Wellbeing in New Zealand is a three-credit hour honors seminar, focused on individual and societal health and well-being. Conducted over two weeks in Auckland and Rotorua, this course will discuss materialism, wealth, consumption, and capitalism—and their perceived role in human happiness. Participants will have the opportunity to construct new beliefs and criteria for well-being through reflective exercises, site visits, guided tours, and a group project.
Spend two weeks studying in New Zealand
Learn more about Wellbeing in New Zealand
June 10-24, 2026*
This course will also meet online during the week before travel to New Zealand.
*All travel dates are tentative and subject to international travel restrictions.
November 18, 2025
| Hutton Honors Study Abroad Fair 3:00-5:00pm HHC Great Room |
Course Title:Wellbeing in New Zealand
Academic Director & Instructor: Dawn Kutza
Syllabus Description:
New Zealanders (Kiwis) have consistently ranked in the top 10 of the world’s happiest people. They also rank high on the Global Peace Index and the Better Life Index, as well as on measures of income equality, gender equality, health, education, environmental quality, generosity, freedom, and absence of corruption. In 2019, New Zealand’s female Prime Minister enacted a framework to foster sustainable development goals, driven by well-being indicators. This system—and the impact of prioritizing and measuring human and environmental well-being—is forward-looking and sits in contrast to countries who rely strictly on GDP indicators to measure growth and success. Analyzing Kiwis’ ways of living and governance can provide insights into socio-economic factors that influence well-being at the individual and society level. New Zealand provides a poignant case study for Americans due to their historical, complex, and multifaceted cultural tensions between British settlers in the 1800s and the native Māori people—which has distinct parallels to the US’s history and relations with our Indigenous Native Americans. Moreover, the Māori people of New Zealand have a rich philosophical framework of language and culture, and traditions that promote spiritual, mental, physical, and relational health—which have permeated throughout New Zealand’s culture, education, and politics. These concepts and practices support the well-being frameworks created by the OECD and the field of Positive Psychology to promote individual and societal well-being. Join me in exploring what makes a happy life, how the field of Applied Positive Psychology contributes to it, and what Kiwi wisdom and practices can teach us about enhancing well-being in various aspects of life.
- Excursions in Auckland will include visits to the Auckland Museum, Tiritiri Matangi, and Higher Ground Papa Taumata Rehabilitation Center, as well as attending Matariki(Māori New Year) Celebrations.
- Excursions in Rotorua will include a Hobbiton Day Tour and visits to the Redwood Forest, Adventure Playground, and Thermal Hot Springs and Mitai Māori Village.
Participants will stay in centrally located hotels in Auckland and Rotorua. Hotels will be located near shops, public transportation, and classroom meeting space.
Summer 2025 Program Fee - $2100*
The program fee includes airport transfers in country, accommodations in Auckland and Rotorua, some meals, transportation to and from all excursion sites, entry fees to all excursion sites, student travel insurance, and administrative fees to cover program administrative costs.
*Program fee from summer 2025. Summer 2026 program fee will be updated later in the fall semester.
IUB Tuition - 3 credit hours
The tuition cost for this program is based on IU Bloomington tuition. The amount of tuition will vary based on student resident status. See the Student Central website for more information on current tuition rates.
Additional Variable Costs
Variable costs are paid before and after you arrive in New Zealand as you pay for roundtrip international airfare, most meals, snacks, personal expenses, and independent travel outside the program. See the program fee sheet for more details.
Note: The program fee and tuition will appear on your bursar bill and are paid directly to IU. See the program fee sheet for more details.
Scholarships
All admitted program participants are awarded an automatic HIEP Hutton Honors Study Abroad Scholarship of $1000 applied directly to the program fee. No separate application is required.
Additionally, applicants to Hutton Honors Study Abroad programs may be considered for additional merit and need-based scholarships. If finances will be a barrier to participating in your study abroad experience, we invite you to apply for these awards. Please submit your application no later than your program's final application deadline.
Note: Program participants are not eligible to apply for the HIEP Grant.
Please see the IU Education Abroad Office website for more information on other available scholarships and financial aid opportunities.