Kia Ora Tatou! (Hello Everyone!)

Well it has been a busy few days here at Lattitude HQ. Over the weekend we welcomed 49 new volunteers into New Zealand, and in the coming weeks we will have several more new arrivals.
Depsite the jet lag, everyone managed to keep to a hectic and enjoyable schedule. On Friday we were lucky enough to attend a Powhiri, a traditional Maori welcome ceremony for visitors, which was held at Wesley College outside of Auckland. Our volunteers had their singing voices with them as they made a valiant attempt at a Waiata (song) as part of the ceremony. After lunch we all go to know each other better with some games and exercises. Here are the volunteers getting together in groups according to their locations around the country:




Most of our volunteers also made a visit to the Sky Tower that afternoon, send us your pictures guys!

On Saturday we had a full day of orientation and it was a good chance to find out more about New Zealand, life as a Lattitude Volunteer, and what to expect. Special thanks go to Kat and Sara for the insights into volunteer life, and to Ra and Jen for their spirited and entertaining introduction to Maori culture (the video may shortly follow for those of you who are interested!). We'd also like to thank Coleen and Barbara for all their help and support. After a meal out on Saturday night it was time for everyone to head their seperate ways on Sunday morning. We hope all the volunteers are now settling in well, and we look forward to recieving your news and photos.

New Arrivals

In less than 48 hours we will be welcoming 50 new Lattitude Volunteers arriving into New Zealand.
We have a jam-packed weekend lined up for them, including some sight-seeing around Auckland before they all head off to their placements to start their Gap year adventures!

Things are hotting up in relation to our outgoing NZ Lattitiude volunteers for 2010. The offers from overseas are starting to filter in and we are sending out placement letters to our volunteers here. If you are reading this and you haven't yet got a letter please don't worry, we're doing all we can to make sure that as soon as we know something, you will too!

If you're still not sure what you want to do next year we do have placements available for 2010, give us a call on 06 350 5920 and we'l see what we can do.

In other news, I'm thrilled that England won the Ashes, and will try not rub it in too much when speaking to the Aussie Lattitude office. ;o)

North Island Presentation Schedule

Hi everyone,
For the next three weeks I will be hitting the road and testing my navigation skills as I cruise round some of the schools of the north island.
Last week I ventured into Auckland and got the chance to speak to some keen prospective volunteers from schools such as Rangitoto College, Auckland Girls Grammar and The Kristin school.
I also made it further up north, visiting Whangerai and the Bay of Islands,

I have made it back past the bombay hills now and the presentation schedule for the next few days looks like this:
Tuesday 4th August: Tauranga Girls
Wednesday 5th: Bethlehem College, and Te Puke High School
Thursday 6th Otumoetai College, Tauranga
Friday 7th Cambridge High school

So far the Lattitude-mobile is running well, and only needs
encouragement on particularly steep and bendy roads...
Here it is posing in front of Mount
Ruapehu on the first leg of the journey....


I'm really excited to be out and about and spreading the Lattitude Gap Year message, and judging by all the people I had coming up to ask me questions after today's presentation, you guys are interested to get involved which is excellent news.

Signing off from Tauranga,

Laura