The Norwegian siblings are used to playing outside at school when the mercury drops to -10degC or below at this time of year.
They have just arrived in Dunedin and are struggling to acclimatise to temperatures which are expected to soar to 33degC when they start North East Valley Normal School tomorrow.
Talk about going from one extreme to another.
They will go to the school for the next six months while their father Rob conducts agricultural research for Ruralis, an institute at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Trondheim.
``In New Zealand, it would be considered child abuse if you put them outside at -10,'' Dr Fischer said.
``We'll find out if Marita and Quinn consider it child abuse to have to go outside at 30degC at this time of year.''
The children said it was ``boiling hot'' but they had quickly grown accustomed to wearing shorts and jandals, and they were looking forward to making new friends at school.
Dr Fischer said school in New Zealand would be very different for them.
In Norway, their day started at 8am with about 30 minutes of outdoor activities.
Classes started about 8.30am and continued until about 1.30pm, followed by more activities for another two and a-half hours.
``At this time of year, it gets daylight at 10am and it's dark again by 2pm, so they're used to going to school in the dark and coming home in the dark.''
They can speak three languages - Norwegian, German and English.
The children are among thousands across the country who will return to school this week.
