My name is Sadie, I’m a Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management major at UM. For my beyond the classroom experience, I studied abroad in New Zealand. My semester in the North Island was unforgettable to say the least! Within the Culture and Politics theme, I chose to study in Aotearoa because of the country’s reputation for outdoor recreation and care for the environment. I was interested in the ways they managed land for recreation while honoring the use capacity of the land. I took environmental planning courses that allowed me to gain a small glimpse into the planning processes that manage sustainable land use on the North Island. There are many key players when it comes to sustainable land and water usage, and learning about the ways in which they conflict or collaborate in this realm gave me the tools to more effectively work with others to find common ground solutions to complex environmental issues.

During my stay, and in these classes, I came to realize that New Zealand has a complicated relationship with sustainable land use, much like the US. Many of the waterways are exhausted with pollutants from the agricultural industries supporting the economy in the North. It was challenging and a shock to see rivers I could not swim in, unlike what I was used to in Missoula. It reminded me of how lucky I am to live in a community like Montana where clean water island public lands are a value shared by most. 

While there, I tried my best to seek out new experiences and push the boundaries of my knowledge. One of the ways I did this was to become involved with the Wildlife Club on campus, where I learned about the aggressive invasive species elimination tactics across the country, set on eliminating non-native species like stoats and hedgehogs, which are decimating native species of plants and animals. The tactics used were far more intense than what I had seen in the US. To further educate myself on this, I maintained trap lines in the Ruahine Range, got involved in native swamp and riparian area reconstruction, and I volunteered with the Wildbase Recovery Suite aimed at rehabilitating indigenous bird species and educating the public on their importance. These experiences allowed me to familiarize myself with the land, plants, and animals of Aotearoa in a way that far exceeded classroom learning. In these activities, I gained important leadership skills like collaboration and critical thinking, as I was often on an isolated team of volunteers that needed to make important decisions in the moment.

When I left home, I was incredibly worried that I wouldn’t make friends with people or fit into the campus environment. An important aspect of my lifestyle in Missoula was participating in local music, which I was anxious about leaving behind. To fix this, I got in touch with the Student Radio Network on my new university campus, Radio Control. Immediately, they took me in and became my family throughout the semester. I began hosting my own radio show “Missing Montana” focused on linking Montana artists with New Zealand, and participating in the local scene in Palmerston North by DJing and going to shows. I gained important conversational skills though interviewing artists live on air, and learned how to foster collaboration between global communities. 

Working the deck in Tiny Club Inside the sound booth during my radio show

Overall, my experience in Aotearoa was incredible and I’ve grown so much as an individual. I’ve been inspired to find more ways to connect my love for music with my passion for outdoor recreation. I hope to visit Palmy again soon and continue my work with Radio Control!