Author: Connor

Todays visit to the Te papa was very informative while also very visually stunning. I got to learn a deeper history of how the colonizers unsustainably used natural resources and what the repercussions were. I also got to learn about many animals and relatives of the kiwi that became extinct during the colonization period. The…

Today we got to visit a very successful sustainability organization that has many sustainability-based projects, but mostly framed around zero waste. Creating a circular economy where waste is looked at as. a crucial part of preserving our earth is something I have become very interested in over this last semester. It was great to get…

Today I was exposed to lots of information I never have heard before. Lots of the urban planning and architecture theories and jargon were new yet very interesting to me. The first presentation we had today stood out to me the most. His notion of picking and choosing sustainable options based on its cultural significance…

Today we got to sit down with directors at TIA which was highly informative and gave us a great insight into the goals and challenges of the tourism industry in New Zealand. It was great to talk and ask questions to learn in further details how the industry has grown over the last decade to…

Today was alot of information. It was super educating and intresting to hear the didferent ways sustainability can be achieved, and they most common struggles organizations aspiring to be sustainable encounter. I think the thing that stood out to me the most is that people who provide there own energy (through some sort of renewable…

Waimangu was an absolutely stunning geothermal site that had hot springs, geysers, craters, and many more natural features that I had never seen before. It was very fascinating to learn about the old and recent history of the site that the different events that reshaped the site. The way they harvest the geothermal heat for…

Today we interacted with professionals from Sanford Fishery, one of the leading sustainable fisheries in the world. The General Manager was very informative and led us through the processes and challenges they face to produce high quality, highly sustainable, and high-profit business model that feeds people all across the world. I thought it was interesting…

It was super fascinating to learn about the processes involved in producing wine that not only is of high quality but uses sustainable methods. Hearing about the different challenges that the growers face due to climate and goals to achieve certification wasn’t something I thought of and was really interesting. The island was beautiful, and…

Today I learned about the challenges many businesses and corporations like Sky City face when trying to make their practices more sustainable. The speaker was very informative about the different pillars of sustainability they focus on and what different plans they are implementing to increase the scope of their sustainability. The speaker also educated us…

Hi all, My name is Connor Hoemann, I’m a senior here at Whittier College studying Environmental Science. I’m from Bellingham, Washington, and love playing sports and spending time in the outdoors. I’ve never been to New Zealand or even outside of the U.S. or Canada so I’m excited to go abroad. Best, Connor