While the local students were sitting their NCEA exams, the International students who are currently studying at Upper Hutt College, enjoyed four weeks of activities with International students from other Wellington schools.

Highlights from the first week were surfing lessons and a trip to Matiu/Somes Island.

The students met on a windy morning in Lyall Bay and after lessons on how to surf, the weather was perfect for them to try out their new skills and “catch the waves”.

The weather continued to be kind when the students took the train to Wellington and a ferry to Matiu/Somes Island, where they took a tour seeking out the skink and the tuatara that were lazing in the mid-day sun.

Other highlights from the End of Year Programme were three days at Foxton Beach where they experienced a Kiwi Bach holiday, playing board games, mountain biking and beach combing. A picnic at Kaitoke campground and a swim in the river was a great opportunity for the students to experience something that they had never done in their home countries due to the high levels of pollution in some of the rivers.

Christmas cooking at Wellington High School was a great success, the students made delicious traditional German Christmas treats to give to their host families as presents. Ice Skating and tenpin bowling at Brewtown, learning about Maori Culture and traditions in Te Manawa Atea, a walk to Korokoro Dam, a trip up the cable car to the Botanical Gardens, and a tour around Parliament finished off a busy third week for the students.

During the final week of the trips the students visited the Pinnacles on the Wairarapa coast, where they walked around the Lord of the Rings film location, and a trip to Adrenaline Forest,  where they spent time hanging from the high wires. All the students had an amazing time throughout the four week programme and have made many friends with other international students on the programme.