What university should I go to?

What university should I go to for the "true" Kiwi experience?

• I live in Canada in a relatively big town, and I'm interested in doing a student exchange in my 2nd year of university (2014). I have the option of going to either (1) University of Auckland or (2) University of Otago. I want to experience New Zealand as it really is at much as I can, so I was wondering which university would help me fulfill that dream. I have a feeling going to Auckland would let me travel around the north island quite easily, but at the same time I don't want it to be like Canada's toronto (not really a great representation of Canada since it's a big city that's quite unlike the rest of the country). I don't want half the university to be from other countries either. I hope what I'm saying makes sense, haha. So what do you guys think?

• Answer:

  Auckland is as much the real New Zealand as elsewhere. It has one-third of the country's entire population after all. New Zealand is a very multi-cultural country, one of the most immigrant-heavy nations in the world. Auckland has the world's largest Polynesian population and the largest concentration of the native Maori people. There is a vibrant Pacific feel to the city. You definitely won't confuse it with Toronto. The whole city is lined with black or golden sand beaches, with the west coast home to a major surf culture. West Auckland is also home to many vineyards and the beautiful Waitakere ranges with their waterfalls and rainforest. In terms of culture, Auckland is home to most NZ pop-culture, and the setting for most NZ TV shows. The Kiwi lifestyle here is very relaxed. You'll probably immediately be shocked to see people walking around barefoot in public, at malls, in supermarkets, everywhere, people of all ages. Kids even go to primary school barefoot if they want. The pace of life is slower and I know people who have visited from Hawaii who said Auckland was more laid-back than there. But at the same time there is still a night-life, 24 hour supermarkets, museums and a whole range of cultural activities. I attended Auckland Uni on an exchange back in 2006 (from the US) and ended up staying and doing my grad school there and living here ever since. Auckland Uni is a huge school and you could choose to hang out with internationals all the time if you wanted, but there are tens of thousands of Kiwi kids too. I made a load of Kiwi friends before I left school. Dunedin is a nice place but very cold compared to Auckland. Due to the NZ standard of housing (generally no central heat, insulation or double-glazed windows) it is the coldest place in the developed world to live. I know several Canadians who moved here and found Auckland winters very cold because of the lack of heating, but Dunedin is downright frigid. Otago is more Kiwi, and especially more white than Auckland but it is mainly known for its drinking/party culture and the wild antics its students get up to. Dunedin is a real student town, only 1/10th the size of Auckland, but I found it really mono-cultural. Its architecture and culture give it a much more British, or at least old European feel.