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Barry Fischer from Moraga, California was awarded a 2009
Fulbright US Graduate Award to research opportunities for New Zealand
stakeholders to help develop renewable energy projects in Pacific Island
nations, at Massey University Wellington. Barry recently completed his
Fulbright exchange and headed home by way of the Copenhagen, where he
attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference alongside a contingent
of young New Zealanders.
In virtually every city I traveled to across New Zealand, I always seemed to find myself in the botanic garden! I have no choice but to find deeper meaning in these gardens’ strong pull on me: my Fulbright exchange to New Zealand was an experience through which my professional and creative interests truly bloomed. From an academic and professional perspective, my Fulbright scholarship
enabled me to gain valuable hands-on experience in the area of sustainable
energy development. With the support of Massey University’s Centre
for Energy Research, I set out on a research project to answer the following
question: What opportunities exist for New Zealand stakeholders to help
achieve clean energy development in the Pacific Islands? Motivated by
New Zealand and the United States of America’s new International
Partnership for Energy Development in Island Nations, I conducted an extensive
series of interviews with New Zealand Government officials, energy companies,
and academics to gauge their views and interest in Pacific Islands’
energy development. Then, as a specific case study, I worked to assess
options for delivering electricity to villages in Vanuatu – a Pacific
archipelago nation wherein more than 70% of the population (of 230,000)
does not have access to reliable electricity. Based in Wellington, I quickly came to appreciate my adopted city’s
compactness, fusion of quirkiness and sophistication, and fantastic views.
I think my favorite now-defunct Kiwi band, The Mutton Birds, aptly praised
Wellington (in a song named after the city) for its convenient layout:
“And you can walk everywhere ’cause nowhere’s very far.”
Indeed, my policy-related research efforts were strongly aided by my flat’s
close proximity to New Zealand’s Government Ministries – all
of them less than a fifteen-minute downhill walk through the Botanic Garden
(or three-minute cable car ride if necessary!). I greatly benefited from,
and am profoundly grateful for, my interviews with New Zealand’s
public servants: a program manager at NZAid helped me to think through
the role of energy in Vanuatu society; a Director at the Ministry of Economic
Development provided insights about the strengths of the New Zealand energy
sector; and experts at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
connected me with Kiwi companies and consultants who have worked on small-scale
renewable energy systems. In pursuing my Fulbright project, I had the wonderful opportunity to
travel around New Zealand to conduct interviews and also to enjoy New
Zealand’s world famous outdoors (unlike L&P soda, world famous
even beyond New Zealand!). My project work took me as far north as Waimauku
near Muriwai Beach – where I spent a day learning about a wood-to-electricity
technology that might be applicable to Vanuatu – and as far south
as Dunedin, where I presented my research at the University of Otago’s
Energy Research Symposium. Because I’m always keen on world records,
I took the time in Dunedin to stroll up the world’s officially steepest
street, Baldwin Street. However, a local gentleman I spoke with was adamant
that Baldwin is not even the steepest street in Dunedin! My other adventures
on the South Island included cruising through Milford and Doubtful Sounds,
hiking on Fox Glacier, and conquering the Abel Tasman Coastal Track with
friends from the Wellington Tramping Club. I also developed some culinary
favorites while in Fiordland and Westland: venison pies and whitebait
fritters – Kiwi comfort food at its best! In between my research obligations and travels, I also found time to
explore my creative interests. Perhaps most interesting was my foray into
Wellington’s comedy community: I became a practicing member of the
Wellington Improvisation Troupe, through which I was encouraged to try
out stand-up comedy. It turned out that doing stand-up comedy was great
fun and was also a terrific platform for me to comment on my cultural
observations about being an American living in New Zealand. I think one
of my most original jokes involved pointing out that, even though the
All Whites (New Zealand men’s national soccer team) defeated Bahrain
to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, the two countries have some key similarities:
“Baa, Rain... you know, because New Zealand has a lot of sheep, and
a lot of precipitation.” Well, maybe it was not one of my best jokes,
but it was definitely original! Even after concluding my Fulbright scholarship in New Zealand, I have
actively kept in touch with Kiwi friends, and I have also formed new friendships
with Kiwis on the other side of the world. In particular, just a few days
after departing Wellington, I landed in Copenhagen where I would serve
as a non-governmental observer at the United Nations Climate Change Negotiations
from 7-18 December. Upon arriving at the conference, I quickly spotted
and connected with the New Zealand Youth Delegation – a group of
approximately fifteen young Kiwis who had traveled to Copenhagen to encourage
New Zealand and other countries to sign a binding and ambitious agreement
to curb global climate change. The New Zealand Youth Delegation generously
took me under their wing and even invited me to attend a reception at
the New Zealand Consulate in Denmark. Although I was the only American
at the reception, I did not feel out of place – surely an indicator
of how my Fulbright experience, in a life-changing way, had decisively
opened my eyes and mind to New Zealand’s people, culture, and ideas.
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