National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries
Life at NICAI
NICAI is located on the City Campus, in the heart of the Auckland CBD. On and off campus, you will find a multitude of cultural, social and leisure activities to entertain and inspire you. There is always something happening, whatever your interests.
A vibrant, multicultural centre with a population of around 1.4 million people, Auckland is New Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan city. It is influenced by diverse cultures including European, Māori, Polynesian and Asian, which has led to numerous ethnic restaurants and regular international concerts, cultural festivals and weekend markets.
Auckland also has the largest concentration of creative sector employment in the country, holding 36 per cent of the nation’s creative jobs and nearly half of New Zealand’s creative businesses. It is also a significant creative hub regionally, accounting for 79 per cent of the region’s creative-sector employment.*
The University of Auckland’s City Campus is conveniently located in the central business district, surrounded by shops, cinemas, galleries, public libraries, entertainment centres and restaurants.
It is also within easy reach of tranquil parks and gardens, extensive native bush and uncrowded beaches. Whether you are looking for an adventurous or relaxed lifestyle, you will find it in Auckland.
As a NICAI student, you will love the lively atmosphere and diverse student community on campus. Keep up with news and student opinion through Craccum, the weekly student magazine; listen to 95bFM, the University’s radio station, for good music and gig guides; watch this website, for faculty news and events; and the University’s main website for daily information on lectures from international speakers and other events.
Enjoy live music performances in the City Campus Quad and the School of Music; drama, dance productions and other events at the Maidment Theatre; outstanding exhibitions by established artists at Gus Fisher Gallery; exhibitions by emerging talent from Elam School of Fine Arts at the George Fraser Gallery; Māori and Pacific culture at Waipapa Marae and the Fale Pasifika.
The Campus Recreation Centre has a well-equipped sports hall, studios and training rooms. There’s also a climbing wall and an assortment of group fitness classes such as aerobics, salsa, yoga and Pilates. Or you could join one of the many sports and social clubs – take your pick from baseball, basketball, canoeing, cricket, martial arts, netball, snow sports, rugby, tennis and tramping, to name a few.
There are around 15 cafés and ethnic food outlets on campus, and several student bars where you can unwind and catch up with friends. You will also find book and computer stores, post and travel agencies, a pharmacy, a hairdresser and a mini-mart on campus. The weekly market in the Quad is famous for its bargains.
Read tales of student life as blogged by four first-year students on The Inside Word.
