Twenty two ambassadors boarded New Zealand Airlines Flight NZ822 on 13th April to begin a 2 phase journey with the above clubs in New Zealand. The group came together at the Sky Tower Hotel for a brief stay in Auckland before travelling by coach to the first journey in Whangerei.
A day tour of the city and near country had been arranged and all ambassadors had an enjoyable, if cold and wet time, finding out about this place. En route to Whangerei, a stop was made for lunch and some time inspecting the world renown Kauri museum at Matakohe. Everyone agreed the displays and dioramas were among the best they had seen.
Our hosts were prepared for us with a welcome meal upon our arrival in Whangerei and soon we were escorted to our homes for the week.
Though most of us had travelled in New Zealand before this journey, we were pleased to find many new sights and make new and renew 'old' friendships.
Between the 2 journey phases an opportunity to take part in a mini-tour was offered. The Sth Taranaki ED (Rod Walker and wife Anne) Club President (Albert Terry and wife Jocelyn) travelled to Whangerei to collect us for the southbound trip to Hawera. En route stopovers were arranged for Waitoma and Rotorua.
Rotorua provided some excellent memories. A cultural show and dinner and hotel rooms overlooking the Geyserland were highlights of our short stay here.
Further south we stopped to see the Waikato thermal area where steam is piped to turbines to generate electricity and the famed Huka Falls near Taupo.
After an inspection of an Armed Forces Museum at Waiouru our party headed for Hawera in South Taranaki. Our hosts were waiting with an welcome evening meal for us and soon we were taken to our homes for this week.
A visit was arranged at a Fur and Possum shop and manufacturing business. Many of us bought products made from wool and possum fur.
Our farewell dinner provided a time of reflection of the week we had spent with our friends in Hawera South Taranaki. It is always difficult to say ‘goodbye’.
This journey was greatly enjoyed by all ambassadors and several were able to extend their stay to visit friends made on previous journeys, both inbound and outbound with the Murray Bridge club.