Rotorua/Auckland - 24 May 2003

WHILE IN ROTORUA, WE TOURED both the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve Village. Then it was on to a show at the Agrodome where we learned about the New Zealand sheep industry. From there, we continued our journey across the North Island, as we left Rotorua and headed toward Auckland. Our only stop was at Kiwifruit Country where Vespri kiwis are grown and packaged.

Young Maorians begin classes at Te Wananga Whakairo, or The Carving School, at a young age	Our guide shows us how Maorian skirts and rope are made from the multi-purpose flax leaves	The boiling mud is our first stop in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve Village
The Prince of Wales Feathers Geyser is so named because when in full eruption it is similar in shape to the feather on the Prince of Wales Coat of Arms	The Agrodome show featured the numerous species of sheep found in New Zealand along with some very talented sheep dogs and a wacky shepherd	Tarek attempts to get a refreshing drink the old-fashioned way
The group explores the Vespri Kiwi plantation just days before the next harvest	Inside the Vespri packaging plant, the kiwis are sorted by size after extensive quality controls	What better time to take a group photo then in front of a giant Kiwi!