Like & subscribe 4 more uni life hacks
Lectures, labs and tutorials are fun, but what do you do after classes? If you’re like me and neither an alcoholic nor a social butterfly, you might be doomed to being a square commuting straight back home or being holed up in halls, forever alone. (Cue sad violin).
Suck Fhat Thit, your sage 5th-Year Arts Editor has spent the last 4 years unlearning being a loner, so you don’t have to! Here’s your one-stop shop to becoming that cool friend who’s always got plans and giving everyone on their close friends list fomo by posting stories of them living their best life out and about (and for cheap!)
95b Gig Guide
What do you mean you don’t listen to the Radio? Are you gonna tell me you don’t read Craccum next? It gives red flag energy. But seriously, if you like music, and you probably do, then jump online and check out our student radio station’s Gig Guide. It’s a comprehensive guide to (nearly) every concert in town, updated weekly. So impress your mates and pretend you have hip music taste by taking them to see an underrated indie band on K-Road. Shhh, I won’t tell.
UOA Engage
It’s not just for booking “Academic Skill” workshops and advertising your bible study class (although if you’re into those, go you). It’s also THE uni club directory! Over 250 student clubs are operating on campus. Find your niche and community; dozens of events are happening daily. Or simply scab all that free pizza. Up to you 😉 If this piques your interest, check out the club expo this week.
Follow Clubs!
I can’t emphasize this enough, but I highly recommend finding a bunch of Clubs you’re even just vaguely interested in and following their Instagram pages. They’ll post all their events and other stuff you might be interested in on their stories so you can keep your finger on the pulse.
What’s On
This is the “Official UOA Events Page”; think of it as Engage Premium. Not that it’s more expensive, but rather the catering is superior. This is because the events are usually academically focused, and the target audience is Lecturers and study sweats. But it’s still a place to find things to do, especially during themed weeks such as Sports Week or Comedy Week.
Shadows and AUSA
Although Shadows “Shads” Bar, located under the Quad, has endless entertainment for day drinkers, it is often host to various pub quizzes and parties, too. It’s run by AUSA (our corporate overlords), so I am contractually obliged to tell you to follow AUSA for the latest info on the cool shit they put on for students all the time. Convert your new tutorial acquaintances into besties by inviting them to AUSA’s Alfred Street Party on Wednesday.
Academy Cinema
Located just minutes away from the City Campus, in the Auckland Central Library’s basement, is the cosiest and coolest theatre in town. They screen a variety of indie, classic, international and mainstream films. Best of all, they have $5 movies all day on Wednesdays, which is budget-friendly! Seriously, what can you buy for $5 these days?
Auckland Live
Run by the City Council, it is a collection of mostly free events that they host all year long. From music in the parks to night markets and cultural festivals, there’s something for everyone happening every week across town. You’ll probably need an AT Hop Card to get to them, so make sure you exploit that Tertiary Concession.
Auckland Arts Festival in March
Just around the corner is the Auckland Arts Festival, which is a collection of over 200 events happening over 18 days from the 7th to the 24th of March. About 20 or so are free, and the rest are pretty affordable, as student discounts are available. Talented musicians, comedians, artists and performers from around the world come to Tamiki Makarau for this so you can appear super cultured by taking your mates by dragging them to one of these shows. Some of my personal highlights I’m keen to check out are Angélique Kidjo (5x Grammy winner), Jeff Mills, The O.G.s and Not King Lear.
Auckland Art Gallery
It’s minutes from the Quad on the other side of Albert Park, opposite the construction site. They have events almost every other day, from workshops to performing arts. Most are free; the rest are cheap and even free if you have a membership, which is worth it if you plan to go regularly to see the exhibitions. If you’re fartistic like me, then float on down and get amongst it. Plus, Art Gallery dates are in: this author recommends making a great impression on that special someone by first taking them on a cute cafe date on Kitchener Street for added effect.
Posters
You might have already seen the chaotic corridors of posters around campus. They’re easy to ignore, and admittedly, many are outdated. BUT! Do occasionally stop and look. Actual stuff is posted there, like research studies where you get paid to do surveys, free Vinyl records and ads to see The Proclaimers live. I recommend walking 500 steps (not miles) to either the Humanities building (206), the General Library Basement or the science foyer (301) and having a look.
Shameless Plug
If you found any of these ideas helpful, read Craccum weekly as we report on interesting stuff around campus. Studies have shown holding a Craccum magazine in your hand increases your latent skux, drip and swag levels by 200%, so congrats, you’re already killing it. Be busy and enjoy your time as a student. UOA has culture; you just need to know where to find it, and now you do, so do with that as you will chief 😉
https://95bfm.com/guides/entertainment-guide
https://auckland.campuslabs.com/engage/
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/life-on-campus/whats-on.html
https://www.academycinemas.co.nz/5-wednesday
https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/
https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/search/events?date-range=future
