Kia Ora from Aotearoa Cultural & Volunteer Exchange (ACVE)
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Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Issue #1 of the ACVE newsletter.
We hope that this will be a great tool to keep in touch with all of our volunteers working in New Zealand, our host projects and of course our ICYE partners across the globe!
ACVE Update
Cultural Connections
It has been a busy time here at ACVE. We have been developing the Cultural Connections component of our training seminars. Our Volunteer Training Team at Lakes Ranch gave a passionate, musical and fascinating introduction to our indigenous Maori culture, topped off by a spine tingling performance of the Haka. Thanks to Jax, Cullen and BJ and we are looking forward to working with you again soon!
| ACVE will also be working with the Rotorua Council Cultural Advisor (Kaumatua) and local Iwi to further develop these Cultural Connections. This will include arranging for volunteers to spend one night on a marae, participate in a Hikoi (cultural guided walk visiting sites of special significance) and continuing to build positive relationships between ACVE volunteers and our Maori community. |
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New ACVE staff
ACVE is delighted to welcome Teresa Way to the ACVE office team. Originally from Canada, Teresa has made New Zealand her home where she lives by the beach with her husband and son. Teresa will be providing administrative support for all aspects of the ACVE programme. Whilst in Canada, Teresa worked for the University of British Colombia in Vancouver, organising public residential programmes for international visitors to the university. She has also co-ordinated large scale events from awards dinners to half marathons. An avid sailor, Teresa and her family love to take their boat to explore the Pacific Ocean and local lakes. They have also welcomed international homestay students and teachers into their home and very much enjoy the whole cultural exchange process! Teresa understands what it is like to live and work in a different country far from home, and believes wholeheartedly in the learning journey all of our international volunteers are undertaking. Teresa will be looking after the emergency cellphone whilst the ACVE team is attending the GA in Costa Rica, and will start work in the ACVE office November 21st.
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The 27th ICYE General Assembly (GA), Costa Rica
The 27th General Assembly (GA) of the ICYE Federation will be held 6- 13 November 2009 in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. More than 60 participants will be attending representing more than 35 different countries. Highlights include a 4 day field trip to visit and learn about ICYE Costa Rica’s host projects; acceptance of new ICYE Members in Ecuador, USA and Morocco and Associate Members in Indonesia, Peru and Vietnam; development of cooperation with ICYE partner organisations in Tanzania, Togo and Spain; and adoption of long-term development strategies for training and quality assurance. It will also be a fantastic opportunity for the ACVE team (Kate, National Director and Frances Herriman-Holmes, ACVE Trustee) to meet with our colleagues and continue to build long-term positive working relationships. To learn more about our short-term volunteering opportunities in Costa Rica and the great team hosting this year’s General Assembly, please visit www.aci.cr.
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Christchurch update
As most of us already know, Christchurch city is recovering from a major earthquake on February 22. Further aftershocks have made no significant change to the city's status. ACVE is still continuing to work with our project partners Living Springs Trust and Cholmondeley Children’s Home who are currently hosting 10 ACVE volunteers. We are also happy to welcome Lesley Whitson, an ex-ICYE volunteer from UK to New Zealand in 2000 as our local Christchurch contact.
"In 2000 I was looking for a challenge and a bit of traveling. I joined up with ICYE in the UK and had the choice of Gana, Japan or New Zealand. My sister was pregnant and begged me to go somewhere safe and I knew my language skills were small. So I picked NZ only knowing about sheep and a little about Maori culture. It was totally unexpected but I had the year of my life. It was difficult and sometimes stressful but as soon as I stepped foot in Christchurch I knew that I found home. I went back to Scotland for a year and did everything I could to get back. I arrived back in Christchurch in 2002 and obtained NZ residency in 2003. The city is vibrant and beautiful. The people take a bit of time to get used to but their easy gentle way of living has rubbed off me. I work as a massage therapist during the week and with St John Ambulance in their health alarm monitoring division at the weekend. I am engaged to a lovely Kiwi boy and have a cat called Brian. Even with the quakes and all the strangeness of this last year the city still manages to be welcoming and beautiful. I hope you all have a great time and don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions :)"
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Sad goodbyes
We wish our friends Ville Hernesmaa from Finland, Dmitry Barinov and Valeriia Kuznetcova from Russia safe travels and GOOD LUCK for their new adventures in Australia and Russia. New Zealand will always welcome you!
Some parting words from Valeriia:
“I would call my year in NZ “A big surprise”, because I was surprised nearly every day. I was surprised and pleased by places I have visited, the people I have met and shared work and living and heaps of other things. I am still surprised that people around me are giving me such powerful inspiration, that I began to paint the portraits of them (and cannot stop !) Additionally I have learnt how to live just for today and not think `What`s next?` I will certainly ask myself about it ... one day. Now I will just enjoy my last month in NZ and plan for my epic journey around Oz.”
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Training Seminars
6 month volunteers
The ACVE Final Training Seminar for all ACVE 6 month participants will be held at Tauranga Historic Village 14-15 December 2011. The camp will start at 10.30am on Wednesday 14 December at the Old School House, Historic Village. Accommodation has been booked for you at Loft109 Backpackers in central Tauranga for 14 and 15 December. A detailed schedule, map of accommodation and camp location will be posted on the ACVE website in November. ACVE will book and pay for your travel to the Final camp.
| It is imperative that you let ACVE know if you are planning on making your own way to Tauranga! Your travel time will begin 16 December until your flight is booked to return home. ACVE will ensure that your December and January pocket money is paid in December for you to spend during your travel month. A travel reimbursement will also be paid to cover the cost of bus travel from Final Camp to Auckland airport. ACVE has already booked flights for those volunteers attending this camp based in Christchurch and Great Barrier Island and you will receive these details by email shortly. |
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12 month volunteers
The ACVE Midterm Training Seminar for all ACVE 12 month participants will be held at Lakes Ranch, Rotorua 22-24 January 2012. Your travel time will also begin 16 December so you will NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN WAY TO ROTORUA! ACVE will arrange pick up from the I-site bus station or Rotorua airport for those who are not driving to Lakes Ranch in their own vehicle.
ACVE will pay a travel reimbursement which is equivalent to travel from your first project to Rotorua with your December pocket money payment. After the camp, you will travel to your second project on 24 January directly from Lakes Ranch. Again, ACVE will post further details on the website regarding specific arrangements for the camp.
REMINDER Please can you remember to return all project preference lists to me by 31 October latest, otherwise ACVE will allocate you to another project automatically!!
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New Zealand - World Champions!
It has been a difficult year for New Zealand, with the devastating Christchurch earthquakes, the Pike River mining disaster and the Rena oilspill. The whole country stood behind the All Black's campaign to bring home the World Cup, and breathed a collective sigh of relief when the final whistle blew on Sunday night! Kiwis have welcomed teams from around the world not only to New Zealand, but also into their hearts - it is a very special time to be living in New Zealand and sharing the celebrations!
"The All Blacks have shown earthquake-stricken Christchurch the way ahead with their courageous Rugby World Cup victory, says Mayor Bob Parker. Thousands of Christchurch people robbed of the opportunity to see the tournament played in their hometown are expected to turn out this afternoon for a victory parade for the world champion All Blacks.
The parade will wind its way to the city's RWC fan zone in Hagley Park, where Mr Parker will welcome the team, and All Black captain Richie McCaw and coach Graham Henry will speak to the fans about 4pm. Mr Parker told the Herald the All Blacks had faced up to a French team in the final that "disrupted every element of their play".
"And what got them through was a display of real courage, real commitment. And the lesson for us, I think, is that's what we know we need [in Christchurch] as well." With buildings and facilities wrecked by the quakes, there was a sense of Christchurch being detached from the rest of the country when the city's World Cup matches had to be shifted to other centres. "It was feeling like a separate nation in a way."
But since then the All Blacks had developed a special bond with Christchurch by going to great lengths to make the city feel included, Mr Parker said. "I remember Graham Henry saying to me on the morning that the All Blacks left ... how much what had happened in Christchurch was serving to give them extra strength, extra motivation," Mr Parker said.
"When Richie held that cup aloft, we knew we were in his heart."
NZ Herald 25.10.2011
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History of the All Black Haka
No other international sporting team possesses a pre-match ritual as powerful as the famed All Black haka. From the more traditional Ka mate, Ka mate - first performed before an international rugby fixture by the New Zealand Native Team in 1888 - to the recently composed Kapa o Pango, the haka plays an integral role in physically and mentally preparing All Black teams for battle.
Māori haka
The haka is an ancient posture dance of the New Zealand Māori that was traditionally used to prepare a war party for battle. It was performed either on the battle field prior to engagement with the enemy, or as the war party was leaving their own village en route to a battle. The ferocious nature of the haka created a united frenzy among the war party preparing them mentally and physically for the reality of war and impending conflict.
'Ka mate, Ka mate'
Ka mate, Ka mate - the original All Black haka - was composed in the early 19th century by famous Māori warrior chief Te Rauparaha, of the Ngāti Toa Rangatira tribe. Te Rauparaha was fleeing an enemy tribe seeking retribution for a past wrong he had committed against them. As he was chased across the central plateau of the North Island, fellow chief Te Wharerangi helped him hide in a pit and then instructed his wife Te Rangikoaea to sit on the pit entrance. After the enemy had moved on, Te Rauparaha emerged from the pit. There, in jubilant celebration of his lucky escape and in front of Te Wharerangi and his people, he performed Ka mate, Ka mate which he had composed while deep in the pit.
'Kapa o Pango'
Ka mate, Ka mate was the only haka performed by the All Blacks until 2005 when a new haka - Kapa o Pango - was unveiled before a match against South Africa at Carisbrook Stadium, in Dunedin.
Kapa o Pango - written for the All Blacks by Derek Llardelli, an expert haka composer from the Ngati Porou tribe - roughly translates as 'All Blacks', and the haka also makes reference to the silver fern, another Kiwi sporting icon. The All Blacks won the match against the Springboks 31 - 27, but the new haka prompted criticism because the closing action was misinterpreted by many as a distasteful, throat slitting gesture. Llardelli , in defence of his composition, was quick to explain that the concluding movement was actually a Māori symbol of drawing vital energy into the body that fitted the spirit of the haka.
Haka performance
The decision on who leads the haka or which haka is performed before an All Black test is usually made by the team before the game. All Black management say it depends on how the team is feeling, and who their opponents are. A common misconception is that haka should only be performed by males. While this is certainly true for many haka, there are some haka that can be performed by anyone, regardless of sex. There are even some women-only haka.
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