WorldViewZ — Upcoming Events — Stand True, Stand Strong, Be of Big Heart — A Journey to New Zeland

Each day the group will work with Dance — either Haka or Modern dance forms, multi-media (film, music/iPod applications) and Maori Culture. The day by day curriculum will be given to each participant at the start of the journey.

Sunday Feb 17th

Arrive in Christchurch from your international destinations. Check into our hotel for rest and relaxation.

Monday Feb 18th

Today will be devoted to meeting the group and facilitators followed by an introduction to Maori Culture at the local Marae where we will be staying this night.

New Zealand has a unique cultural identity, quite unlike anywhere else in the world. Decidedly multi-cultural, modern New Zealand society is a fusion of Polynesian, Asian and European cultures. New Zealanders are recognized globally for their progressive humanitarian stance, liberal politics and world-leading social welfare, and enjoy a high quality of life.

Tuesday Feb 19th

Get ready for an early rise as we greet the sunrise in ceremony and honoring as is a traditional Maori practice.

Following Breakfast we will head north towards the coastal town of Kaikoura where we will stay at the local Marae. Kaikoura is a beautiful coastal town that is like being at the Alps and the ocean at the same time.

Upon arrival we will participate in a traditional Maori welcoming ceremony which is an integral part of every new meeting in Maori society.

Kaikoura is a fabulous small town on the Central East coast of the South Island. While we were there last year we met Maurice & Heather of Maori tours who shared with us a bit of the history of Kaikoura which was a whaling town in the recent past. That has now changed in the favor of whales thankfully. The local Maori tribe owns and operates the Whale Watch Experience and so today we will travel with then to find the Sperm Whales that live in the waters off Kaikoura.

Here in Kaikoura, we will also have the opportunity to swim with Dusky Dolphins, known to be the most playful of the dolphin family. We will be hosted at the local Marae and have intimate contact with Maori in this region.

Get ready to rise with the sun as all of our morning activities including the dolphin swim begin at dawn.

Wednesday Feb 20th

Morning training at sunrise.

After breakfast we will embark on our Whale Watching excursion in the waters off of Kaikoura. If you watch closely you will see that before every sailing the crew sends out a prayer and honoring to these great brothers of the deep. Each whale is 'known' by the crew and are identified by size and different markings on the tale or fin. You will have ample time for photographs and video before the whales submerge and if you're lucky you can get a shot of their beautiful tail.

After our morning experience with the whales, followed by lunch, we will spend the afternoon hiking along the beautiful coast line. There are many outlooks and wonderful vantage points to experience the beauty of the water and land of this region.

Evening Dinner followed by Storytelling and Maori lore.

Thursday Feb 21st

Morning training at sunrise

Today we will swim with the Dusky Dolphins. Depending on group size the first group will go this day and the other group tomorrow. This will be a treat as these dolphins are known to be the most interactive of the dolphin tribes. The remaining group will begin instruction in filmmaking and camera use. The afternoon will be spent learning more of Maori Culture and teachings followed by Dinner and spontaneous activities.

Friday Feb 22nd

Morning training at sunrise followed by breakfast.

Early this morning the 2nd group will swim with the dolphins. The rest of the group will begin working with their cameras for the morning. After lunch we will be hosted by Maurice & Heather Manawatu of Maori Tours Kaikoura.

Maori Tours Kaikoura was set up by Maurice and Heather and is family owned and operated. Their family are the indigenous people of New Zealand or 'Tangata Whenua' (people of the land). They belong to the sub-tribe 'Ngati Kuri' and their main tribe is 'Ngai Tahu'. They are descendants of Paikea — 'The Whale Rider.'

Tonite — Dinner at a local Kaikoura Restaurant followed by an evening walk on the beach.

Saturday Feb 23rd

Morning training at sunrise followed by breakfast.

Today we will prepare for an evening gathering with the local Kaikoura community through art, dance , music and visual imagery.

Sunday Feb 24th

After the morning training and sunrise, you will have a free day around Kaikoura to shop, relax, enjoy optional excursions such as horse back riding or seal swims. In the evening after Dinner we will gather for an evening of multi-media.

Monday Feb 25th

Morning training at sunrise.

Following breakfast we leave beautiful Kaikoura and head for Flock Hill Lodge. This is a travel day with several spots along the way to stretch and to eat lunch. After an afternoon arrival we will embark on an early evening trek followed by dinner and evening activities.

In the area of Flock Hill, we will be far away from modern life. We will have the unique experience of enjoying the awesome silence and wide open expanse. This region was the inspiration for this journey and is known to be a sacred place where many cultures would bring their youth for wisdom training, (according to Historian Barry Brailsford.)

Tuesday Feb 26th

Morning training at sunrise.

After breakfast we will spend the day exploring the unique rock formations of this area. Today we will have a picnic lunch so as to spend as much time on the land as possible. After dinner we have a special guest who will share their experiences and stories of this exciting landscape.

Wednesday Feb 27th

Morning training at sunrise.

After breakfast we begin our journey towards Queenstown. We have arranged for a very special over-nite stay at Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast of the South Island.

Tomorrow morning before departing to Queenstown, we will be guided out onto the glacier by a professional team of mountain guides. We were moved by the description last year by a Maori elder who referred to this most ancient of water as being one of our ancestors.

This will be a great place to have ceremony for the healing of our planet in light of the glacier meltdown that is occurring globally.

Thursday Feb 28th

After Breakfast and Glacier Walk we depart for Queenstown — lunch on the way. With a late afternoon arrival we will check into our accommodations and for after dinner R & R.

Queenstown is the gateway to some of the most pristine nature on the planet. Here you will have the option of participating in several adventure activities or spending time out in the nature. Either way re-creating here will be a definite boost to your inner Gaia. You will feel invigorated and renewed just being in the presence of this great natural energy. You might remember seeing some of these landscapes in some of the Harry Potter films and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Friday Feb 29th

Morning training at sunrise.

After Breakfast we have optional adventure opportunities such as River Rafting, Bungi Jumping or water activities and tours. You might just want to walk around the town, go on a hike, or whatever moves you. After dinner there will be an evening of learning.

Saturday March 1st

Morning training at sunrise

After breakfast we will explore around Queenstown and surrounding areas. After lunch there will be some free time on your own. Later we will meet as a group for a ride up the mountainside in the gondola followed by Dinner and the Maori Cultural Show.

Sunday March 2nd

Morning training and breakfast at sunrise.

Today we will spend in an ancient forest filled with mystical glens, rushing water and waterfalls in an area that feels like the home of the fairy folk and gnomes. Spend the day in quiet awe with this beautiful forest landscape. We will have a picnic lunch and return in the late afternoon to our hotel for dinner and rest and relaxation and an evening program.

Robert says: "I have seen a lot of Glacier Milk in my travels but the natural beauty of the emerald waters of the Routeburn Trail just outside Queenstown is one of the most stunning that I have had the privilege of seeing".

Sunday: We are currently working on the option of spending our last days in Queenstown absorbing the beautiful nature and spending some time in this Alpine Village town that has a true international feel. TBA

Monday March 3rd

Morning training at sunrise.

This morning after Breakfast we will depart for Christchurch. Stopping for lunch midway we will arrive back at the Christchurch Marae for dinner and early evening storytelling.

Tuesday March 4th
Our Last Day of the Tour

Morning Practice at sunrise

After Breakfast. We will be working with the film footage from our journey in preparation for returning home with a body of imagery capturing our experiences of the past days. Early evening brings us to our Farewell Dinner and closing ceremony.

Wednesday March 5th

Today is your departure day to return home to your respective countries filled with good feelings, great experiences and lots of great memories, and of course your film footage and imagery to show your friends!

Note: This itinerary is subject to change should circumstances arise that warrant a shift in schedule or activity. Please be flexible.

Note on Arrival and Departures:

Remember the time difference! Those departing from North or South America will lose a day crossing the International Date Line. We recommend that you arrive by: Feb 17th, Sunday afternoon — early evening so you can adjust to the time change.

This would mean departing Saturday Feb 16th from North or South America.

Be sure to check time differences also if you are coming from Europe or Asia.

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Global Cultural Exchange