New Staff

We are very happy to introduce two new staff members into the New Zealand Lattitude Office! We have two new Project Co-Ordinators - Maaren Bazuin and Lorna Murrell. Interns Waipora and Jenn are now on their placements and we hope they are having a great time.



Hello

My name is Lorna Murrell and I am excited to have joined the Lattitude team. I am originally from the UK and have been here for 16 years. I am also an ex volunteer from 2006 where I was placed in a school in the UK. I had the time of my life and learnt so much. I backpacked around Europe and saw so many amazing places. After returning I completed my Diploma in Business.

I am exciting about learning new things and meeting the volunteers.

Maarten Bazuin

Prior to joining Lattitude Global Volunteering Maarten taught public school teachers in Korea. Maarten has also been campaign manager for SAFeAGE, worked for Biowatch and Greenpeace, worked as a teacher of children with learning disabilities in South Africa and ran a Harley-Davidson motorcycle rental business and workshop. He has done volunteer work in Africa, Asia and in New Zealand and is passionate about education and the environment. In his free time Maarten is a HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) instructor and a medieval re-enactor. Having travelled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and

Asia, he can advise volunteers from personal experience.

Applications are now open for 2011

Well it has been a very busy couple of months for the Lattitude Gloabl Volunteering New Zealand office. Laura our intern has completed her intership and is now on her Lattitude placement in South Africa. While we wish her all the best for her time in South Africa we also miss her technical skills as she was our main blogger!

We are currently looking to recruit a new intern. This is an ideal position for a returned Lattitude volunteer or a new grad. The position will start in April and will last for around 9 months. It is a great way to gain some valuable work experience in a Not-For-Profit organisation. At the completion of your internship we will provide you with a fully funded placement overseas! Applications close Friday 26 of February. Go to www.lattitude.org.nz for more details about our organistion or to Seek or Trade me jobs for the job description.

Applications are also open for volunteers wanting to take a gap year in 2011. Application forms are available from our website www.lattitude.org.nz. Please feel free to phone the office if you need more information (06) 350 5920

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.

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

Meet the team!

Now that you know what Lattitude is all about I thought I should introduce you to the rest of our team. We are a small team of four based in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Katie Stalham is our project coordinator. She deals with all pre-departure preparation, helps incoming volunteers in New Zealand, looks after your money. Katie likes the colour pink and is learning how to crochet.

Michelle Vooght is our Administration Assistant. If you call or email the office you will most likely speak to her, she also handles applications from prospective New Zealand volunteers. Michelle has a tendency to tidy the office in secret when everyone else is away.

Laura Pope is our Intern. She does lots of techy website stuff, heads off on jaunts across the country to talk to school leavers and puts together our monthly newsletter. Laura is fond of the occasional peppermint slice and has a serious caffeine addiction.

We hope to be updating our blog frequently with exciting news from the world of Gap Years and international volunteering. For more detailed information please visit our website.