Queen Mary University of London Politics student, Ruby, studied abroad for a year at the University of Auckland. Check out their A-Z of the place…

Aoraki- also known as Mt Cook, which reflects beautifully in Lake Pukaki.

Bluebottle- watch out for these jellyfish swimming on the east coast!

Caretaker- one of my favourite cocktail bars in Tāmaki.

Dunedin/ōtepoti-  ōtepoti felt weirdly English, and then I found out it was planned by city planners in the UK that had never been there before, hence they ended up with the world’s steepest street.

Egg- a classic Kiwi insult for someone stupid.

Flat white- the most popular coffee order that Kiwis and Aussies will fight over claiming its invention.

Grapes- Aotearoa has an amazing wine industry, very yummy grapes!

Hiking- so many beautiful hikes, from volcanic, to jungle to snowy landscapes. The seven great walks are fantastic, but definitely for people who are used to lots of walking, carrying things and being cold.

Islands- Aotearoa is made up of two main islands, but also has hundreds of smaller ones including Waiheke, Rangitoto, Tirtiri Matangi, and my personal favourite, Whaakari.

Jandals– the Kiwi word for flip flops.

Kohimarama beach- one of the closest beaches to swim on, like 20 minutes away from the student accommodation.

Language- Te Reo Māori is becoming so integrated in daily life and learning it is so fun and enriching (I recommend the Drops and Kōrerero apps). Did you know that te reo only uses fourteen letters of the English language?

Mt Manganui- a dormant volcano off of Tauranga surrounded by beaches and ocean, you can genuinely see for about sixty miles!

Nuclear Free- Aotearoa is a proud member of the Nuclear Free Pacific and learning about the Rainbow Warrior and grass roots organising was so interesting.

Oppononi- tiny fishing town in Hokianga bay with the most friendly people.

Piopiotahi/Milford Sound- a must do in Aotearoa, the fjords have a completely different climate and vibe than anywhere else. I saw dolphins and seals!

Queenstown/Tahuna- perfect if you love skiing, if not the skyline gondolas might be more your thing.

Rotorua- a city full of geothermic activity including hot pools, mud pools and geysers. You walk around and everything is steaming, which is magical but also accompanied with a surprisingly potent sulphur smell.

Sunflower Thai- one of my favourite restaurants in Tāmaki, and completely vegan!

Turing Funding- the wonderful grant that helped me get all the way out here!

UV- the UV is super strong here, make sure you’re always suncreamed up. Even if it’s super cloudy, it is so easy to get sunburned.

Volcanoes– Tāmaki alone has 53 volcanoes. Mt Eden is a fantastic one to climb for views of the city and Rangitoto is a short ferry ride from the CBD, completely untouched by humans!

Waitangi Treaty Grounds- my favourite museum and experience in Aotearoa, especially for learning about Māori culture and the relations between the UK and NZ.

Xenolith- a cop out word for geography, this country has landscapes that make it feel like multiple different continents and it’s so exciting to explore each one.

Yams/Kumara- something that got me very confused at the self-service checkout at Countdown. Did you know that Kumara arrived in Aotearoa in the 13^th century by Polynesian settlers, that had already gotten the seeds from previous travels in South America?

Zeeland- the name of the Dutch province that New Zealand was named after, by the first European to see the islands.