International students coming to study and live in Northland will receive a traditional Māori welcome at Waitangi Treaty
Grounds this week.
This inaugural regional welcome is being led by Study Northland, the international education arm of Northland Inc, the
regional economic development agency. Study Northland was established last year to strengthen and support international
education in the region.
The Waitangi event, on Thursday, 13 February, will provide a traditional welcome to more than 90 students, aged between
eight and 17, from such countries as South Korea, Germany, Japan, Austria, Thailand, France, Hong Kong, Switzerland,
Taiwan, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, India, Brazil and Chile.
Study Northland Project Manager Jo Lees says the regional welcome at Waitangi is a great opportunity to extend
manaakitanga to the newly arrived students: “These students have shown real courage by travelling so far from home to
live and study in Northland, and we want to acknowledge their commitment to learning by extending them a heartfelt
welcome to Northland from day one.”
Students will be greeted with a private pōwhiri and performance, followed by speeches and a presentation of welcome
certificates. They will then enjoy a tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, including time spent learning traditional
Māori games and crafts. The welcome concludes with a Kiwi lunch of fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. In addition,
each student will also receive a goodie bag with regional guides, maps and postcards.
Ms Lees said Māori culture, friendly people and incredible scenery are among the many reasons that students give for
choosing Northland as a place to live and study: “This event aims to nurture global citizenship, create lifelong
memories and kick-start each student’s Northland experience – we hope it’s the first of many.”
Students attending the welcome will be studying at: Whangarei Girls’ High School, Whangarei Boys’ High School, Tauraroa
Area School, Kamo High School, Springbank School, Pompallier Catholic College, Whangarei Primary School and Huanui
College. Other schools and institutions hosting students, such as Kerikeri High School and NorthTec, were not able to
attend, but hope to be present at future events.
A second welcome event at Waitangi Treaty Grounds is planned for July.
For more information on Study Northland’s strategic objectives, visit: https://www.northlandnz.com/northland-inc/resource-hub-documents/2015-tai-tokerau-northland-regional-growth-study/