Going wild over aquaculture

Alifah Khumaini, a veterinary technology student in Indonesia, said it would be a lie to say she didn’t experience a huge culture shock upon arriving in Nelson for the semester, but was more shocked by the weather and is grateful that spring has arrived. 

“It has been practically freezing for someone who has lived in a more tropical country,” she said.   

However, Alifah is warmed by the welcoming community here in Nelson. 

“Everyone here seems nice,” she says. “This might be the most I have greeted people I don’t know on the street.” 

Alifah is one of the eight students from the IISMA cohort studying aquaculture at NMIT and has always been passionate about animals and wildlife. She even researched a lot about the endemic birds and other animals in New Zealand before arriving. 

“Aquaculture has always been the cherry on top for me whenever I studied animals, as marine mammals are some of my favorites. Learning a more thorough subject has been a wonderful experience,” she says. 

The hands-on experiences are both educational and exciting for the group. 

“Did you know that on the second day of our study here at NMIT, we experienced how to help grow trout babies?” 

“Going on field trips to explore the local fisheries has been wonderful,” Alifah says, “and it's great to learn more about aquaculture here. I'm pursuing a more environmental-related subject, and as a conservation enthusiast, I couldn't ask for more!” 

The group hasn’t just been learning, though. They’ve been sharing their own cultures, too. 

 A highlight was the celebration of Indonesia’s Independence Day on August 24th, held at NMIT. The event, featuring Indonesian food, a formal ceremony, and lively performances, brought together about 80 people from the local community.  

It was a beautiful exchange of culture and connection, reminding everyone just how vibrant and diverse the ākonga (students) are at NMIT.