Join the Club

There are more than 200 clubs, societies, and associations here at the University of Auckland, so it’s not that much of a stretch to say…there’s a club for everyone!

We’ve hand-picked three friendly club members to tell us what their student groups are about and what they got up to in 2021.

Auckland University Strength Society

Dana Ye-Lee, President

Area of study: Mechatronics Engineering & Exercise Science

Why did you join the club?

I wanted to help contribute to a community that could bring together people from various backgrounds, who were all passionate about strength sports or fitness, or those who were interested in getting started in the gym but were too shy!

Sum the club up in one sentence

Promoting the health and wellbeing of members through physical fitness in an encouraging and supportive community.

What does a typical club gathering look like?

Lots of smiles, loud cheering, words of Ronnie Coleman affirmation and people giving their all! At our sit-down seminars and workshops, there are lots of inquisitive and curious faces, laughter and brain gains!

The 2021 club highlight was:

Two successful AMRAPathon events with record attendance, and excellent turnout at the inaugural female-only training nights! Seeing people smile and feel comfortable in the gym at our events always reminds us of why we love what we do!

Plans for 2022?

To continue the successful running of well-established AUSS events and introduce new ones, whilst expanding our reach to help promote health and confidence in the gym.

University of Auckland Dessert Society

Nicole Brennan, Events Head

Area of study: Politics & Criminology

Why did you join the club?

I wanted to be a part of something fun on campus outside of my study and being on this team sounded like a great opportunity to meet some fun people.

Sum the club up in one sentence

A creative group of students that have an itch to fix their sweet tooth.

What does a typical club gathering look like?

Second semester was our first sendoff for the club. Due to lockdown a lot of our events went online. Our launch night was in-person and was a big success. The exec talks to the club and provides a fun dessert to eat while we all get to hang out. We keep in mind various dietary options so more people can be involved.

The 2021 club highlight was:

Working with Giapo on our gelato design competition. At the end of the semester, we were able to announce a winner from our club and Giapo sold that design as the weekly special.

Plans for 2022?

We hope to continue our ice cream competition with Giapo, hold a Cultural Gala night, and many more sweet functions.

Vietnamese Auckland University Students’ Association (VAUSA)

Quang Le, Co-President

Area of study: Education and Employment Relations & Organisation Studies

Why did you join the club?

To create a student group aiming to foster a supportive and inclusive student community alongside my awesome team.

Sum the club up in one sentence

VAUSA is a place to feel belonged, make friends, learn, and have fun. A home far away from home.

What does a typical club gathering look like?

At VAUSA, it’s all about quality. We normally host an event every one to two months, and the goal is to bring everyone together under a friendly, wholesome vibe! Whether it’s the sports tournament or the Lunar New Year gathering, we always try to create an interactive environment for our members. Afterwards, we finish the event by catering yummy food and allowing heaps of time for our members to get to know each other.

The 2021 club highlight was:

VAUSA came into 2021 aiming to foster a supportive and inclusive space for the wider student community. We have had a significant increase in new members consistently throughout the year and brought a sense of Vietnam to New Zealand by organising the Lunar New Year or Tết (in Vietnamese) event in February, where we had traditional Vietnamese cuisine, board games, activities, and music.

We have been very successful this year in many ways, from recovering and bouncing back from Covid-19, forming connections with other students’ associations to creating better quality events, based on the participants’ feedback.

Plans for 2022?

2021 was such an incredible year (well, not the lockdown part!) and we’re looking forward to bringing 2022 to another level. We want to create bigger events and extend our range of activities to be more than just physical and virtual events. We are dedicating a lot of effort to our 2022 Lunar New Year gathering, and we hope it will be wonderful and unforgettable for our members, many of whom have not gone back home for 2 years already due to border closures. Nevertheless, VAUSA always strives to be more culturally inclusive by welcoming anyone regardless of their cultural background. See you guys at Club Expo 2022!