THE ITALIAN EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN
NEW ZEALAND 2010
On a winter’s afternoon, on the 3rd of July 2010, Antonio Annoni, Saverio Checchi, Andrea Pelosi and Francesco Scandaglini stepped from their Qantas Aircraft at the Wellington Airport. Tyrone Gardiner, Te Utanga Tautuhi, Justin-Leigh Manuel and their parents and friends warmly greeted the four exchange students.. For the next 6 days they explored the wonders of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. They visited the national Museum Te Papa and admired its wonderful displays of New Zealand culture. They enjoyed “paintballing” and visited the shopping Malls and entertainment places of Titahi Bay. They were given wonderful meals and hospitality in the homes of our students who are shortly to be exchange students in Borgo San Lorenzo, Florence, where the Italian exchange students go to school.
On the 9th July Paul Mark Tautuhi brought the Italian students up to the Manawatu and deliver two boys to Ratana Pa, near Wanganui where Justin-Leigh hails from. The other two boys were delivered to Alec Smeaton, teacher at Hato Paora College, who lives on a farm at Colyton, near Feilding. The boys enjoyed a visit to the Windmill Turbines that generate electric power for this area and feed electricity into the national grid. The boys at Ratana Pa cooked a real Italian meal for their hostess. This was greatly enjoyed.
On Sunday morning, 11th July 2010, the Italian students, accompanied by Mrs Rosalyn Williamson, Ian Smith and Chris Morgan left Feilding for a 2000 km journey around the North Island of New Zealand, as far north as Russell in the Bay of Islands. The journey took them to the central plateau where they viewed the three volcanoes, Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngaruhoe in their winter glory. The snow has been heavy this year and skiing is in full swing. We stopped at the Memorial to those who lost their lives on Christmas Eve 1953 when the northern bound express train plunged into the swollen river at Tangiwai. The crater lake on Mt Ruapehu had broken its rim and water rushing down the Whangaehu River had caused the train bridge to be washed away. We read the story of that tragic night in the memorial placards set up on the river-bank. This tragedy is remembered ever year but modern technology has been put in place so that now a days warnings would be given well in advance if such a flood was to occur.
The next stop was at the Waitomo Caves where we were given a guided tour through these wonderful underground Glow-worm caves. They are a national treasure and visited by thousands of tourist annually. We glided silently in the boat on an underground river in darkness, lit only by the glow of the millions of little Glow-worms living in the roof of the caves. We admired the stalactites and stalagmites that have taken thousands of years to form in the roof and floor of the caves.
Our first night was spent in the home of Mr and Mrs David Wilson, cousins of Rosalyn Williamson, who own a large dairy farm, north of Hamilton. They have travelled extensively overseas and were very welcoming to our Italian guests. The boys were up bright and early to watch the Finals of the World Soccer Cup, Spain being the winner.
We travelled on to Auckland. The weather was wonderful so a lift ride up the Sky Tower in Auckland was a must. We even witnessed someone sky dive from the floor above us. We were able to have a panoramic view of Auckland City, the harbour and the outlying islands. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand. It took us 1 hour to travel the motor way which stretches south to the Bombay Hills and north to Wairewa.
Our next stop was in Whangarei where Mr and Mrs Peter Bowers were the gracious host and hostess for half the party while the others were kindly accommodated at Sandy Bay, north of Whangarei at Chris Morgan’s sister Nan and her husband’s home. They live almost on the beach and were able to arrange for the Italian boys to have lessons in Surf Boarding. This was a great success and the boys considered it the highlight of their time in NZ. They even got to standing and gliding on the waves, so brave were they in their tight fitting wet suits. The day was beautiful but the water was cold, after all it is winter in NZ at the moment.
Tuesday 13th saw us on our way to the Bay of Islands. We left the van at Paihia and took the boat across the bay to Russell. This is where the first whalers, sealers and Missionaries first arrived in NZ. The historical buildings are beautifully restored and painted. The boats from all over the world are moored in the bays and so many tourists visit this part of NZ. The peace, tranquillity and beauty are unforgettable. We spent 4 hours here. The boys enjoyed climbing around the rocks at one end of the beach. We visited Pompellier House where the first Catholic Bishop came to preach the Gospel, and we saw the first Church built in NZ. Then was time to take the boat back to Paihia for lunch and a journey on to Waitangi where the Treaty of Waitangi declaring NZ to belong to Queen Victoria, England, was signed in 1840. The boys spent time in the Maori Treaty House and in the Governor’s House that is beautifully set in grounds over looking the Bay of Islands.
We returned to Whangarei and enjoyed a lovely meal in a small hotel on the outskirts of Whangarei while Chris and his party enjoyed a lovely meal at “Snapper’s Rock” at Tutukaka, on the coast. The students seem able to adapt to the NZ menu quite easily..
Wednesday saw us travelling back through Auckland, and Tauranga, then down to Te Puke known for its Kiwi Fruit Orchards, to stay with Mrs Theresa McAllister, former teacher at Hato Paora College. We stayed the night and enjoyed time picking kiwi fruit and sampling the newly developed Golden Kiwi fruit.
Then it was time to travel down to Rotorua, the thermal wonderland of NZ. We took a guided tour through Whakewerawera to see the natural boiling mud pools and geysers.. We enjoyed a Maori cultural performance by Maori men and women wearing native costumes who entertained us in a Maori whare which was decorated with carvings and woven panels. Their singing, dances were pois and Haka (Maori war dance), were performed with grace and energy.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the town of Rotorua then travelled down to Lake Taupo, the largest lake in NZ. We visited the beautiful Huka Falls on the Waikato River, the longest river in NZ. Lake Taupo was a picture postcard with its three mountains covered in snow reflecting at the far end. The Desert Rd took us through the central plateau to join the road we had travelled up on 4 days previously, at Waiouru, the Military camp. We finally arrived back in Feilding late on Thursday night. Francesco and Andrea stayed with Rosalyn and Jim Williamson in Feilding while Antonio and Saverio stayed with Chris and Marie Morgan.
Friday was spent at Hato Paora College and the students had time to meet all the Staff and watch the senior boys practising their Kapahaka for the National Competitions to be held in Rotorua shortly. The Italian boys were also taken to the Palmerston North swimming Pool by Marie Morgan, Chris’s wife and had a look at the city. At night we gathered for a Dinner at Marie and Chris Morgan’s home. Saturday morning was spent Go-Kart riding in Palmerston North..
Saturday afternoon, the boys returned to Hato Paora College to again watch the Kapahaka and were then taken down to Wellington where they flew out from the next morning.
It was a great pleasure to have spent time with the 4 Italian exchange students. They were so interested in all we showed them and it was lovely having them live in our homes. They spoke English very well and language was no barrier. We ensured they saw as much of the North Island of NZ as possible, that they visited well-known tourist attractions, that the learnt more about Maori Culture and they enjoyed the hospitality of New Zealanders in their homes.
I wish to thank all those who hosted the Italian boys while they were in NZ. You were so generous and gracious in providing so much for the students. Your kindness is so appreciated. I know that Justin-Lee, Tyrone and Utanga will receive the same hospitality as will the adults when we travel to Italy and Turkey in September 2010.
Rosalyn N. Williamson
HOD Music
Hato Paora College
FEILDING
NEW ZEALAND.
24th July, 2010.