Kia Ora! My name is Chris Holstine, and for my Beyond the Classroom Experience I studied for a semester at Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand). My GLI Global Theme is Resources and Sustainability. I took multiple classes related to Resources and Sustainability, but the one that I found most interesting was called Sustainable Destination Management. In this class, I learned about sustainable tourism development and how New Zealand is attempting to make tourism the most profitable industry in the country (previously dairy production). I was able to draw connections between New Zealand and Montana during class discussions about tourism development, as Montana faces similar environmental challenges to New Zealand. There are seldom wildfires in New Zealand, but the Eastern Canterbury Plains struggle through long drought seasons which makes farming difficult. Canterbury is also having to manage agricultural runoff into rivers as the drinking water of many rural communities is contaminated. I am grateful for the classes that I took at Victoria University of Wellington, because they all involved thoughtful discussions that helped me develop a global perspective on environmental management. 

One of my favorite parts about New Zealand is their effort to include Māori culture and language in everyday life. Māori are the people who are indigenous to New Zealand, and they make up 17% of the country’s population. Nearly every place name, plant and animal species, and community event in New Zealand is named in both English and Māori. By living in New Zealand, I learned a lot about Māori culture and modern indigenous settler relationships. I appreciated Victoria University of Wellington’s emphasis on teaching indigenous knowledge as an institution that was started by white settlers. By living in New Zealand, I feel more prepared to be a leader in Montana with American indigenous perspectives in mind. I believe there are many administrative practices that American universities could be installing to promote indigenous knowledge and culture. As a leader, I want to direct change that emphasizes equity and unity between global perspectives. My Beyond the Classroom Experience has inspired me to further incorporate values of unity in my leadership. 

One of the most fulfilling parts of my Beyond the Classroom experience was travelling the North and South Islands of New Zealand. I took many road trips with new friends and spent a lot of time hiking, camping, and swimming in the ocean. I am so grateful for all the people I met and places I was able to see during my time in New Zealand. A memorable moment during my semester was taking a two-week road trip around the South Island with my parents and meeting up with two friends at Fiordland National Park to drive back to Wellington. I feel so lucky and grateful for my Beyond the Classroom Experience!