Ruapehu stay for visiting group

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 533, 26 April 1994, Page 5

Ruapehu stay for visiting group

Five members of a Rotary group study exchange team from Rotary District 2620 in Japan enjoyed the hospitality of the Waimarino during an overnight stay in the area last week. The exchange, organised by Rotary International, was limited to the lower and central North Island 9940 Rotary district and follows a group exchange to Japan by a New Zealand study group last year. The aim of the visit is to strengthen links between the two countries, furthering understanding of vocations, culture and fellowship. The group were entertained by pupils of Raetihi School on Thursday , with the school performing Maori action songs, and a song sung in Japanese, learned especially for the occasion. After lunch at the Grand Chateau and a visit to view the audio visual display at the Whakapapa Information Centre, they continued up the Bruce Road through heavy snow to the Whakapapa Ski Area. Team leader and Rotarian Seiichi Kato,

a qualified ski instructor with an interest in freestyle skiing, spoke at length to members of Whakapapa' s ski school about his country's ski industry. Other members of the exchange party are Hiromi Endo, Mariko Hasegawa, Makoto Hosoda and Kenichi Meguro. The group attended a dinner and meeting held at the Ruapehu Hotel on Thursday night before returning to their billeted accommodation. They conclude their tour in Wellington on Saturday 7 May, having visited and been accommodated by Rotarians from 10 centres.