I was really attracted to the attitude here – everyone’s up for adventure. I loved the way it’s so easy to get to the hills, mountains and beaches. I’m an outdoorsy person and I knew the relaxed, friendly vibe would be the right fit for me.
Definitely, I’m loving every minute! The overall culture is incredibly inclusive and welcoming. The campus is beautiful, the staff are supportive and the students out there doing cool things. I really like being around motivated people!
Te Ohu Kākāriki is about promoting environmentally friendly practices throughout the uni. I’m on the exec with a bunch of friends. Last year we introduced something called “plogging”, which is where people run around and pick up rubbish. It’s been a fun way to do something for the environment while meeting other like-minded individuals.
They make it easy to find your niche. There’s such a broad range of clubs, I’ve joined six or seven just out of curiosity! From slacklining to op shopping, to languages and academics, they represent people from all different backgrounds and interests. You don’t meet many people who aren’t involved in at least one club!
Yes, I did my first year at Rochester and Rutherford Hall and since then I’ve been flatting. At UC the flatting area and uni are all one hub so my friends all live within a few k’s of each other. We often bump into each other walking to uni in the morning, it’s really cool!
"I’ve loved meeting so many outdoorsy people at uni. From mountain biking to skiing to running, we go on loads of adventures together."
Christchurch has made for an awesome training ground and I’ve encouraged numerous friends from UC into the sport. I’ve loved meeting so many outdoorsy people at uni. From mountain biking to skiing to running, we go on loads of adventures together.
Put yourself out there as much as you can, right from the start. If you’re not sure what you want to do, join some clubs. You’ll meet a huge range of people and there’s a place for everyone. You won’t regret it!