Intern OZ and Intern NZ

I have been able to spend the past several weeks in Dunedin, NZ doing a pharmacology research internship at the University of Otago in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department. Everyone in the program at the school is incredible and willing to take the time to help us learn. They are very patient and more than happy to take any questions. Additionally, everyone has been helpful in giving tips about what areas are the best to explore as well as all the best places to eat, grab a cup of coffee, etc. We have met some incredible people and I LOVE the city of Dunedin. It's so unique and there's actually a lot of must see areas here. My personal favorites have been Tunnel Beach (surprisingly not far from the main city), the Botanic Gardens, and the Town Belt. It's been so much fun wandering around and trying all of the coffee here too. So far my favorite cafes have been The Good Oil, The Governor's Cafe, and Modak's. They all have something slightly different to offer but they're all places I suggest people go if they're in Dunedin. Additionally, there are plenty of fun little shops to pop into to look for souvenirs or just to waste time. The Otago Museum and the Settler's Museum are both good areas to learn some local history and just to learn, in general. On Saturday mornings there's a farmer's market outside of the Train Depot that runs from about 8 am to 12 pm. It has a lot of fun vendors and good food/coffee trucks. I would definitely suggest an extended weekend in Queenstown if possible. It was an amazing little town with lots of great food, beautiful hiking, and a lovely beach along the lake. There are a lot of thrill-seeking activities to participate in there including bungee jumping, sky diving, parasailing, boat rides, luge rides, etc. It's a great outdoor mecca!
As far as helpful tips go, I would for sure bring a GOOD pair of shoes. The city of Dunedin is pretty walkable and there's a lot of neat places to explore if you are happy to walk. There is decent enough public transportation though, if you're more interesting in purchasing the GoCard and getting around via bus. If you're coming during spring or fall, the weather is VERY changeable. I have been here during springtime and it has ranged from beautiful, hot and sunny days to COLD, overcast, rain or even slightly snowy days. Always be ready for rain too. Many times we've gone out in the morning to a blue and sunny sky only to leave the campus and it be raining and windy. Just be prepared. Try to plan to go shopping at one of the local grocery stores (Pak N Save or Countdown are close to where we've been staying and Pak N Save tends to be a little cheaper). Eating out for every meal is not very feasible when you're here for so many weeks and prices tend to be a bit high, however, the exchange rate does work in favor of US money.
As far the impact this program has held on my future endeavors, well, there's a lot. I am nearly done with pharmacy school in the United States and I certainly have plans for what I hope to do there but I have a renewed interest in working in a lab. I used to do cell culture in undergrad and I now wish I could continue to do it after practicing again here. Who knows, maybe I'll end up working on a PhD in Pharmacology in the future ;-).

I really had a good experience with the kind staff and the clear interaction.
They are good at listening actively to make sure that people trust them are on the right path.
I would definitely recommend this to my friends who are looking for an internship.
They got a right company with the skills which I am looking to explore it is all because of their interest to show me the right pathway. Totally Very Good.

I started my internship in April 2018 and it was for three months in a role of an Admin. My experience with Intern NZ was positive and I found the staff very helpful and polite. I am thankful to Intern NZ for guiding me rightly in selecting the suitable field of internship for me. This internship program also helped me to receive a job offer.
I had great fun during the social events organised by Intern NZ where I able to meet interns coming from different countries and I made good friends. Especially the experience of a weekend trip to New Plymouth & the Waikato Glow-worm caves was amazing. After the internship, I am surely missing the social meets and fun time with them.
For the future participants, New Zealand is the most beautiful country and I would highly recommend to all those who are looking forward to an internship should consider Intern NZ for the internship process.

I am currently in my 3rd week of a 10 week internship with this organization. So far I am having a great time! There is a lot of independence with this organization, which is good if you like to form your own experiences abroad and difficult if you are used to structured group programs. I love the nonprofit I am interning with, and I was lucky to be placed in the same housing unit as another intern. One downside is that the organization is not clear on the housing before you arrive, so I was very surprised to find that I was in a dormitory with 50 people, instead of a small, private intern house which is what I had understood it to be. There's a lot of support before you get to New Zealand, but they pretty much leave you alone after that, with a few checkins and social activities about twice a month.

This year was the second time I used the services of Intern NZ, after using their service last year. After great satisfaction last year regarding my internship, was I determent to return to New Zealand again, which was made possible because of the services of Intern NZ. Their service is really good, especially in case of issues. There were issues with my first internship and Intern NZ reacted fast and found me another internship company. I only use their internship and activities service, since I prefer to arrange my housing, but it is great that they offer a service like that. It was great that their service made it possible for me to visit New Zealand and I will definitely return to New Zealand. When you go to New Zealand, be prepared, especially in terms of finance, since New Zealand might me more expensive than your own country of origin. And after you have arrived, or travel with a group or join their trips around New Zealand. Don't forget to inform them regarding your internship time, since my internship time was different than what was registered in their system, so I missed out on some events.