Port Spotlight: Auckland, New Zealand
                                                                                      
The Scholar Ship docks in Auckland, New Zealand on 7 November, 2008. Springtime in the Southern Hemisphere! Auckland, T maki-makau-rau or karana in the indigenous Maori language, is on New Zealand’s North Island and her largest city.

The center of Auckland lies on an isthmus nestled between Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. It is one of only a few cities worldwide to have ports on two, completely separate, major bodies of water.
                                                                                 
English and Maori are New Zealand’s two official languages. English is more widely spoken, though the Maori language is making a comeback as indigenous kiwis reclaim their cultural identity and pass it on to the younger generation.

The country’s art and culture reflect the complex, interwoven history of the Pakehas (New Zealand European) and Maori that began when Captain James Cook grabbed it for the English crown in 1769.
                                                                                      
Lonely Planet describes New Zealand as, “a country of rare seismic beauty: glacial mountains, fast-flowing rivers, deep, clear lakes, hissing geysers and boiling mud.

There are also abundant native forests, long, deserted beaches and a variety of fauna, such as the kiwi, endemic to its shores.”

Students from the September 2007 voyage relished their New Zealand experience and titled their voyage book, "Hononga"(Maori word meaning union, connection, relationship). “Our ship landed in Auckland on a brisk spring day.

Our community’s first taste of cold after nearly two and a half months at sea, people scrambled for jackets and sweaters to keep warm. 

Students and staff alike took to the sands, hills, and skies, taking advantage of New Zealand’s numerous adventure sports and nature reserves. 

After seven days of Zorbing, caving and trekking, the adrenaline rush subsided and our community gathered once again to continue the voyage.”

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