When it comes to catering during your studies in New Zealand, the universities there have a lot more to offer than L&P or pineapple lumps from vending machines. Depending on the location and size of the campus , numerous catering facilities cater to New Zealand students outside of the courses .
At the universities and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs), the catering for students hardly differs. Instead of going to a cafeteria, they get breakfast, lunch or snacks in the surrounding cafés, bistros or restaurants . Depending on the accommodation , students take care of their own food or use the university’s daily catering. Accordingly, the cost of living to study in New Zealand varies .
Depending on the place of study, students have a wide range of dining options. For international students, New Zealand cuisine is sometimes more, sometimes less different from the usual food at home. The most diverse cultures shape the menu cards in gastronomy, so that fish, meat and vegetables are available everywhere . A cultural preparation for studying abroad is nevertheless useful in this regard in order to counteract later homesickness.
Catering on campus in New Zealand
A cafeteria, as is usually the case at universities in Germany, does not exist in New Zealand. Instead, students will find various cafes, snack bars, bistros and restaurants on the campus of New Zealand universities. Some of the coffee shops and fast food outlets are grouped together in so-called food courts . Well-known restaurant chains are located here as well as private cafés and bars.
The various dining options offer a wealth of dining options while studying in New Zealand. For every time of day and every taste there is the right food to replenish the reserves after the lecture, for example with Mince & Cheese Pies or Lamingtons.
Vegetarian food is usually available everywhere and vegans can often find something suitable in New Zealand as well. The various catering options are usually briefly described on the university website and shown on the campus map. Students can also find information about the range and opening times here. Most of them offer their snacks and drinks from eight or nine o’clock .
Training restaurants
A special highlight of the culinary offer at New Zealand universities are the training restaurants at some ITPs. Students from the fields of food and beverage or restaurant management work here under real conditions and test their knowledge. According to the curriculum, the students train a certain focus over a certain time. As a result, they offer visitors and fellow students, for example, a Christmas dinner or a large breakfast buffet. These training restaurants usually have limited opening times and are closed during the semester break.
Catering in the dormitory
When applying to study in New Zealand , students indicate whether they would like to live in a student residence. The universities recommend this type of accommodation especially for first-year students and international students. The all-inclusive student dormitory package allows you to concentrate fully on your studies. In the so-called residential halls , residents eat in a large dining room . The dormitories provide breakfast, lunch and dinner with a well-stocked buffet. This offer means that living in the student dormitory is expensive, but the full board means that the time-consuming shopping and cooking for the students is no longer necessary .
Off-campus catering in New Zealand
Depending on the location of the university in New Zealand, students use the cafes, snack bars and restaurants in the area in addition to the on-campus restaurants.
In multicultural New Zealand , a wide range of dishes found. New Zealand cuisine is mainly influenced by South and East Asian countries, the Pacific island states and America. As a result, the restaurants offer food for every budget and taste, from hamburgers to sushi and Asian stir-fries. A popular takeaway is the originally British fish n ‘chips.
In addition to the various immigrant groups, Māori dishes also have their place in New Zealand’s gastronomy. Students experience a special experience like the Hāngi on excursions or cultural encounters with the Māori, which many New Zealand universities offer.
Self catering
If you live in a self-catered or private apartment , you will take care of the food yourself during your studies in New Zealand. The New Zealand apartments are usually equipped with appropriate kitchenettes for this purpose . This form of catering is particularly suitable for students who want to know exactly what they are eating. This applies to allergy sufferers, for example, or to food intolerances and religious regulations.
New Zealanders go shopping in the dairy around the corner or in one of the large supermarkets on the outskirts . Here you can usually find seasonal, inexpensive offers. The opening times are ideal for those who decide on the spur of the moment, as many grocery stores are open until late seven days a week. Some supermarkets even offer an online service so that groceries can be delivered to your door.
Homestay
Students who choose a homestay usually receive a packed lunch from their New Zealand host family. It usually contains sandwiches or pies that many international students do not find unusual. A culinary culture shock , for example with the Marmite & Chip Sandwich, popular in New Zealand, rarely occurs. Ultimately, the exciting thing about the homestay is getting to know new things and immersing yourself fully in a different culture.
A homestay includes breakfast and dinner as well as a packed lunch . In New Zealand it is common for everyone to have breakfast individually, mostly cereal or toast. However, dinner is the most important meal of the day and is shared with the family. A sociable barbecue on the beach with family and friends is therefore a popular pastime in New Zealand. International students have the opportunity to learn more about New Zealand culture, especially when they eat together and talk to them.
Meals in New Zealand
While NZ $ 4.00 New Zealand coffee is worth every penny of buying food on campus on a regular basis, New Zealand can run for a quick buck. The provision of snacks on campus is a little cheaper compared to going to a restaurant, but it often does not include dinner.
A cost-saving alternative, and one that is widespread among the kiwis, is prepared food that students bring from home. Most universities even provide small kitchens or microwaves in which self-caterers can warm up their food. This saves students some of the cost of meals while studying in New Zealand.
Seasonal offers or regional products, for example on the market, also offer an opportunity to reduce the cost of the daily meal. For meals during your studies in New Zealand you will need around NZ $ 70 to NZ $ 100 per week .
