What Org to Join - PGSA

PGSA trip to Mount Rangitoto.

Like all universities, there's a period to join orgs early in the semester at the University of Auckland. There are sport clubs like rowing and cycling. There are environmental orgs like Enactus. There's a meat club for those who want to eat, uhm, meat. And there are regional orgs like Maori, Korean and Filipino students associations. But if there's one org I encourage you to join during your stay here in university, that would be PGSA (short for Post-Graduate Students Association).

Of all the orgs I joined this year (3), PGSA was the only one worth it. The org is made up of foreign and local postgraduate students, and the it knows what its members want and need. PGSA manages the post-graduate lounge on level 4 of the Kate Edger Information Commons (KEIC). If you want some peace and quiet to study and do your research, especially if its crowded in the library or its noisy at your faculty's computer lab, the post-graduate lounge is your sanctuary. It is exclusively for post-graduate students.

Another perk is that PGSA members get 20% discount at the Strata Cafe, also on level 4 of KEIC. There are a number of coffee shops around campus but I frequent Strata because of the discount. Hey, 20% off is a huge discount considering the price of coffee here.

But the thing I like most of PGSA is that they organize cheap field trips to places I want to go to, that would've been way expensive if I went there by myself. For instance, in Semester 1, PGSA arranged a day trip to Rangitoto Island off the Auckland Coast for only NZ$20.00. That's a huge discount considering the regular price at the ferry terminal is NZ$47.00! And so I went to Rangitoto with other Filipino student friends and we had a great time. We even got to know other international postgrad students.

PGSA ski trip to Mount Ruapehu.

And for Semester 2, PGSA organized a ski trip to Mount Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. The NZ$107.00 fee included round-trip transportation, 3D/2N accommodation at the university lodge and 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Sulit na yon! Another Filipino student who went there on her own spent close to NZ$300.00! So ang laki talaga ng discount. Again, like in Rangitoto, I enjoyed this trip to Ruapehu. I got to learn how to ski, live the way Kiwis do at a ski lodge, and meet other international postgrad students like me.

Joining is easy. Just visit the PGSA website and register on-line. After verification (that you're a postgrad student enrolled in UoA), you just visit the PGSA office at iSpace on level 4, KEIC, to get your PGSA sticker for your ID.

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.

Where to Shop in Auckland - Winter/Outdoor Clothes

Kathmandu, Macpac and Bivouac in Sylvia Park mall

Winter jackets are just too expensive in Manila. Unless you can borrow from a relative or you get lucky at the ukay-ukay, it's better to buy your jackets and other winter gear here. Mahal ang regular price, oo, pero madami naman ang naka-sale or clearance (last season's collection), so lumalabas mas mura pa rin kumpara sa Manila.

First on our list is Kathmandu. It is an Aus/NZ outdoor clothing brand. Think of it as the Bench of outdoor clothing here. Quality of the products is not the best (compared to let's say North Face, Berghaus or Patagonia), but it will get you by. Kathmandu has baselayers, fleece pull-overs, down (insulated) jackets, softshells and rain jackets--the works! My tip for you is not to get the thickest (and usually the most expensive--from NZ$300 to NZ$400) jacket you find. Unless you're going camping on a snow capped mountain, you won't need that thick jacket. Instead, buy layers of clothing. You remove or put on layers depending on the weather, which fluctuates quite often within the day here in Auckland. One moment malamig, tapos mamaya a-araw, and then later uulan. So here are the essentials:

1. Buy a bunch of baselayers. Polyprops (NZ$20) or Wool/Merino (NZ$40).
2. Get a couple of fleece pull-overs (NZ$50).
3. Buy a down jacket (NZ$100). It's the puffy jacket filled with duck or goose feathers. 
4. And then a rain jacket (NZ$100-150).

Another tip is under any circumstances, do NOT buy at regular price in Kathmandu. Like I said, hindi naman siya high quality. Wait for the products to go on sale. Only buy at 50% off. Better if 70% off. 

The Kathmandu store I go to is on Queen Street. But they also have stores in Newmarket and Sylvia Park mall.

The next outdoor clothing brand is Macpac. Like Kathmandu, Macpac is an Aus/NZ brand. I think Macpac is slightly of higher quality than Kathmandu, but just the same, do NOT buy the regular price. Wait for it to go on sale.

There are two Macpac stores in the city. One is on Vulcan Lane (pictured above). and the other is at Britomart. 

For those more accustomed to US brands, there's Mountain Designs. I am a big fan of this store since they sell Columbia apparel. And they are cheaper compared to ROX, SM or Rustan's in Manila. For example, a Columbia insulated jacket at ROX was priced at PhP8,000.00. I bought the same jacket at Mountain Designs for PhP4,500.00 (NZ$140.00). A Columbia long sleeve shirt in Manila cost around PhP2,500. I got mine in Mountain Designs for just PhP1,200 (NZ$35).

The Mountain Design store I frequent is located inside Westfield Downtown Shopping Center, across Britomart. Meron din branches sa Newmarket at Sylvia Park mall.

Last on this list is Bivouac. Like Mountain Designs, Bivouac sells international brands. Mas higher end ang Bivouac. It holds North Face, Arc'teryx, Helly Hansen, Marmot, Outdoor Research and Patagonia, among others. So they are more expensive. However, nag-se-sale din dito. I bought a couple of caps and bags here.

The Bivouac store I go to is on Queen Street. They have another branch in Newmarket.

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!