RWC of 2011

New Zealand has an amazing natural beauty with very varied landscapes such as mountains, lakes, rivers but also breathtaking beaches or fascinating cities.

I suggest to start with the North island and the city of Auckland which is the largest city in Polynesia. Then you should go North and spend time on the Bay of islands where the landscapes are gorgeous. Plan to stay at least one week there. After you could head toward Wellington which is an interesting city culturally speaking.

The second week should be spent on the second island, start in Christchurch and drive along the ocean side, the beaches are incredibly beautiful and wild. Plan to stay from 7 to ten days on South island, don't miss the beautiful monutains in the Western South part of the island.

Enjoy your trip, you will have fun and see amazing places!

My favorite Rugby team is The All Blacks. Their emblems are silver fern and white knickerbockers.

Their anthem is the Haka Song.

Here is their match schedule:

They will play against Tonga in Eden Park in Auckland on September 9th 2011.

Then they will compete against Japan on September 16th in Whangarei.

They will play against France in Auckland on September 24th.

On October 2nd, they will compete against Canada in Wellington.

Amina: Hello, I am a French student doing some research in New Zealand. My name is Amina, could you answer my questions, please?

Caroline: With pleasure Amina! Nice to meet you!

Amina: Nice to meet you too. What is your first name?

Caroline: I'm Caroline.

Amiona: What is your last name and where are you from?

Caroline: My last name is White and I come from Auckland, in New Zealand. In fact I was born in Auckland on January 3rd 1985.

Amina: So, you are 25 years old!

Caroline, That's it, I will turn 26 in January.

Amina: Do you go to school?

Caroline: Well, I graduated from High School when I was 18, then I spent a year in France as an exchange student. I came back in 2005. I've been studying at the University in Auckland for 5 years now and I'm now writing my Phd specialized in French litterature.

Amina: Yeah, how interesting! What is your research subject?

Caroline: Well, my thesis is about 19th century French litterature.

Amina: Wouahou, you are very courageous!

Caroline: I just love it: the Romanticism movement and the Poetry, you know I'm a bit romantic after all!

Amina: You seem to be passionate!

Caroline: Oh yes I am!

Amina: Well thank you for answering my questions, your background and student profile are fascinating! My friends will love it when I return to school. Take care and maybe we could keep in touch. Why don't you give me your e-mail address?

Caroline: Yes, sure! Here it is. Have a nice trip back to France!

The kapa hapa gathers songs and dances of the Maori people. These people express their cultural identity through the Kapa Haka songs and dances . The Kapa Haka is  a very old cultural tradition dating back to pre-European times. The Kapa Haka performances are a mixture of choral singing and dance as well as movements associated with the hand-to-hand combat. The instruments used in Hapa Haka are the guitar, the conch shell and body percussion. It can gather several and dozens of people dressed in neo-traditional Maori dress.

Every two years, there is a competition of kapa haka in which all parts of New Zealand compete. This New Zealand's national Maori competition for adults is called Te Matatini.  Adults perfom arts competition.

Young Maori man dancing

The Maori language or te reo Maori (te reo meaning "the language") is spoken by only 4 % of the population in New Zealand. It is the language of the Indigenes of New zealand. It belongs to the Eastern Polynesian languages linguistic branch. In 1987, the Maori Language Act declared the Maori language as one of New Zealand's official languages. There are three official languages in New Zealand: Maori, English and New Zealand Sign Language. Since 2004, a TV channel called "The Maori Television" has been broadcast. Since 2008, a second channel "Te Reo" has been broadcast but only in Mauri and with no advertising.