Dunedin Survival Guide

Survival Guide

Pre-departure

      I.        Important documents – It is important for you prepare all your important documents beforehand.

a.    Passport

b.    E-visa

c.    Passport photos

d.    Offer letter

e.    Accommodation lease

    II.        Food – Are we allowed to bring along food with us? The answer is YES as long as the food is dry and in a reasonable quantity. In fact, for the first few weeks you might be too busy to cook hence it is advisable to bring some instant food with you.

a.    Instant noodle

·   Preferably Maggi and Indofood – the two brands are not available in Dunedin

·   Cup noodle

b.    Canned food

·   Corned beef

·   Cuttlefish

·   Sardines

·   Baby clam

c.    Perencah

·   Nasi Goreng

·   Bihun

·   Stock cube / Kiub pati

·   Sup Bunjut

·   Brunei type curry powder

d.    Milo/Teh tarik

You can also bring Salt / MSG / Rice/ Curry powder / Sugar/ etc.

(NOTE: You can find these in supermarket)

   III.        Kitchenware – As for kitchenware, you don’t have to bring them from Brunei (especially for first years staying in Cumberland college) for many reasons:

a.    Add too much (unnecessary) weight in your luggage

Note: Air New Zealand's domestic flight to Dunedin is quite strict about luggage limit which is 20 kg.

b.    Sockets in Brunei and New Zealand are different. Therefore you need to buy an international adapter for electrical appliances.

Note: some two pin plugs do not fit with the adapter

c.    Variety of kitchenware items are available at: Kmart / Warehouse at a reasonable price.

  IV.        Clothes

a.    DO NOT bring winter clothing/gears from Brunei

Add too much (unnecessary) weight in your luggage and takes up space. Also you can find more decent winter clothing/gears at a cheaper price in Dunedin.

b.    Make sure to bring at least two baju kurung / baju cara melayu

c.    Praying necessities ( Praying mat / Telekong / Tafsir / Yassin )

d.    A hoodie / Jacket – just enough till you get your first Dunedin jacket / coat.

    V.        Bedding

a.    You don’t have to bring bedding/sheets from Brunei

b.    Bedding/sheets are available at :Kmart / Warehouse

c.    Bed and pillow sheets will be provided by Otago Uni college

  VI.        Stationaries

a.    It is important for you to bring : Laptop / Hard-drive / Pendrive for your studies (this would be useful especially since you have to do assignments and research)

b.    There are several shops available for stationaries. However, it is advisable for you to bring them from Brunei since they’re cheaper compared to getting them in Dunedin

c.    Note: only calculators on the University of Otago's list of approved calculators may be used in exam. The five models of approved calculator are:

·   Casio FX82

·   Casio FX100

·   Sharp EL531

·   Casio FX570

·   Casio FX95

 VII.        Toiletries

a.    Gayung (You can use small bottles while travelling OR if you’re lazy to add weight to your luggage – for your own use at halls/houses)

b.    Personal grooming tool

c.    It would be handy to bring an extra pack or two if you prefer brands that are only available in Asia/Brunei.

Departure 

سلامت جالن

      I.        Make sure that you are at the airport on time

    II.        Remember to carry your passport and e-ticket with you. Security may require this when in security area.

   III.        Ensure you have read the airline regulations and are well-informed about the luggage and hand luggage maximum weight. 

  IV.        Laptop and important documents should be hand carried

Arrival

 سلامت داتڠ 

      I.        Dunedin Airport (For 1^st year)

a.    Transport: Shuttle bus will be arranged for the first years prior to their arrival at the airport.

b.    Upon their arrival in Cumberland College, the first years will check in with seniors in charge.

c.    For returning student:

·   OUSA shuttles are provided by Airport Shuttles Dunedin for rides between Dunedin city and Airport (NZD 15 one-way).

·   Click here to make your booking: 

·   You need to contact the shuttle company directly to make changes or if you have enquiries.

·   Free call: 0800 477 800

    II.        Bank matters

a.    Common bank used among Bruneians is ANZ bank located on George Street

b.    There are two main accounts:

·   Tertiary Account : for everyday spending

·   ANZ Go account : for savings

c.    To open a bank account, you will need your passport and a valid student visa, university’s offer letter to prove you are a student, your NZ phone number, your NZ address and your flat/studio room’s lease agreement. Once you have opened your account, you then need to wait for another 1-2weeks for a letter (with your debit/credit card) from the bank. Only then will you be able to activate your account/card.

d.    For more information, you can go to: ANZ International Student package

   III.        Accommodation matters

a.    College: Cumberland College(For 1^st years)

·   Most (if not all) of the Bruneians live in Cumberland College in their first years. It is located at 250 Castle Street and it is only about 5 minutes away from the main campus.

·   Regarding rent payment, there are a few options you can choose when you first sign up for Cumberland College. But, most of us chose the one with 4 instalments for that year. The first instalment will be a bit more expensive than the rest due to other fees which are included. First instalment is around $4.5k and the next 3 is about $3.2k each. You can pay them at the reception counter and at anytime you wish as long as they are not overdue.

·   There are a few facilities inside Cumberland College which are open to the residents such as computer room, library, washing machine and drying machine room, shared bathrooms (although some floors have 'Boys Only' and 'Girls Only' bathrooms), multipurpose court, common room (which has a pool table, table tennis and a foosball table) and TV rooms.  

·   Each floor will have their own residential assistants (commonly known as "RA's"). They are the head of each floor. Any complaints or requests, you can ask them.

·   Cumberland College also have tutorials (which are free) twice a week for each paper. The timetable for this can be found at the notice board.

·   There are 3 meals provided in a day: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The times at which they start and finish should be found at the dining room. They also provide what the menu will be for the next day's meal together with nutritional informations (like energy count, how many grams of protein etc.). This can be found at the TV in the dining room.

b.    Studio rooms

·   These rooms generally provide a fridge and tea making facilities (some also include a microwave).

·   Kitchen and bathroom facilities are often shared although some rooms have ensuites.

·   Some or all of electricity are included in rent.

·   Each resident has an individual lease and the lease period is negotiated with the landlord.

·   Rent ranges from approximately NZD 180-350 depending on the size of the room and the range of services and facilities included in rent.

c.    Flatting

·   Cooking stove, fridge and washing machine are usually provided.

·   Apart from these items, most flats are unfurnished with a growing number of flats partially or fully furnished.

·   Electricity and internet are excluded from rent – bill payment will be shared amongst the tenants.

·   If your lease states you are “jointly and severally liable” the names and addresses of all individuals in your group should be on the lease.

·   Flat cost approximately NZD 95-160 per week for a 52 weeks lease.

·   If you don’t have a group and are looking for a flat, you can obtain a list of vacancies that students have listed in Student Accommodation Centre or http://www.otago.ac.nz/flats/

·   Note: You should check that you and your prospective flatmates share similar attitudes to budget, cleanliness, quiet times, etc.

d.    For more useful tips in choosing flats, you can go to:

·   Otago Uni Student’s Association (OUSA)

Or you contact directly to Student Accommodation Centre

·   Tel: 64 3 479 8950

·   Email: accommodation@otago.co.nz

e.    Recommended websites:

·   EdinburghRealty

·   Cutler

  IV.        Phones

a.    Most Bruneians use 2degrees as their mobile phone network.

For any further details you can check at their respective website:  

2degrees

b.    There are also several others that you can choose from aside from 2degrees: Vodafone / Spark New Zealand

    V.        University matters

a.    Course approval

·   Course approvals are done online by logging into your eVision.

b.    University ID cards

·   After Course Approval you must obtain a University Identification Card from the ID Card Office in the information Services Building. You will need this card to access many of the University's facilities.

·   You need to bring your passport.

c.    Blackboard:

·   where the papers for each semester you take will be posted; Access to communication tools, course materials, discussion forums and online assessment

·    https://blackboard.otago.ac.nz

d.    eVision:

·   where you select your programmes or papers

·   Check your timetable – provisional timetable will be available once paper selection has been completed. This is subject to change. The timetable will be finalised before the start of semester. You will be notified for any further timetable changes.

·   Check your final exam result

·   Have an access to your invoice / finance

e.    Academic Orientation ( February 2016 )

·   22^nd – Convocation ceremony

·   24^th – Course advise for Health Science 1^st Year, International Student Information and Expo and Support and Services Expo

·   26^th – Preliminary lectures for first semester and full year papers

·   27^th – OUSA International Food Festival

For more detailed information go to: http://www.otago.ac.nz/otago-life/orientation/otago117417.html

f.     Preliminary lectures

·   Many departments will hold preliminary lectures for first semester and full year papers on the Friday before the first week of lectures to inform you where formal lectures will be held and to give you other information about the papers for which you are enrolled.

  VI.        Praying

a.    Masjid Al-Huda: 21 Clyde Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin

b.    On-campus prayer is also provided to Muslim University Student’s Association (MUSA) http://otagomusa.com/

c.    Dunedin prayer times can be obtained from FIANZ website: www.fianz.co.nz/prayer-times/dunedin

d.    Located upstairs in the University Union Building, alongside the Post-Grad Humanities study area. Available for all Muslim students and staff to use, with a curtain dividing prayer areas for women and men. There are bathrooms near the room for ablutions prior to prayer. Access to the Prayer rooms requires swipe card access using Student ID. Swipe card access is arranged by emailing your full name and Student ID number to Greg Hughson, University Chaplain, greg.hughson@otago.ac.nz.

 VII.        Transport

a.    Bus:

·   GoCard stores your money for bus fares, eliminating the need to carry cash

·   Minimum deposit on a card is $10

·   Students with a GoCard and a valid student ID will receive a 25% discount.

·   Get your GoCard in Dunedin from the University Bookshop, 378 Great King St.

b.    Scarfie shuttle

·   OUSA shuttles are provided by Airport Shuttles Dunedin for rides between Dunedin city and Airport.

·   Click here to make your booking: 

·   You need to contact the shuttle company directly to make changes or if you have enquiries.

·   Free call: 0800 477 800

c.    Rental car

·   Instead of taking a bus or calling a taxi, you can always rent a car in Dunedin.

·   Driving requirement: 18 years old and above whom hold Driver License in English.

·   Recommended websites: JUCY / Airport Rental