Bright and early on 10 May, the Year 13 Economics class began the journey to Wellington on the Northern Explorer train. Venturing off typical roading, it was a fantastic experience to see rolling hills, deep canyons, and the raw beauty that New Zealand has to offer - something we often miss when caught up in our everyday lives. The eight-hour train ride also gave us the opportunity to bond over cards and music with peers we usually wouldn’t have sat with in a classroom setting.

Tuesday began with another early start - we had a jam-packed itinerary planned. Kickstarting the day was a tour of Parliament, where we bumped into Judith Collins and even were able to go into the famous ‘COVID’ media room!

Following this, we dashed across the street to the Treasury and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Policy Advisors explained to us their role in working on Fiscal Policy for the upcoming 2021 Budget. One student said:

“I was fascinated at the huge number of jobs on offer following a Commerce degree. It opened my eyes to potential careers I may be interested in and also gave me a look into just how much economic planning takes place in government.”

The Supreme Court was another highlight of the trip for many. We all gained a greater understanding of the NZ Judicial system, with a tour of both the old and current Supreme Court.  Many of us were surprised to learn there was only one courtroom which held proceedings only a few times a year.

In the evening, we all grabbed dinner from a food market and returned to watch a debate in the House. It was fascinating to watch politicians deciding on matters for our nation right in front of us.

The remainder of the trip consisted of exploring the city and checking out all Wellington had to offer, which was especially useful for prospective students next year. This included catching a cable car to Victoria University, where we received a tour of the campus.

Needless to say, we trampled off the plane on Wednesday looking weary and exhausted; but all of us were buzzing about the experience.  In some it even ignited a career path or plan to pursue next year.