PhP200.00)--round-trip would be NZ$11.00 (PhP370.00). You can purchase tickets at the ferry terminal paying in cash or EFPOS, or use an AT Card. Like all forms of public transportation here, the ferries run on schedule. For more information on bus, train and ferry services, visit www.maxx.co.nz.

TAXI
They have taxis over here but they are very expensive. So unless the bus or train are not available, then avoid taking the taxi. Flag down is NZ$3.00 (PhP100.00), but then every kilometer is NZ$2.60 (PhP90.00)! A ride to Cornwall Park (just 5 kms from campus) can cost you NZ$20.00! Let the taxi be your last resort.

BIKE

Photo does not show yung paghingal ko to get to the top of Mt Victoria.

If you love cycling and you are a strong cyclist, then go ahead and ride your bike! Lots of people do that here. Although there are no dedicated bike lanes on the streets, most intersections have bike boxes in front of the line. You can go on multi-modal commutes as both trains and ferries allow bikes on board.

There are numerous places to park and lock your bike around the city.

Again, Auckland CBD is not flat. If you have weak legs like me, then it might be challenging for you to bike. But if you enjoy cycling up to Tagaytay, then Auckland will be a walk in the park.

CAR

Here I am driving a rental.

Finally, you can drive a car. Second-hand cars come very cheap here. You can buy one for as low as NZ$1,000.00 (PhP34,000.00). And, according to my friend, it's very easy to transfer car ownership here in New Zealand. But let me warn you, driving here can be a bit tricky for Filipinos. They follow the British traffic system here, so they drive on the left side of the road. Familiarize yourself with their traffic rules, like who goes first at a roundabout (rotunda) before attempting to drive as Kiwis are known to have short tempers behind the wheel.

That's it. I wish this post was helpful. Ingat sa biyahe!