18 March 2015 at 9:00 am
Auckland students welcomed
More than 2400 students from around the globe attended a fun-filled welcome event held in their honour at the Cloud on Auckland’s waterfront last Friday.
Auckland-based students hailing from Korea, Germany, China, Japan, Brazil and Russia were waiting for the doors to open and the powhiri and mayoral welcome to begin.
Once inside, the students flocked to the 30-plus tourism and service provider stalls and to take part in the games, with the FIFA kick-wall proving most very popular.
Live entertainment throughout the day greatly added to the atmosphere, as did the awarding of spot prizes.
Three Blues players and the FIFA Ambassadors (past All Whites Ivan Vicelich, Andy Boyens and Dan Ellensohn) did Q&A sessions on the main stage which were well attended.
Six of Study Auckland’s top Indian education agents and 10 Indian students who have recently arrived to take up New Zealand India Scholarships for 2015 and were at the event, and one of them, Ketaki Khare, had this to say, “It was as an absolutely wonderful experience to be at the International InAKL Student Event where all of us were greeted so warmly by the Mayor, and by Auckland itself with such a marvellous sunny morning!
“The school kids who performed the kapa haka were absolutely delightful and put a big smile on all of our faces. The highlight though, for me, was getting to meet the Auckland Blues! It was incredible how modest and friendly they are!”
Education providers saw value in the event as a great show of manaakitanga (welcome), and as Jennifer Kirkham, Director of International Students, Botany Downs Secondary College put it.
“Our students had a great time at the Auckland Student Welcome that took place in the Cloud last Thursday. The Cloud was the perfect venue, with a vibrant and warm Pacific flavour. It opened our students’ eyes to what the city has to offer and gave them a chance to take selfies with the Mayor, the Blues, the Police and just to wander around and meet other students.
“It also gave us a chance to show our students that they are welcome not only in our school, but that the city as a whole values their presence. Our students had a lot of fun and took a walk around the Viaduct afterwards to see the Volvo Ocean Race Yachts - just another beautiful day in fabulous Auckland! Our students loved it. “
