Cultural Excursions

New Zealand 3

 
Bay of Islands/Treaty of Waitangi
This excursion combines a day on the Bay of Islands aboard the Carino. In addition, the class will visit the museum and site of the famous "Treaty of Waitangi," the single most important treaty established between the European-background New Zealanders, and representatives of dozens of Maori tribal groupings.  We stay at the famous Haruru Falls Resort.

Rotorua
Rotorua combines some of the most unusual geothermal activity in the world (complete with geysers), and is a sacred land of the Maori. Many Maori institutions have been established here, offering cultural experience evenings and tours of Maori educational institutions. Rotorua is also a major tourist location, and a day will be spent partly at the "Agrodome", at Skyline, and attending a Maori Dinner and Program.

Wellington
This is the capital city of New Zealand, and will offer a deeper understanding of the political climate of New Zealand, its governing system, and a trip to the National Museum.  Students will be encouraged to participate in the rich cultural life of this great city, and we stay right in the heart of the business district of the city, only 15 minutes walk from Te Papa, the ‘Smithsonian of New Zealand’.

Maori Intensive - Gisborne
Through Maori leaders of the Anglican Church in New Zealand, we are arranging an intensive weekend where students stay on a Maori College campus, and meet with local Maori religious and cultural groups.  Gisborne is off the normal “tourist track”, and offers important opportunities to interact with New Zealanders in a smaller town environment rich is Maori history and culture throughout the area.  In the last two years, we have arranged to visit the Maori “Marae” where the film “Whale-Rider” was filmed, and this remains our plan, subject to events on this living, working Maori residence area.