Wellington

First of all I’d like to say a quick hello to any Spragg/Direens who might be reading this and, of course, the rest of you choir-folk!

Thursday spelt the end of our brief, yet enjoyable, stay in Taupo and meant another coach trip courtesy of the knowledgable and entertaining Chris. This journey involved heading up and away from Taupo, gaining altitude until we reached the ‘desert road’, a carriage-way passing through the Tongariro National Park, a beautifully volcanic region. This part of our voyage made for great photography, especially on stopping briefly to take digital-memories of Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano, and Mount Ngauruhoe or as some younger generations might know it, Mount Doom. That’s from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ if you didn’t already know!

Shortly after this brief stop we arrived at the NZ National Army Museum that gave the somewhat sleepy group an interesting insight into New Zealand’s involvement in the World Wars. And, importantly, gave lunch. Our mars bars contained a ‘see inside to win another free mars bar’ offer, to the delight of the trebles but to the consternation of the cafe workers who spent the next twenty minutes or so handing out free mars bar after free mars bar as probability worked its magic.

Some more driving and some more magnificent views and we arrived in windy Wellington where we had a brief rehearsal with the Kotuku Choir, had some afternoon tea and then met our host families. Wellington was to be the first of few home stays on our adventure and was entered into by many with a degree of trepidation, which by all accounts transpired to be unnecessary. Dan D’Souza and I were to stay with one of the Kotuku Choir, whom we had met briefly on Kotuku’s trip to England. Collected by her father, we made the brief trip back to her house where we shortly realised that we had struck gold in staying with them. Walking through the front door the rich smell of home-cooking struck my nostrils which, in retrospect, was the first signifier of fantastic hosts. Dinner was a delicious affair in which myself and Dan did our best to make smalltalk, aided by a younger brother who seemed keen to get involved. The family were extremely welcoming and I’m sure I speak for Dan as well when I say that we were immediately put at ease.

On Friday morning we were met with heavy rain which did not dampen our spirits as we were both feeling very pleased with how things had turned out with the first home stay. On going down for breakfast we were once again met with the smell of cooking, this time of muffins, and the sight of our host's mother bustling around the kitchen ensuring that all the children present were to be well fed at breakfast and throughout the day. We most definitely were. Today we had scheduled another brief rehearsal with Kotuku, followed by a brief photoshoot with the Mayor of Lower Hutt before the two choirs split, with us going on to the Te Papa museum. I am told that the museum was extremely interesting, and informative, but I personally did not experience much of it as it was here that I had my first familial encounter of the tour. As a half-kiwi I have been greatly excited on this tour by the prospect of visiting and meeting up with family so, at Te Papa, instead of checking out the exhibits I spent most of my time catching up with my cousin Matt.

After Te Papa we made our way to the ‘Weta Caves’ which thankfully were not full of bugs and was in fact a Miramar studios exhibition. Here we were met once again by Kotuku, so little time was spent viewing the exhibits and our energies became focussed on getting to know the choir AKA flirting. After this we departed for Wellington Airport for a photoshoot and quick sing-song with Kotuku. We then returned home for dinner at the home and a short walk around town before an interesting cultural experience – a kiwi house party. Much fun ensued.

Roll on Saturday, the day of the Kotuku Rising concert at the Michael Fowler Centre and a morning spent in our host families. Our host's father is the proud owner of a 4x4 that, unlike British 4x4s, is not simply for show and the school run. As such, on Saturday morning he took myself, Dan D, Dan T and Charlie K on an off-road adventure to ‘Red Rocks’ on the coast near Wellington. It’s important to note here that even if New Zealand is very British in its culture and cities (I would argue otherwise), it is completely foreign in its landscapes, which are truly magnificent. Driving around the coast I could help but imagine what it would have been like to arrive in New Zealand several hundred years ago, experiencing the wonder of thie new land. In the afternoon we had rehearsal and then concert, the details of which will be gone into by somebody else.

After the concert we were lucky enough to have the Cuba St. Carnival, an event that could be compared to Notting Hill, just much smaller. We were treated to dancing girls, live bands, ferriswheels and general festivities in what made for a fantastically lively evening before returning home and having our nightly gossip with our host who has very quickly become a close friend.

Sunday, and our final day in Wellington. In a rare occurrence we were at liberty for the whole of the morning and into the early afternoon with our hosts. This allowed for more sight-seeing and experience of the Wellington landscape. Dan and I spent the first hour venturing up to Wellington’s wind turbine which, although being mostly for show, does take you up to a fantastic vantage point looking over Wellington and is also alongside the nature reserve situated here. We then took a coast-hugging drive, once again soaking up the pure difference of New Zealand compared to Europe. A brief stop to enjoy some Goody-goody gum drop and hokey-pokey ice cream and then up to Mount Victoria where we experienced first hand why Welington has the nickname that it does, with highspeed winds that could easily take you off-balance if you weren’t paying attention. After this I left the main group (I believe that endulged in some retail therapy) to have a Chinese brunch with my aunty and five of my cousins, lovely for me as I had not seen most of them for closing down on seven years.

It was then time for another rehearsal, this time with the Wellington Cathedral choir before singing evensong and having our final evening with our hosts. After the evensong we took the cablecar up the hill, with yet more breathtaking views and finally on home to chowdown on steak, chops, potato and kumara, pavlova and fine wine. A final late night gossip with our fantastic host and it was time for bed, an early start necessary the next day.

That was Wellington!

Ed Spragg (U6)