The Magic of New Zealand, its People, Landscape and Culture

The Magic of New Zealand, its People, Landscape and Culture

This is at least my 7^thtrip to New Zealand and all but one of these trips started with an invitation to deliver some Incredible Years training workshops. Many times John has joined me at the end of trainings and we have explored places both on the north island such as Rotorua for the hot springs and caves, Tarangua, and Russell (prior NZ capital on the north of north Island) and Plymouth (Ahu Ahu beach villas; SW end of north island). On the South Island we have kayaked near Nelson (NW end of South Island) and trekked in Bay of Many Coves and Milford Sound and biked the Otaga Rail Trail. By now I definitely have a sustained love affair with New Zealand for its incredible beauty, wonderful people and the government’s commitment to supporting families and teachers with national health care, education and for its respect of the Maori culture. On one of my prior trips I even looked at houses to buy  & given the current political situation in US, New Zealand seems like a dream land.

Auckland Feb 10-15, 2020: This time I have come to Auckland, New Zealand for training in one of my newer Incredible Years (IY) programs designed for parents and teachers who work with children on the autism spectrum. 
 The Ministry of Education decided to offer these 2 autism programs in 2018 when I last came here to train. I am thrilled to be back because of their efforts to bring in evidence-based programs for economically disadvantaged parents of younger children including the IY Toddler Program. (Workshops funded in collaboration of Werry Centre and Massey University in conjunction with Ministry of Education.)

IY Toddler Consultation Group 

IY Autism for Teachers Training Group (3 people missing)

Accredited IY leaders dedicated to supporting families and teachers

The training week concluded with a Form open only to IY groups leaders who have been previously accredited in either the IY teacher or parent programs. A total of 160 people attended this conference! Since 2004 almost 1000 people have been trained to deliver either parent or teacher IY programs.  Research presented at the Forum by the Ministry of Education on the outcomes of delivering the IY programs for children on the autism spectrum indicated significant reductions in teacher and parent stress, enhanced parent and teacher confidence and more positive relationships with children.

First Maori IY Mentor

The meeting starts with a pōwhiri, a Maori welcoming ceremony including prayers, singing and speeches. I have always enjoyed these opening and closing Maori protocols as they maintain the traditional customs nurtured by generations of Maori people as well as helping the non-Maori visitor such as myself understand something of the indigenous culture. To my delight the day after the meeting ends our friend, Bruce Haulman, a history professor who has been taking college students to New Zealand for 6 weeks for 17 years offers to take us to Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae.

John, Carolyn and Bruce

I have always hoped I could visit a Marae one day. Two years ago we visited the Waiting Greetings Grounds near Russell on the north island where the original treaty document exists. See my prior blog for more information on this treaty. 

(https://incredibletravels2.blogspot.com/2018/03/moving-to-north-island-to-magical-place.html)

Top of Marae 

This Marae just outside ofAuckland is a complex of several buildings surrounded with open space with a river and greenery with an amazing meeting house (Wharenui) with beautiful carvings outside and inside. The meeting house is the focal point of the Marae with great spiritual significance. There is a group of Maori students here when we visit who have stayed the night. We feel so fortunate for this opportunity and are welcomed with fruit, cakes and tea and some explanation of the history of this place by a lovely Maori woman. 
This will truly be a highlight of this trip for me. I ask if it is possible to have training here and dream of that happening next time. In contrast to the concrete city of Auckland and its bustling tourism this meeting house and place seems incredibly peaceful, quiet and spiritual.

Next Blog is our Alps to Ocean cycle trip...